How to Recover Deleted Files After System Restore: Complete Guide

Short Answer:

If files are missing after System Restore, they may be hidden, moved, affected by file system errors, or actually deleted. To recover them, try checking previous versions, searching for them, showing hidden files, or using free data recovery software.

Does System Restore Delete Files

No. System Restore normally does not delete personal files. It is a system rollback feature that restores system-related components, including system files, registry settings, drivers, or system configurations.

Typically, System Restore does not affect documents, videos, downloads, or photos stored on your Desktop, Documents, Pictures, or Downloads folders.

However, there are situations where your files may be missing after System Restore.

Why Are Files Missing After System Restore

There are several possible reasons why files cannot be found after completing a System Restore.

1. Files Were Stored in Affected Locations

System Restore reverts the system files and installed programs to the state they were in at the time the restore point was created.

Therefore, if you saved personal files inside a program folder or a system directory, those files may be removed after System Restore.

2. File Became Hidden

Sometimes files are not deleted but hidden because of system settings, permission changes, or malware-related issues.

3. The Restore Process Caused File System Issues

A failed or interrupted System Restore may cause file system errors on the system disk.

When the file system structure is damaged, Windows may not correctly display some files even though the data remains on the drive.

4. Files Were Deleted or Moved Before System Restore

System Restore cannot recover files that were already deleted before creating the restore point. In addition, if a file was moved before System Restore, it will not be automatically returned to its previous location after the restore process.

How to Recover Deleted Files After System Restore

Method 1. Restore Files from Previous Versions

Applicable case: This method works only if Windows has created previous versions of your files.

Windows includes a feature called Previous Versions, which allows you to restore earlier versions of files and folders created by File History or restore points.

To restore files from previous versions, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder or drive where the missing files were stored.

Step 2. Right-click the folder or partition and choose Restore previous versions.

Step 3. Select a previous version created before the file was lost, and click Open to view the files inside. If you find the missing file, copy it and save it to another location.

Method 2. Search for Missing Files

Applicable case: Files are not deleted but moved to another location after System Restore.

If a file is moved to another drive or folder on your computer, you may not find it in its original location. In this case, use the Search feature in File Explorer to locate the missing file.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and go to the This PC section.

Step 2. Enter the file name or file extension in the search box. For example, search for .docx for Word documents, .jpg for photos, and .mp4 for videos.

If you remember part of the file name, searching by keywords may also help.

Method 3. Show Hidden Files

Applicable case: Files are hidden rather than deleted or lost.

If files are hidden after System Restore, enabling the Show hidden files feature can make them appear again.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and click View.

Step 2. Select the Hidden items checkbox to show hidden files and folders. To unhide hidden files, select them and unhighlight the Hide selected items option.

You can also run the following command in Command Prompt to remove the Hidden, Read-only, and System attributes from all files on the X drive:

attrib -h -r -s /s /d X:\*.*

Replace X with the actual drive letter.

Method 4. Use Data Recovery Software

Applicable case: Files are actually deleted and are not stored in the Recycle Bin.

If your files are actually deleted after System Restore or cannot be found in the Recycle Bin or previous versions, data recovery software can help recover them.

A data recovery tool scans the local storage device for remaining data and attempts to restore files that are not overwritten by new data.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery can scan hard drives, SSDs, and other storage devices to find deleted or lost files.

The free edition allows you to scan your device and recover up to 1 GB of files for free, so you can check whether your lost files are recoverable before upgrading.

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Step 1. Select the Drive and Scan for Lost Files

Launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery. From the main interface, select the drive or location where your files were lost after System Restore and click Scan.

The software will automatically scan the selected location for deleted and existing files. The scanning time depends on the drive size and the amount of data stored on it.

Step 2. Find Required Files

After the scan completes, browse the scan results and locate the files you want to recover. You can use the Filter and Search features to quickly narrow down the listed files.

Step 3. Save Wanted Files

Select the needed files, click Save, and choose another drive to store the recovered files.

Method 5. Recover Files Using Commands

Applicable case: Files are missing due to disk errors, or you do not want to use third-party data recovery software.

Windows provides built-in command-line tools that help repair file system problems and recover deleted or lost files.

Option 1. Use CHKDSK to Repair File System Errors

CHKDSK checks the drive for file system errors and attempts to fix problems that may prevent Windows from displaying files correctly. Run it to fix missing files after System Restore.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Type chkdsk X: /f /r and press Enter. Replace X with the drive letter of the problematic drive.

For example, to repair the P drive, execute chkdsk P: /f /r.

CHKDSK can repair logical disk errors, but it is not a dedicated file recovery tool. If files were permanently deleted, CHKDSK cannot restore them.

Option 2. Use Windows File Recovery (WinFR)

If you prefer using an official Microsoft recovery tool instead of third-party recovery software, try Windows File Recovery.

Windows File Recovery is a free command-line utility provided by Microsoft. It can help recover deleted files from internal drives and external hard drives.

WinFR Command Syntax

The basic command format is:

Winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

• source-drive: The drive containing the lost files.
• destination-drive: The drive where recovered files will be saved.
• /mode: The Regular or Extensive recovery mode.
• /switches: Additional options to specify file types or file names.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Store and download Windows File Recovery.

Step 2. Launch the software and run the WinFR commands to recover files. You can specify folders, file extensions, or file names depending on what you want to recover.

Here are some examples:

Example 1: To recover the Documents folder from the C drive to the H drive with the Regular mode:

Winfr C: H: /regular /n \Users\<username>\Documents\

Replace <username> with the actual username. When you see the message Continue? (y/n), type Y to continue.

Example 2: To recover PDF and Word documents with the Regular mode:

Winfr C: H: /regular /n *.pdf /n *.docx

Example 3: To recover files containing “test” in the file name by using wildcard characters:

Winfr C: H: /extensive /n *test*

After the recovery process is completed, go to the specified drive to view the recovered files.

How to Prevent Data Loss Before Using System Restore

To prevent System Restore from affecting personal files in the future, it is recommended to take precautions before starting the restore process.

Here are some recommended practices:

Tip 1. Create a Backup of Important Files

Before performing System Restore, back up important documents, photos, videos, and other personal files to another storage location.

You can copy and paste the target files manually or use professional Windows backup software like MiniTool ShadowMaker.

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You can also create a system image to make a complete copy of your Windows system, including the operating system, installed programs, settings, and files.

Tip 2. Check Affected Programs Before Restoring

Before confirming a restore point, Windows allows you to check which programs will be affected.

After checking the list, locate the installation folders or related folders of these programs and make sure no important personal files are stored there.

Files saved inside program directories may be deleted after System Restore.

Tip 3. Do Not Interrupt System Restore

An interrupted System Restore may cause system issues or file system errors. Before starting:

• Connect your laptop to a stable power source.
• Make sure you have enough free disk space.
• Avoid forcing a shutdown during the restore process.

Following these tips before or during System Restore can reduce the risk of unexpected problems and make it easier to recover your system or files if anything goes wrong.

System Restore Deleted Files FAQ

Wrapping Things Up

Although System Restore usually does not delete personal files, you may sometimes find files missing after completing a restore due to hidden files, file system issues, or previous deletion.

If your files are lost after System Restore, start with simple solutions such as checking Previous Versions, searching your computer, and showing hidden files. If these methods do not work, use data recovery software to scan the drive and recover lost files.

To avoid similar problems in the future, always create a backup before making major system changes.

If you have any questions about MiniTool software, please feel free to contact the support team at [email protected].