Many users panic immediately when they notice that a folder containing some valuable files has gone missing or has been deleted. There should be no cause for alarm whenever you experience a state of affairs like this. An accidentally deleted documents folder in Windows tin be recovered as hands and quickly as lacing a pair of shoes.

Quick Navigation
Problem Solution
I accept recently deleted the file from the documents folder Restore a Previous Version
Recover from the Recycle Bin
My documents folder is missing Restore a Previous Version
Recover from the Recycle Bin
Recover with information recovery software
I accept accidentally deleted my documents folder Popular Recover from the Recycle Bin
Recover with data recovery software
I can't observe the documents I believe supposed to exist in my documents folder Recreate the Documents folder
Recover with information recovery software
My documents folder disappeared on Windows 10 Restore a Previous Version
Recover from the Recycle Bin
Recover with data recovery software
I want to restore deleted documents folder in Windows Restore a Previous Version
Recover with data recovery software
I want to restore some other version of the documents binder Restore a Previous Version
I deleted the documents folder and information technology's not in the Recycle Bin. Recover with data recovery software

1. Cheque your Recycle Bin

The get-go thing to practise someday you observe that your folder has gone missing is to bank check the Windows Recycle Bin. While many users forget to bank check the Recycle Bin, it must be noted that doing this will save you fourth dimension as very often than not, our deleted folders are kept there for a limited menstruation. As you may already be aware, the default location for temporarily storing deleted items on a Windows PC is the Recycle Bin

In example you lot identify your binder in the Recycle Bin, recovering it is straightforward. Post-obit these simple instructions should help you lot recover your documents folder to its original location.

  1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop.
    Recycle Bin
  2. Navigate through the files and folders to identify your missing Documents binder.
  3. If you successfully identified your folder, correct-click on it and select the "Restore" choice. Restoring the folder puts it back in its original location.
    Restore from Recycle Bin

Continue in mind that checking the Recycle Bin for deleted files and folders should precede any additional recovery methods.

2. Restore a Previous Version of the Documents Folder

An astonishing characteristic that comes with Windows is the power to restore a folder to a previous version. This characteristic works like a regular fill-in tool and allows you to recover a previous version of a file or folder in case you lot lose them.

Previous Version is essentially a copy of files and folders created automatically past the Windows system as part of a restore point. You can utilise this feature to restore folders that take been modified or deleted unintentionally.

The Previous Version feature comes in handy if your folder has been erased from your PC, including the Recycle Bin. A downside to this feature is that you will non be able to recover the latest version of your binder (which means you may lose some files). Nonetheless, due to how the organisation restore point characteristic works, you shouldn't worry nigh losing too many files.

To restore a Documents folder using the Previous Version utility, follow these instructions:

  1. Open File Explorer.
    Launch File Explorer
  2. Identify the specific folder y'all intend to recover.
  3. Right-click the binder, and then select Restore previous versions.
    Restore from Previous Version
  4. Select the particular version y'all wish to restore.
  5. Finally, click on the Restore Button.Using Previous Version

To restore a folder using the previous version feature on your Windows PC, you should have previously enabled it using File History.

How to Enable Previous Versions to Recover Folders in Windows 10

Every bit discussed, you can just utilize the Previous Versions feature only if you lot have enabled it. To practice this, we must utilise File History. Follow these elementary steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your PC.
    Launch Settings in Windows
  2. Select Update & Security.
    Back up files
  3. Click on Backup.
    Windows Backup
  4. Select the Add a drive button.
  5. Choose the bulldoze you lot want to employ as the backup bulldoze.

3. Recover Accidentally Deleted Documents Binder via Data Recovery Software

Data recovery software augments the existing capabilities of your Windows organization by recovering information that basic tools and features on your PC are unable to practise. That means that you should exist able to achieve greater success in recovering an accidentally deleted folder hassle-free.

Data recovery with software is possible considering of the nature of the Windows firmware. Typically when a folder is deleted, Windows erases the pathways that brand the folder accessible and marks the space initially occupied by the folder as available for utilise.

As long as yous practice not overwrite the previous data with new data, data recovery software is capable of restoring the missing links that make it possible to go your information back.

You should discontinue overwriting your drive with new information immediately when you notice that a folder or file has gone missing on your PC. This prevents previous data from being overwritten and increases your chances of recovery.

Choosing the Correct Recovery Tool to Restore Your Documents Folder

There are a ton of data recovery applications at your disposal. However are they all worth information technology? Non quite! The fragile process associated with successful data recovery requires that y'all select an application with a proven runway tape of data recovery, non one that promises to do it and fails.

