How to Recover Deleted ANI Files (5 Ways)

Like other files, ANI files may be deleted or lost due to different reasons, such as accidental deletion, formatting errors, software glitches, hardware failure, malware attacks, and therefore need to be recovered.

In this article, we'll show you how to recover deleted ANI files in 5 simple and effective methods. Continue to learn more.

What Is an ANI File?

ANI file, based on the Microsoft Resource Interchange File Format, is a type of animation file specialized for mouse cursors in Windows systems. Essentially, they are a group of ICO files for Windows icons that together form a complete cursor animation.

ANI files are very similar to .CUR (Windows Cursor) files, except that they contain multiple distinct images used for animation. Both custom Windows themes and default animated cursors, such as their wait and hourglass cursors, are stored in ANI files, which contain all the still ICO images for animating a cursor.

5 Worth Trying Methods to Recover Deleted ANI Files

Losing a well-designed cursor ANI file can be a real pain in the ass. But fortunately, there are several methods you can use to recover deleted ANI files. Always check the Recycle Bin first.

Way 1: Check the Recycle Bin

Often, recently deleted files will be stored in the Recycle Bin temporarily and remain there for 30 days if you don’t empty them. Simply access it, locate the ANI file, and click the Restore button to start ANI file recovery. The deleted files will be put back to their original location.

Way 2: Check Animotica's Cache Folder

By default, Animotica will create and store a copy of the “.ain” file in a cache folder when you open it. Also, its autosave copy will be saved every minute, and the file extension is “.ani_sav”. You can also check your ANI files in the cache folder.

Step 1. Launch Animotica. Click Settings at the bottom.

Step 2. Select PROJECTS. It will list the folder with the last opened or autosaved projects.

Step 3. Open the folder that may contain the deleted ANI files. Copy and paste it to a new location.

Way 3: Employ Reliable ANI File Recovery Software

If the deleted ANI file is not in the Recycle Bin or cache folder, it may be deleted permanently. In this case, using data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery is one of the most effective methods. It will scan your storage device thoroughly and search all deleted or lost ANI files for data recovery.

AOMEI FastRecovery

Powerful File Recovery Software for Windows

• ❌💰 Free: It has a free edition that recovers up to 500MB of data.
• 📚1000+ data types: Recover deleted ANI as well as MP4, WMV,MOV, AVI, ASF,RM, FLV, QSV, RMVB, X3F, etc..
• 👍Top algorithms:The Quick and Deep Scan ensures you can finddeleted or lost files effectively, laying a basis for thorough recovery.
• 👵Simple and efficient: Organize and display recoverable data by Type or Path, allowing you tosort, search, filter, and preview files before recovery.
• 💻🧩Wide recoverable scope: Retrieve files in any scenario, such as accidental deletion, formatting,virus infection, etc.

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8/7/Server

100% Secure

In addition, the software does not require technical expertise and is friendly to novices, making the recovery process seamless.

Please download AOMEI FastRecovery to have a try!

📍📍📍Notes:
✅ Please install AOMEI FastRecovery and save retrieved ASF files in a new path to avoid data overwriting.
✅ The free version allows users to retrieve 500 MB of files at no cost. For unlimited data recovery, consider upgrading to the advanced edition.

Step 1. Launch Windows data recovery software - AOMEI FastRecovery. Hover the mouse over the drive with saved deleted files, and click Scan.

Step 2. It will run Quick Scan automatically to find allrecoverable data. Under the Type section, select Video and .ani files. Ordirectly type .ani in the search box.

📍📍📍Note: Click Deep Scan to find more files. It scans every sector of a disk and takes longer.

Step 3. Select your desired files and then click Recover to recover deleted ANI files. Please select a new location instead of the original location to prevent potential data overwriting.

Way 4: Restore ANI Files from Backup

Regularly backing up your files can save you from the agony of data loss. If you happen to have one, try to restore files from backup. Starting from File History can be a good choice.

Step 1. Type file history in the search box and select Restore your files with file history.

Step 2. In the Control Panel, check if File History is on and select Restore personal files.

Step 3. Browse the most recent backup for deleted ANI files, select it, and click Restore to get your ANI files back. To change the location, click Settings > Restore to.

Way 5: Seek Assistance with Data Recovery Services

In cases of severe data loss or if you're unsure about handling the recovery process yourself, it's best to consult with professional data recovery services, such as CBL, Ontrack, Geek Squad, etc. They usually employ experienced specialists and own advanced equipment for different data recovery tasks.

Considering the price is usually high, before contacting them, be sure that your deleted ANI files are very important. It mainly depends on the elapsed time, damage severity, and recovery difficulty. In addition, the price may vary for different services.

Conclusion

Losing important ANI files can be distressing. However, with the right method at your disposal, you can recover deleted ANI files successfully. To increase your chances of successful data recovery, please stop using your device after data loss.

Also, there are some prevention measures to avoid data loss. Among them, the most effective method is to backup your ANI files regularly.

• Create regular backups
• Use reliable antivirus software
• Be cautious when deleting files
• Don’t use the Full Format method
• Invest in a high-quality device