6 Steps To Recover Missing Data In Windows

Missing folders? Unreadable files? Corrupted difficult drive? Sooner aliases later, astir PC users suffer information of immoderate kind. Here’s a bid of steps you tin return successful Windows 11 (or 10) to bring things back.

Sadly, location are galore reasons why information stored connected disk drives successful Windows tin — and sometimes does — spell missing.

As personification who’s utilized Windows 11 since nan time aft nan first Insider Preview appeared connected June 28, 2021, I’ve been done a twelve different information betterment incidents complete nan past 3-plus years. Some of these person resulted from failing retention media, others from issues pinch cables aliases connectors betwixt nan media and nan PC aliases its motherboard, and 1 aliases 2 person been self-inflicted arising from mistakes erstwhile utilizing disk partitioning aliases repair utilities. What tin I say? I for illustration to experiment, and break things truthful I tin hole them.

In each of these incidents I’ve been capable to claw backmost my missing data, and successful astir cases you tin too. In this communicative I’ll spell complete respective techniques you tin usage to effort to retrieve mislaid files. I’ll usage Windows 11 successful nan examples throughout, but these tips use to Windows 10 arsenic well.

In this article:

• Three main reasons for information loss
• When betterment is needed, backup’s nan thing
• Step 1 to information recovery: Recycle Bin
• Step 2: Windows Backup / File History
• Step 3: chkdsk
• Step 4: Windows File Recovery
• Step 5: Partition/data recovery
• If record betterment succeeds, travel up pinch a disk wellness check
• Step 6: Call successful nan professionals

As pinch my tutorials for repairing Microsoft Office and repairing Windows itself, nan thought is to execute these steps successful order. If nan first measurement doesn’t work, move connected to nan next, and truthful forth. With luck, you’ll retrieve your missing information early successful nan sequence.

But first, let’s return a look astatine nan main culprits erstwhile it comes to Windows information going MIA.

Three main reasons for information loss

In astir cases, 3 superior causes guidelines down situations that telephone for information recovery. These are:

1. File aliases record building harm aliases corruption. Basically, files are conscionable agelong sequences of bits (1s and 0s) chained together done a maestro record array (or its equivalent) connected nan retention media. For various reasons, those patterns tin go damaged aliases disrupted. Consequently, they whitethorn spell missing aliases go unreadable. In this case, your repair efforts effort to reconstruct those bits to their original shape and order.

2. Partition aliases disk building changes aliases damage. In Windows, retention devices usage circumstantial disk layouts to create logical volumes (which usually person names and associated thrust letters) wherein record systems reside. Each measurement (and definite different disk structures related to boot-up and betterment connected Windows system/boot disks) has astatine slightest 1 associated on-disk partition. The thrust maintains 1 aliases much copies of a partition array to support way of disk extents, called sectors, wherever partitions (volumes and different typical disk regions) reside.

When errors aliases unwanted changes impact a partition table, it must beryllium repaired earlier nan files and folders successful immoderate of nan volumes it describes whitethorn beryllium accessed. In this case, nan repair process attempts to reconstruct nan partition table’s original building and contents.

3. Storage hardware problems. For spinning disks, this mightiness impact harm to a disk platter’s read/write heads aliases 1 of its signaling surfaces, and usually manifests arsenic nonaccomplishment of thrust sectors. In terrible cases, a retention instrumentality whitethorn neglect wholly truthful that its contents go wholly unreadable. For SSDs, thing akin tin hap erstwhile nan drive’s controller suffers from hardware errors, aliases erstwhile nan flash representation locations nether its power go damaged aliases unreadable.

For some kinds of drives, nonaccomplishment is often a progressive cascade. That is, it starts slowly, pinch nan nonaccomplishment of 1 aliases 2 sectors aliases representation locations, and gets progressively worse complete time. Eventually nan instrumentality fails completely. At that point, end-user betterment is impossible, and 1 must move to a information betterment institution for costly master betterment services.

That’s why it’s champion to enactment upon nan first sign(s) of disk problem while there’s still clip to caput problems disconnected astatine nan pass. In this case, repair intends attempting to seizure valid information from bully sectors aliases locations earlier they person a chance to spell bad.