Hither is a cursory selection of the best information recovery software solutions co-ordinate to our tests:

After many trials carried out using multiple information recovery software, nosotros establish Deejay Drill to be very useful. For the bulk of the features we had in mind, Disk Drill gave us a run for our money.

The user interface is intuitive and pretty piece of cake to utilize. The application also supports hundreds of file formats and fortunately for Windows users, they tin can recover upwardly to 500 MB for complimentary. Additionally, we were amazed at the speed with which Disk Drill recovered our lost binder and the possibility of pausing the scan and resuming later.

Want to larn more near Disk Drill? Read our comprehensive Disk Drill review.

Recover Permanently Deleted Documents Folder Using Deejay Drill

Long story curt, we were highly impressed with the overall features of the Disk Drill app and we recommend information technology for restoring your missing Documents folder. The following steps will guide y'all to restore your deleted binder with Deejay Drill.

  1. Download and install Deejay Drill for Windows.
    disk drill installation sequence
  2. In the list of available partitions, select the 1 that contained the deleted Documents folder.
    Disk Drill - Step 2
  3. Click Search for lost information to begin the search process.
  4. Preview the scanned files and select the folder you want to continue.
  5. Select the folder and choose a new location.
    Disk Drill Recover Location
  6. Click the Restore button to restore the folder to its new location.

Compared to other information recovery methods, using software combines some of the nigh sophisticated features to increment the rate of recovery.

four. Try to Discover You Files/Documents via Windows Search

To avoid complicating things sometimes we encourage you to run a simple search on your Windows PC. The reason for doing this is unproblematic: The binder could have moved to a different location on your PC mistakenly without you knowing about it.

Transferring items from one location to some other on your PC is a very common practice. Perhaps in a previous attempt, y'all might have moved your Documents binder to an unknown location accidentally when in fact you remember information technology has been deleted. To find your files, we propose that you manually search for them as an boosted measure.

  1. Launch File Explorer.Launch File Explorer
  2. Keep to the search tab at the top-right corner.
  3. Blazon in *.medico or *.docx to brandish all the available give-and-take documents stored on your PC.Document search
  4. Once you recognize whatsoever files, right-click on whatever of them and select open up file location.
  5. Select the folder and motility it to its original location.

v. Recreate the Documents Folder/Restore Document Library

In case yous didn't know, the folders you run into on the left pane in File Explorer which includes Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, are created by default on Windows. These libraries can be restored quickly if you deleted them mistakenly.

Without exception, if you mistakenly deleted the Documents folder, there are two ways to restore it. You can choose to recreate the Documents folder or restore the Document library.

Recreate the Documents Binder

Instead of using a information recovery application to restore your missing folder, you can directly recreate a new Documents folder as an alternative procedure. You can practice this by following the steps beneath:

  1. Create a new Documents folder in File Explorer.
  2. Reset the Registry User Folder Settings.Registry Editor
    • Using the Win + R command, blazon regedt32 and click OK  to bring up "Registry Editor Utility".
    • Navigate:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
    • Verify the proper name and data of the Documents folder, which is typically Personal, %USERPROFILE%\Documents. Double-check to confirm that they accept been correctly represented. If not, you can manually adjust the name and data value.
  3. Recreate the Documents binder.
    • Click the Windows button on your keyboard. Blazon cmd to display the Command Prompt utility. Right-click on it and select "Run every bit administrator".
    • Type attrib + r -due south -h %USERPROFILE%\Documents /S /D and click Enter.

After you complete these steps, we suggest restarting your reckoner. You lot should run across the Documents folder displayed on your Desktop after the kicking process.

Restore the Documents Library

Also the option to recreate the Documents folder, you lot may also decide to restore the documents library, which is a less cumbersome arroyo. To do this, you need to follow these guidelines:

  1. Open File Explorer.
    File Explorer
  2. Click on Libraries on the left pane to open the folder.
    Libraries
  3. Right-click the Libraries particular on the left and select Restore default libraries in the context card.
    Restore default libraries

The Documents library will resurface after yous have completed the steps to a higher place.

FAQ

Final Thoughts

Losing an of import file or folder is a pretty common phenomenon. Instead of fretting over an obvious error, many solutions, especially on the Windows platform tin help y'all to deal with such a situation. When in doubtfulness, nosotros recommend using data recovery software, particularly i capable of delivering impeccable results similar the instance reviewed in the article.