WMF is an important file type that is widely used for high-quality printing and graphic design, as well as to ensure the normal operation of some graphic design software. If your WMF files are accidentally lost, you can read this post on MiniTool to get some instructions to recover deleted WMF files.
I accidentally deleted an important WMF file and really need it back. I’ve tried searching my Recycle Bin and using file recovery software but can’t seem to find it. Can anyone offer some advice or tools that might help?answers.microsoft.com
What Is WMF File
WMF is short for Windows Metafile. This image format was designed for the Windows operating system in the 1990s. WMF files contain both vector graphics and raster components. They are used to store the records of drawing commands and graphic objects that are used to display images on the screen. Some graphic design software or document processing software may come with WMF files to help you quickly complete complex graphic tasks. In addition, since WMF files support vector graphics and are lightweight, they play a great role in optimizing graphics processing and file sharing, especially for designers, publishers, or users who need high-resolution graphics.
However, in some cases, the WMF files stored in the system may get deleted or lost due to various reasons. If that issue occurs, how to get back deleted WMF files? Keep reading to find fixes!
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Can You Recover Deleted WMF Files
File loss can be very distressing, especially when it involves important files like WMF files. Is it possible to recover them? The answer is yes. As deletion or loss of WMF files causes only the removal of their address pointers, there is still a chance to recover them using some reliable ways.
In other words, when WMF files are deleted or lost, the storage space will be marked as available for new files or other data. These deleted or lost files will be kept in the original location until there is new data to overwrite them. To prevent the original files from being overwritten, you are supposed to stop using the drive where your WMF files are stored. If you do so, the chances of file recovery will be increased.
How to Recover Deleted WMF Files on Windows
There are several methods for you to recover deleted WMF files on Windows depending on how the files were deleted and if a backup of the files exists. Firstly, if you just delete these files, recovering them using the Recycle Bin is an effective way. Furthermore, if you have backed up them before deletion, it is easy to get them back from backup files. However, if you don’t have a backup of your WMF files, don’t worry, some data recovery tools are available for you. The last situation is when you have tried the above methods, but the files still cannot be restored, you need to ask for professional services.
Method 1: Recover Deleted WMF Files From the Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin can be used as a temporary storage location to store the files and folders deleted by mistake or intentionally. When you delete some files, they will go to the Recycle Bin instead of being permanently deleted. It allows you to restore accidentally deleted files without data recovery software. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop to open it. Alternatively, you can open your search box and type the name to find it.
Step 2: Browse through all the files presented and find .wmf files. Also, you can search for them by typing .wmf in the search box and pressing Enter, which can find the target files more quickly and completely.
Step 3: Select and right-click on the required .wmf files and choose Restore.
Method 2: Recover Deleted WMF Files From Backup Files
As mentioned before, if you have a habit of backing up important files regularly, then recovering WMF files is very easy. Whether you backed up your data to an external hard drive or cloud drive, or used the Windows built-in backup service, File History, you can easily get your WMF files back. Here are the steps to recover WMF files using File History.
Step 1: Open your Control Panel, change the View by to Large icons or Small icons, and choose File History.
Step 2: Click on Restore personal files, choose the files you want to restore, right-click on the Green button at the bottom, and click on Restore to.
Step 3: Select the location where you want to store .wmf files and click on Select Folder.
Method 3: Recover Deleted WMF Files With MiniTool Power Data Recovery
If you cleared out your Recycle Bin and don’t have a backup, how to recover permanently deleted WMF files? Fortunately, you can use the data recovery software. There are many file recovery tools on the market. Which one should you use? This free file recovery software, MiniTool Power Data Recovery, is worth recommending.
This tool is capable of recovering permanently deleted files as long as they are not overwritten. It can recover deleted or lost files under different data loss situations such as accidental deletion, virus attack, incorrect disk formatting, and so on. It also supports recovering all kinds of file types from the common JPG, PNG, GIF, etc. to the rare WMF. It is free to recover files of no more than 1 GB. Click on the button below to install it on your PC.
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In order to help you recover deleted WMF files more intuitively and quickly, we list the detailed recovery steps below.