When betterment is needed, backup’s nan thing

Long earlier you brushwood information nonaccomplishment issues, it’s worthy employing 1 aliases some of Windows’ built-in record backup tools. File History takes snapshots of files stored successful definite main folders successful Windows 10 and 11. Windows Backup saves your files, apps, settings, and credentials to OneDrive successful nan cloud. These group ‘em and hide ‘em devices require small aliases nary effort to usage erstwhile group up; spot my tutorials connected File History and Windows Backup for details.

In my opinion, though, thing thumps entree to a fresh, existent strategy backup of a thrust from which items whitethorn beryllium missing aliases lost. For example, I support task activity connected 2 abstracted SATA SSDs (F: and X:) and backmost them up each morning, on pinch nan all-important C: boot/system thrust wherever Windows itself lives. Thus, I’m reasonably judge that nary matter what happens to 1 aliases much of those drives, I won’t suffer much than a day’s activity aliases data, worst case.

Before attempting immoderate benignant of record aliases information betterment connected Windows 11, nan first point you should do (let’s telephone it Step 0) is back up nan problem drive on which missing aliases inaccessible files aliases information erstwhile resided. This intends you tin ever get backmost to wherever you started, should your ain information betterment efforts origin further problems. You will past beryllium capable to move nan media complete to a information betterment institution that has devices and capabilities that mean users for illustration you, beloved reader, and I do not person astatine our disposal.

That’s nan worst-case scenario, though. There are respective steps you tin return first to effort to retrieve your mislaid files yourself. Let’s locomotion done those first, shall we?

Step 1 to information recovery: Recycle Bin

A emblematic business that calls for information betterment is 1 wherever a personification aliases immoderate programme has deleted a record from a Windows volume, intentionally aliases possibly accidentally. Afterward, nan personification wishes to regain entree to that file.

It seems obvious, but checking Recycle Bin to spot if nan missing record is coming tin often prevention a batch of unnecessary hassle erstwhile recovering mislaid items. Double-click nan Recycle Bin icon connected nan desktop, past browse aliases usage nan hunt container to spot if nan missing record is there. If it turns up, a right-click connected nan item, past selecting Restore is each that’s needed to put nan record backmost wherever it came from (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Right-click immoderate point successful Recycle Bin, past click Restore. That’s each it takes to retrieve files from nan Recycle Bin.

Ed Tittel / Foundry

If nan record you activity is not disposable successful nan Recycle Bin, different actions whitethorn help.

Step 2: File History / Windows Backup

This measurement comes pinch immoderate ifs attached. The first if is “Is File History (or Windows Backup) turned on?” The 2nd if is “Does File History (or Windows Backup) see this file?” If so, nan 3rd if is “Are nan damaged aliases missing files disposable done File History (or Windows Backup)?”

To concisely explain: some File History and Windows Backup are turned disconnected by default and must beryllium enabled. Even then, these utilities only backmost up files stored successful circumstantial folders — namely, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Videos, and Music (a.k.a. “Library folders”) from nan logged-in user’s record hierarchy. (See my File History and Windows Backup tutorials for specifications connected mounting them up, including a measurement to see further folders successful File History backups.)

If you person some devices enabled, see what benignant of reconstruct cognition you need. Windows Backup offers fundamentally an “all-or-nothing” reconstruct capability. If you’re simply looking to reconstruct 1 aliases a mini number of files and/or folders, it’s not nan correct instrumentality for nan job. Why? Because Restore successful Windows Backup useful done nan Windows Installer — that is, erstwhile you commencement nan Windows instal process and log successful pinch your Microsoft Account (MSA), it will connection to reconstruct nan PCs for which it has backups associated pinch that relationship done OneDrive. This is mostly champion reserved for situations wherever a afloat strategy reconstruct aliases rebuild is called for. It’s not a bully fresh for restoring immoderate smaller number of files aliases folders.

If you return this route, please understand you’ll person to hold done a cleanable Windows 10 aliases 11 install, aft which Windows Backup will commencement nan process of bringing your apps, files and folders, settings and preferences backmost (but location will still beryllium much activity for you, arsenic explained successful my Windows Backup tutorial — spot nan conception “WB comes pinch a catch…”).

For a one-off record aliases conscionable a fistful of items, usage File History instead.  Click Start > Settings, past type file history into nan Settings hunt box. From nan options that appear, select Restore your files pinch File History.

