my laptop delete all my files

Anidah Zakaria 0 Reputation points
2026-06-11T08:30:02.49+00:00

before i turn off my laptop last night, it required me to update and shutdown. this morning when i open my laptop, my screen went different as usual. 99% of my desktop files were gone. ALL my files in my documents etc. were wiped out completely.

how to retrieve all the files.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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  1. AI answer

    2026-06-11T08:30:15.91+00:00

    Follow these steps in order and stop using the laptop as much as possible until recovery is attempted, to avoid overwriting deleted data.

    1. Check if Windows is using a temporary profile
    • If the desktop looks new (default wallpaper, missing apps, empty Documents), Windows might have signed in with a temporary profile.
    • Sign out and restart the PC, then sign back in with the usual account.
    • If the normal profile loads, files should reappear.
    1. Search the whole PC for files
    2. Right-click the Start menu and select File Explorer.
    3. In the left pane, select This PC.
    4. In the Search This PC box (top right), type the name of a missing file, or search by type, for example:
      • *.doc for Word documents
      • *.xlsx for Excel files
      • *.jpg or *.png for pictures
    5. If files are found, right-click each result and select Open file location to see where they were moved, then copy them back to the desired folders.

    If Search finds nothing, run the Search troubleshooter:

    1. Right-click Start and then select Settings.
    2. Select Privacy & security > Search (or use the Searching Windows button if available).
    3. Under Related settings, select Advanced indexing options.
    4. In Indexing Options, select Advanced.
    5. On Index Settings, select Troubleshoot search and indexing and follow the wizard.
    6. Show hidden files Some files or folders may be hidden.
    7. Right-click Start and select Settings.
    8. Select System > Advanced.
    9. Under File Explorer, ensure Show hidden and system files is set to On.
    10. Go back to File Explorer and re-check Desktop, Documents, and other folders.
    11. Check the Windows.old folder (after a major update) If the update was a major Windows upgrade, files may be in C:\Windows.old.
    12. Sign in with an account that has administrator rights.
    13. Right-click Start and select File Explorer.
    14. Under This PC, open the C: drive.
    15. Right-click the Windows.old folder and select Open.
    16. Open Users > the folder with the user name.
    17. Open Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.
    18. Copy needed files (right-click > Copy) and paste them into current folders.
    19. Check OneDrive (if files were synced)
    • Sign in to OneDrive on the web and look for files in My files, Desktop, Documents, etc.
    • Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin and restore anything found.
    1. Restore from backup If File History or Backup and Restore was configured:
    • For File History / Previous Versions:
      1. Open File Explorer and go to the folder that used to contain the files (for example, Documents).
      2. Right-click the folder and select Restore previous versions.
      3. Choose a version from before the problem and select Open in File History to check contents.
      4. Select Restore (or Restore to... to avoid overwriting current files).
    • For “Backup and restore (Windows 7)” backups:
      1. Connect the external drive that holds the backup.
      2. Open Control Panel > search for backup > Backup and restore (Windows 7).
      3. Select Select another backup to restore files from and follow the wizard.
    1. If nothing is found, consider Windows File Recovery If files are not in Windows.old, OneDrive, Recycle Bin, or backups, use Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store to attempt recovery from the drive. Minimize use of the PC before running it, because new data can overwrite deleted file data.
    2. Before any reset or reinstall If considering Reset this PC or reinstalling Windows, back up any remaining important files first. A reset with Keep my files should preserve personal files, but a full reinstall or Remove everything will delete them.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Meshack Okubasu 15 Reputation points
    2026-06-11T08:38:16.0533333+00:00

    First check the recycle bin for Windows or trash for Mac to find out if the deleted files are there

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  3. DaveM121 946.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-06-11T09:05:56.2666667+00:00

    Most likely, you are logged into a temporary account, it is a known problem after a Windows update.

    Before you do anything or move any files around

    Restart (not shut down) your PC 4 times, each time let your PC get to the Desktop before the next restart, this will fix this issue a lot of the time.

    Otherwise:

    Please open Windows File Explorer

    Navigate to C:\Users

    Do you see two user folders that look like yours?

    Open those folders and check inside Pictures, Documents... etc. and see if your files are there

    If your files are there:

    NOTE VERY IMPORTANT: Do Not copy your files into the Temporary profile you are currently in, when the situation is corrected, your files will be deleted with the Temporary Profile and will not be recoverable !!

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    1 person found this answer helpful.

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