All the Files in My C Drive Disappeared? Recover Now!

Why all the files in my Cdrive disappeared?

It can be alarming when files disappear from your C drive. Several potential causes for this could include:

◆ Accidental deletion: Files may have been accidentally deleted by someone or by software, but they could still be recoverable from the Recycle Bin.

◆ Malware or virus: Malicious software might cause files to vanish, often hiding them or moving them to other locations. Running a full system scan with an antivirus program could help identify and fix the issue.

◆ Corrupted file system: If your file system became corrupted due to a system crash or improper shutdown, files may appear to be gone. Running a disk check (chkdsk) can sometimes repair these issues and restore file visibility.

◆​​​​​​​ Windows updates or system changes: In rare cases, Windows updates or system settings changes could cause files to disappear or become hidden. Checking the "Previous Versions" tab in the folder properties or restoring the system to a previous state might help recover them.

◆​​​​​​​ Hidden files: Sometimes, files become hidden due to accidental changes in settings. You can change the view settings in File Explorer to show hidden files and folders.

How to recover all the files in my C drive disappeared in Windows 11/10

It can be frustrating when all the files in your C drive disappear in Windows 11/10. But don’t worry! There are several ways to get them back. Below, we’ll go over four effective methods to recover missing files from C drive.

Way 1. Show hidden files & folders

Sometimes, your missing files are not deleted but simply hidden on your computer. To make them visible, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch File Explorer and press the three dots in the right-up corner, and select “Options”.

Step 2. In the Folder Options window, go to the “View” tab.

Step 3. Under “Advanced settings,” mark the checkbox next to “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.”

Step 4. Choose “Apply” and “OK” to save the change.

Way 2. Check the Recycle Bin

If you accidentally deleted files from C drive, these files might be sitting in the Recycle Bin. Thus, you can go the Bin to see whether you can restore the disappeared files.

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin (double-click the icon on your desktop).

Step 2. Look for your missing files.

Step 3. Right-click on a file and choose Restore to send it back to its original location.

Way 3. Use File History

If you fail to recover all the files in my Cdrive disappeared by using the above two methods, File History is a good utility to help file recovery. If File History was turned on before the files disappeared, you might be able to restore them. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Navigate to the Control Panel first, and click the File History.

Step 2. Find and click the Restore personal files on the left list.

Step 3. Restore target files. The deleted file will appear on your interface and then click the Restore.

Way 4. Use professional data recovery software

If the above methods don’t work, your best bet is to use a professional data recovery tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. This software can scan your C drive and restore lost or deleted files effectively. It can restore lost files in various situations, including:

✔ Accidental deletion – Retrieve files mistakenly removed from your system.
✔ Hard disk formatting – Recover data from formatted HDDs, SSDs, and external drives.
✔ RAW hard drive issues – Restore files from inaccessible or unrecognized drives.
✔ Virus or malware attacks – Recover data lost due to malicious threats.

With its advanced scanning capabilities and high success rate, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is a reliable solution for retrieving lost files in various data loss scenarios. Follow the guide below to see how to recover all the files in my C drive disappeared:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery on your computer.

Step 2. Select a location to scan first to find the lost data on your Windows.

Step 3. It Will take some time to scan and find the lost data. Wait patiently.

Note: AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery provides two scan modes, Quickly Scan and Deep Scan. The Quickly Scan will search for your deleted data in the fastest way. The Deep Scan will make further search for other missing data.

Step 4. After the scan is complete, here you can preview the recovered files, and select the ones you want to restore. Click "Recover".

Step 5. Select a folder path to store the recovered items and click "Select Folder".

Conclusion

In this article, we've outlined 4 effective methods to address the issue of all the files in my C drive disappeared. However, before trying these solutions, we highly recommend using AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery to restore your lost files. This approach allows you to recover data without the risk of permanent loss, ensuring a safe troubleshooting process.