You’ll spot a File Explorer-like position of your backed-up folders. Click immoderate files to drill down to nan point you want. If you navigate into nan Documents folder, for example, you’ll spot its contents show up. By highlighting 1 aliases much files, you prime them for a “copy back” operation. Then, erstwhile you click nan greenish arrow astatine bottommost halfway (see Figure 2), it will reconstruct nan files you’ve selected to their original location.

Figure 2: Select an point and click nan greenish “back-circle” arrow to reconstruct it.

Ed Tittel / Foundry

For in-depth specifications astir File History, including its limitations, setup minutae, and nan champion measurement to configure it, spot “How to usage File History successful Windows 10 and 11.”

If a record aliases files is not disposable for restoration done File History aliases Windows Backup, much robust betterment is needed. That intends it’s clip to move connected to nan 3rd step.

Step 3: chkdsk

If nan affected thrust remains readable and visible successful Windows — that is, nan thrust missive still appears successful File Explorer and immoderate (or most) of its files and folders stay visible therein — nan adjacent measurement to betterment is to usage nan bid statement cheque disk utility, a.k.a. chkdsk.exe. You’ll request to tally it astatine an administrative bid punctual aliases successful an administrative PowerShell session. (Type either cmd or powershell in nan Windows hunt box, right-click Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell in nan database of results, select Run arsenic administrator, and participate nan password if prompted.)

You tin usage either of 2 cardinal parameters to effect disk repairs, arsenic outlined connected the MS Docs Windows Commands reference for chkdsk):

• /f: Fixes errors connected nan disk. The disk must beryllium locked. If chkdsk cannot fastener nan drive, a connection appears that asks you if you want to cheque nan thrust nan adjacent clip you commencement nan computer.
• /r: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. The disk must beryllium locked. /r includes nan functionality of /f, pinch nan further study of beingness disk errors.

The only measurement to repair nan Windows boot/system disk (usually thrust missive C:) is to elite nan action to repair aft nan adjacent restart, followed by a restart of nan affected PC.

For insignificant disk corruption aliases damage, this measurement is often arsenic acold arsenic you’ll request to go. If it works, count yourself fortunate — and make different backup correct away!

Step 4: Windows File Recovery

Microsoft offers a good, basal record betterment inferior called Windows File Recovery (winfr.exe) for Windows 10 type 2004 and up and each versions of Windows 11. It’s disposable successful nan Microsoft Store.

This inferior launches successful an administrative bid punctual convention and runs astatine nan bid line. I tried nan bid to retrieve download files, arsenic shown successful Figure 3.

Figure 3: winfr.exe is added to nan path, and online examples are wholly worthy trying out, arsenic shown for downloads here.

Ed Tittel / Foundry

There is simply a learning curve progressive successful utilizing this tool, but the user manual is disposable online and very overmuch worthy reference and exploring for those consenting to tackle record and files betterment astatine nan bid line. If you cognize what’s missing and wherever it resided, you tin usage it to retrieve files quickly and easy utilizing circumstantial filters — nan much specific, nan better, arsenic I learned erstwhile recovering my aged download files.

The winfr instrumentality besides supports what’s called “extensive mode,” which offers much broad and far-reaching repair capabilities. Regular mode is turned connected by default; you must usage nan /extensive parameter to entree extended mode’s capabilities. It’s bully astatine handling non-NTFS record sytems (e.g., FAT and exFAT), and tin find much files deleted longer ago. Extensive mode tin besides effort repairs aft formatting a disk — which takes america into territory for nan adjacent topic, partition repairs — and it is amended capable to header pinch disk corruption than regular mode.

Those who for illustration to undelete files utilizing a graphical interface alternatively of moving astatine nan bid statement should effort nan free but bully Piriform tool Recuva.

Step 5: Partition/data recovery

There are plentifulness of bully third-party information betterment devices disposable for Windows 11. That said, those that tin retrieve full drives — particularly large ones — aliases that connection partition and formatting betterment usually costs money.

For example, upgrading from nan free type of Recuva to nan Professional type intends gaining much precocious record recovery, including partition recovery, betterment from damaged aliases reformatted disks, and much extended betterment for long-deleted files and folders. It costs US$25 for a one-year subscription. Similarly, MiniTool Partition Wizard, which offers fantabulous partition handling and humble partition betterment successful its free version, but adds extended file, folder, and partition betterment capabilities to its Pro type (US$59 yearly).

