Forum Discussion
How to recover accidentally deleted desktop folder on Windows 11?
Hi everyone,
I hope someone can help me out here. I accidentally deleted my entire Desktop folder in Windows 11 and I'm not sure how to recover it. I've already checked the Recycle Bin and unfortunately, it's not there. Here's what I've tried so far:
- Checking the Recycle Bin (folder isn't there)
- Using File Explorer to search for the folder
- Looking into OneDrive backups (no luck)
I'm really in a pinch because I had some important files and shortcuts on my Desktop that I need to retrieve. Can anyone suggest any reliable tool for recovering accidentally deleted desktop folder on Windows 11? Any input would be greatly appreciated
9 Replies
You can use "System Restore Points" in Windows 11, It's on by default in Win 11
- Press the Windows key + X then press Y to bring up the "About Menu"
- Click on "System Protection"
- In the System Properties window, click on "System Restore" and select the latest restore point just before this accident
Before using any software to recover accidentally deleted desktop folder on Windows 11? Make sure to:
- Stop using your computer to avoid overwriting any potential recoverable data.
- Disconnect any external drives or devices to prevent data corruption.
- Choose a reputable recovery software and follow the instructions carefully.
If you've enabled System Restore in Windows 11, you might be able to recover deleted folder from a previous system snapshot. To do this:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type "systempropertiesadvanced" and press Enter.
- Click on "System Protection" and select your Windows installation drive (usually C:).
- Click "Configure" and toggle the switch next to "Turn on system protection" to the "On" position.
- Click "Create" to create a new system restore point.
- In the System Properties window, click on "System Restore" and select a previous restore point from the list.
Shelbybu You can try Recuva, a free data recovery tool that supports Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 7. It's designed to help Windows users recover lost or accidentally deleted files, including those from the Desktop folder. Its deep scan mode allows for a thorough search, increasing the chances of recovering files that are otherwise hard to retrieve.
Using Recuva to recover a accidentally deleted Desktop folder on Windows 11 is straightforward. Simply download and install the software, then launch it and follow the on-screen instructions to select the drive or location where the Desktop folder was originally stored. Recuva will perform a comprehensive scan and present a list of recoverable files and folders. You can preview the files before recovery, ensuring you restore exactly what you need. With its secure overwrite feature, Recuva also provides an option to permanently delete sensitive files, adding an extra layer of security.
- Recovering the deleted desktop folder on Windows 11 using OneDrive is definitely possible, but there's a catch. If you're not careful, you might end up overwriting the recovered files with newer versions, which can be disastrous!
Do you backup your computer using the File History option? This is the built-in backup option on Windows 11 and Windows 10. If yes, you can easily restore accidentally deleted desktop folder on Windows 11 from previous backup.
- Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to Update & Security > Backup.
- If File History is enabled, click on More options under the "Back up using File History" section. Scroll down and click on Restore files from a current backup.
- In the File History window, look for your Desktop folder. Navigate to the date and time before the deletion occurred.
- Select the Desktop folder and click on the green Restore button to recover the deleted folder from Desktop to its original location.
Most people will backup and sync important desktop folders to OneDrive, which is integrated with Windows 11 OS. It is a cloud storage service provided by Microsoft that allows users to store files and personal data in the cloud. It offers file synchronization and sharing capabilities to access their files from various devices like PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
Open OneDrive from the taskbar (cloud icon) or start menu. Go to the OneDrive website and sign in with your Microsoft account. Navigate to the Recycle bin section in OneDrive. Look for your deleted Desktop folder and select it. Click on the 'Restore' button to recover accidentally deleted desktop folder on Windows 11.This worked exactly as described for me. Thank you.
When the folder on desktop got deleted, it should be moved to the Recycle Bin first. Please carefully check the files and folders from trash. This is the best place to recover accidentally deleted desktop folder on any Windows PC.
Otherwise, you should use a dedicated data recovery software to retrieve the deleted files on Windows 11. Here is a nice guide that successfully recovered my deleted desktop folders.
https://www.kinmeo.com/recover-deleted-files-windows-11
Note: Don't copy any files to the C drive. This will overwrite the space occupied by deleted files.
