Step-by-Step: How to Recover Photoshop Files on Windows

Help! My Photoshop files got lost!

Photoshop is a popular graphic design and photo editing software developed by Adobe. It provides users with multiple image editing features, such as layer management, color corrections, and image retouching.

It is widely used by photographers, designers, and artists for photo processing. However, there are some potential issues they may encounter while using it. One of the most common problems is Photoshop file loss. For example, you might lose an essential Photoshop file due to accidental deletion or unexpected formatting. Besides that, abrupt system or software failures can also result in the loss of unsaved work.

How to recover deleted Photoshop files?

In most situations, you cannot find your Photoshop files because they are deleted without awareness. Is it possible to get these missing files back? Fortunately, there are several solutions available that allow you to recover deleted files even if they are permanently removed. If you are troubled by this issue, keep reading this section to learn how to recover Photoshop files on Windows.

Solution 1. Restore Deleted Photoshop Files with Recovery Software

Unexpected Photoshop file loss can leaving us feeling frustrated and helpless. Luckily, recovery software offers a beacon of hope, helping us restore lost files and ensure data integrity.

AOMEI FastRecovery, a highly efficient data recovery tool, is designed to help users recover lost, deleted, or corrupted files on Windows PCs & Servers, regardless of the reasons for data loss. With its advanced data scanning and recovery technology, you are allowed to quickly locate and retrieve various file formats from different storage devices.

Highlights of AOMEI FastRecovery:
◆ User-Friendly Design: The intuitive interface guides users to effortlessly recover what they want, step-by-step.
◆ Advanced Scanning Technology: Provides two scanning modes, Quick Scan and Deep Scan, to comprehensively find the desired files.
◆ Preview-Supported Recovery: Users are allowed to check the files before recovery, ensuring that they are restoring the right ones.
◆ High Security: Guarantees users data 100% security during the recovery process.

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Here’s how to recover Photoshop files using AOMEI FastRecovery:

Step 1: Launch AOMEI FastRecovery on your computer first, and then choose the exact partition or disk where your Photoshop files are stored.

Step 2: Scan the specific disk with Quick Scan and Deep Scan to find the deleted files. 

Step 3: Once scanning is complete, all missing files will be displayed on the interface. Please select Images under the Other Missing Files option, kindly choose the files you want to restore, and click Recover. 

Step 4: Specify a saving path for the recovered files and then wait for the process to complete.

Solution 2. Recover Deleted Photos from Recycle Bin

In addition to the recovery software, you can also restore deleted files through the Recycle Bin on Windows. Typically, most deleted files are stored temporarily in the folder and can be easily restored within a few steps. If you fail to find the desired files here, they might have been permanently deleted. In this situation, consider using the previous methods to get them back.

You can recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin with the following steps:

Step 1: Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop.

Step 2: Search the files that you want to recover. 

Step 3: Right-click on the files and choose the Restore option. They can be easily restored to their original locations.

Solution 3. Recover Deleted Files through Backups

Apart from the methods mentioned above, recovering deleted Photoshop files via previously created backups is also a great option. For instance, you can recover files by using Backup and Restore in Windows, provided you have enabled this feature in advance. This feature can back up the specified files and data regularly and provide a recovery option as needed.

Here are the specific recovery steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + R and input control to open the Control Panel.

Step 2: Select System and Security > Backup and Restore in turn.

Step 3: Click Restore my files.

Step 4: Click Browse for files to choose the files you want to recover, and then click Next.

Step 5: Specify the saving path for your recovered files, and then click on the Restore option.

How to recover Photoshop files if they are unsaved?

If your system crashes or Photoshop malfunctions before you've saved your files, recovering them through previous methods may not be possible. Don't worry—this section provides three effective ways to recover unsaved Photoshop files.

Solution 1. Restore Unsaved Photoshop Files Using AutoSave

Can you recover a file on Photoshop? Yes, of course you can. AutoSave is a feature that comes with Photoshop C6 and Photoshop CC 2014/2015/2017/2018/2019. It can automatically back up Photoshop files at regular intervals. When the software or operating system suddenly crashes, this feature allows you to effortlessly recover the unsaved files, minimizing the risk of data loss.

Here’s how to recover a file in Photoshop with its AutoSave feature:

Step 1: Open your Adobe Photoshop CC first.

Step 2: Click Edit > Preference.

Step 3: Select the Automatic save recovery information every * minute option and customize intervals as needed on the File Handling interface.

Step 4: If your Photoshop files get lost, go to C:/Users/UserName/AppData/Roaming/Adobe Photoshop/AutoRecover to find your unsaved files.

Solution 2. Restore Unsaved Photoshop Files via Temp Folder

If your version of Photoshop doesn’t support AntoSave, it is advised to recover unsaved Photoshop files via the Temp folder on your PC. In Windows, temporary files are generated by the operating system or applications to store short-term data. These files are usually stored in the Temp folder on the C: drive. If your Photoshop files were unsaved before disappearing, their copies might have been stored in that location.

Here are the steps to recover unsaved files from the Temp folder:

Step 1: Navigate to the temporary file location using this path: C:/Users/UserName/AppData/Local/Temp

Step 2: Search the files with names beginning with Photoshop. It might be time-consuming, but you can narrow down the search scope according to their modified dates.

Step 3: Open and save the recovered files properly.

Solution 3. Recover Files from Recent Files

In addition to the AutoSave, Photoshop also provides a feature called Open Recent, which allows you to quickly access your most recently handled files. Sometimes, you cannot find your files because you are unsure of where they are stored. In this situation, try recovering them from recent file lists. If this method doesn’t work, go to solution 1 in this section.

How to recover Photoshop files from recent files:

Step 1: Open your Photoshop first.

Step 2: Click Files on the top-left of the interface.

Step 3: Select the Open Recent option to view all your recently edited files.

Step 4: Select the one that you want to recover and save it to a desired location.

Summary

The Photoshop file loss on PC can always result in inconvenience and massive loss for you. Fortunately, this isn't a situation without any options. This post presents several common techniques on how to recover Photoshop files on Windows. Whether your files are accidentally deleted or unsaved when encountering interruptions, they can assist you in quickly and effectively getting these files back. If you are facing the dilemma of Photoshop file loss, you can simply refer to the solutions discussed above.