Ditto for Stellar Data Recovery, which comes successful a assortment of versions that scope from Standard (US$60 yearly) to Toolkit (US$299 yearly/$599 lifetime). Only those who request to retrieve BitLocker-encrypted aliases multi-OS drives request those higher-end versions. In my testing, nan Toolkit type recovered 2.4TB of recoverable files connected a 1.84TB drive, which strikes maine arsenic some awesome and wholly excessively comprehensive. You tin spot that successful nan little near area of Figure 4.

Figure 4: Remarkably, Stellar Data Recovery recovered 2.4TB of recoverable files connected a 1.86TB drive.

Ed Tittel / Foundry

Stellar uses a elemental File Explorer-like UI done which you tin navigate to prime files aliases folders to reconstruct from its postulation of recoverable items. It’s intuitive and easy to use, and rather fast, considering what it does (took little than 10 minutes to connection a immense database of recoverable files and folders, arsenic shown).

Once partition aliases record betterment is effected, you tin past tackle record and files betterment from recently restored partitions (if needed), aliases from nan database of recoverable items your instrumentality offers up. In cases wherever accidental reformatting aliases partitioning mistakes person been self-inflicted — I’ve done this to myself connected astatine slightest 2 occasions erstwhile I targeted nan incorrect thrust — successfully restoring nan aged partitioning strategy usually brings each nan aged files and folders back, too.

If record betterment succeeds, travel up pinch a disk wellness check

Something had to origin immoderate issues led you down nan betterment road. If you’ve managed to retrieve information done chkdsk, Windows File Recovery, aliases different information betterment tool, it’s a bully thought to springiness nan problem disk a thorough checkup aft that’s done.

Hard thrust and SSD makers often connection specified devices arsenic downloads for nan drives they sell, and location are plentifulness of free and for-a-fee devices disposable for disk wellness checks. I’m partial to nan open-source CrystalDiskInfo because it provides a bully overview of a disk’s SMART information (self-monitoring, study and reporting technology, which includes correction counts that often awesome impending disk failures).

Other devices specified as HD Tune Pro ($35, occasionally disposable for free, positive free trial) and Hard Disk Sentinel (free proceedings available, $20 for nan modular version, $30 for nan pro version) connection much elaborate disk test and surface/media scans to supply amended accusation connected disk wellness and condition. The erstwhile took 30 minutes to scan my 3-year-old Western Digital SN810 SSD (nominal 2TB; existent 1.86TB) earlier giving 80% of it a cleanable measure of wellness contempt dense usage, arsenic shown successful Figure 5. (The free proceedings won’t scan nan afloat disk arsenic an inducement to bargain nan Pro version.)

Figure 5: The HD Tune proceedings type correction scan covers only 80% of immoderate disk to seduce users to bargain a Pro copy.

Ed Tittel / Foundry

If a disk shows questionable wellness aliases much than 10% of its sectors are damaged, it’s clip to switch it. Make a backup while you still can, bid a caller device, and you’ll beryllium capable to reconstruct nan backup erstwhile nan replacement arrives.

Step 6: Call successful nan professionals

If steps 1 done 5 fail, you’ll request to activity extracurricular help. Here’s Software Testing Help’s database of the top 10+ information betterment services for those who must recreation this road.

Hopefully, you’ll ne'er request to nonstop a thrust to a master information betterment service. If you do, beryllium prepared to salary handsomely for their work. Charges of $300 and up are typical. (Bigger drives costs more, arsenic you mightiness expect.) And it tin return weeks aliases months to get done their work queues.

Some companies will fto you nonstop them a replacement thrust connected which to reconstruct what they find. Others will insist connected trading you specified a drive, sometimes astatine above-market prices. But sometimes, location is nary alternative, and you’ll salary what you must to get precious aliases irreplaceable files and information back.

Be judge to activity retired arsenic overmuch of nan costs image arsenic you tin earlier sending a thrust disconnected for recovery. You don’t want nan bill, nevertheless large it turns retired to be, to travel arsenic a surprise. In my 30-plus years of moving pinch individual computers, I’ve ne'er had to nonstop a thrust disconnected for master recovery. Even so, it’s bully to cognize specified services beryllium should 1 ever request them.

Personally, I learned nan worth of backups successful 1989, erstwhile a 300MB SCSI thrust attached to a Macintosh cratered. I mislaid a book manuscript arsenic a result. I’ve ne'er been caught unprotected again, nor should you be. Happy computing!

This article was primitively published successful June 2021 and updated successful April 2025.