Step 1: Launch your MiniTool Power Data Recovery
When the installation is completed, double-click on the MiniTool Power Data Recovery icon to open it. When prompted by UAC, click on Yes to continue. After opening the software, its main interface will appear, including two parts: Logical Drives and Devices.
Step 2: Scan your drive where WMF files were stored
Find the target drive where the lost .wmf files were stored before deletion. Move your cursor to the drive. The Scan option will show up. Click on the Scan icon to begin scanning. This process will take some time. You may see some of the files you want displayed but don’t interrupt the process to get the best results.
Step 3: Find the target .wmf files in the scanning results
After the scanning process is done, you can find your target .wmf files. There are two features to help you find them quickly.
Firstly, you can change to the Type tab, and click on the arrow in front of All File Types to expand it. Now click on the arrow of Picture > wmf. You can tick the .wmf files you want to save according to file name or file size.
Secondly, the Filter feature in the upper-left corner is more specified. It can classify files by file type, modification date, file size, and file category. To sort files by file type, click on By File Type and choose Picture. Then, you can customize other filtering criteria to narrow down the file list. In the left pane, focus on the wmf section under Picture.
Here is a search box in the upper-right corner. It can be used to search for files. You need to type the keywords of the file name and press Enter.
Step 4: Select the files you want to save
When you have determined the files you want to recover, you can tick them and click on the Save button in the lower right corner. Choose a new location in the new window and hit OK.
Method 4: Seek Professional Data Recovery Services
If all the above ways you have tried are not working, you can seek professional data recovery services. It will be a little costly, but they have the advanced tools and expertise to recover files even in the most hard and challenging situations.
Why You Lost Your WMF Files
File loss is common in your work or study. Some of these deleted files can be recovered while others cannot. If these irrecoverable files are important to you, that can be frustrating. So, here you need to know the possible causes of file loss to avoid losing them again. There are many reasons which can be divided into the following types.
- You delete WMF files or partitions where files are stored accidentally. You may unintentionally delete the WMF file as well when deleting some unwanted files. What’s more, if your computer keeps freezing while you delete files, the WMF file may be removed due to unresponsive mouse clicks and repeated actions.
- The device is damaged physically. The files cannot be recognized because the device where the files are stored encounters physical damage. It means you don’t have access to your WMF files which is equivalent to losing them.
- Viruses attack your storage device. Viruses and malware are common on computers. If your computer or other file storage media is attacked by viruses or malware, it can damage your WMF files and your disk may not open.
- Hard drive or Windows system crashes. If the Windows system crashes, it may affect the hard disk, causing hard disk damage or file loss. In addition, computer hard drive corruption due to other reasons may also cause data loss or inaccessibility.
How to Avoid WMF File Loss in the Future
After knowing the reasons, you can take appropriate measures to prevent file loss. Here are several tips for you to avoid file loss in the future.
Firstly, back up your files regularly. The purpose of a backup is to create a copy of your data so that it can be restored in the event of a failure of the primary data. So, you need to back up your significant files.
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Secondly, check the status of your storage device and Windows system. If the storage device and computer are corrupted, your files will be affected as well. Make sure they are in good condition.
Thirdly, install the formal antivirus and anti-malware software on your computer. The viruses on your PC could cause file loss. Therefore, it becomes necessary to clear the viruses when you detect them.
Lastly, do nothing when your computer freezes. When your computer freezes, do not perform any file management operations, as this may cause accidental deletion of files. Wait until your PC gets back to normal.
Wrapping Things Up
Fixes on how to recover deleted WMF files are displayed in this essay. You can use a data recovery tool with powerful features such as MiniTool Power Data Recovery to recover files. In addition, common causes and prevention measures for file loss are listed for you. Learn about the reasons and take the prevention tips to avoid file loss.
If you are confused while using MiniTool software, let us know via [email protected].
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Chelsea graduated from university with a major in English. She has a strong interest in English writing. It is this passion for writing that led her to become an English editor. Her articles mainly focus on data recovery and other computer industry news. As an energetic and outgoing girl, Chelsea enjoys listening to music, singing, riding bikes, and eating in her spare time.