How to restore Downloads folder in Windows 11? This post will share X methods that allows you effectively recover the deleted Download folder with all files in it.
Are you having trouble finding your Downloads folder in Windows 11? This folder is where Windows saves files you download from the internet. If it’s missing, you won’t be able to access your past downloads or save new ones. In most cases, the folder could be gone because you accidentally deleted it, changed its location, or it’s hidden. It might also depend on how files are downloaded in browsers like Chrome.
First, check File Explorer to see if the Downloads folder is still in its usual spot. If the Windows Explorer Quick Access is missing, don’t worry—there are simple ways to get it back. Many users delete it by mistake while cleaning up their computers.
To solve this, follow a few easy steps to restore your Downloads folder in Windows 11 and earlier versions. This will help you recover your important files quickly.
There are 5 methods will help you easily restore Downloads folder in Windows 11. Whether or not you have a backup, you can find the best solution to recover your deleted Downloads folder in this section. Choose the method that works best for your situation.
If Downloads files or folders are missing in Windows 11, they might have been accidentally deleted or lost due to virus attack. You can recover them using AOMEI FastRecovery, a tool that effectively restores lost data, including pictures, videos, documents, and more. Whether it's your Pictures, Documents, or Downloads folders that are missing, AOMEI FastRecovery simplifies the recovery process.
To start recovering your files, particularly from the Downloads folder, just follow the straightforward steps in the provided tutorial. This will help you get your important files back quickly and without complications.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.
Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.
Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".
Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.
Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.
The files that you remove from a local disk will be sent to the Recycle Bin folder. If you're sure it hasn't been emptied, try to get back files that you deleted from the Recycle Bin. If a note file is too big, it will be deleted for good.
Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin, either from the Desktop or File Explorer.
Step 2. Look for the download files or folder in the window that appears. You can also use the search bar to locate your file more easily.
Step 3. Once you find the deleted files in the downloads folder, right-click on it and select Restore. This will return your files to its original location before it was deleted. Here is a example about how to recover data from Recycle Bin.
Web browsers have a remarkable feature where they save the path of downloaded files, making it possible to re-download them, even if they were permanently deleted. Note that confidential information is often shared through expiring links that prevent further downloads. If you are in this case, it is better to try all-inclusive data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery.
Step 1. Open the browser you download files. Click the Settings menu (three dots in Chrome and three horizontal bars in Firefox).
Step 2. Navigate to the Downloads option. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + J in Chrome or Firefox to directly access it.
Step 3.Re-download the deleted files in a web browser. Usually, you will see two prompts below:
If you have a backup that you made before, you can try to restore files from that copy. It's one of the best ways to back up your files, and it includes almost all of them. Back up and restore (Windows 7) will be used to show you how to get back to the downloads area in Windows 11.
Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 2. Click Restore my files.
Step 3. Click Browse for files > Select photos you want > Next.
Step 4. You can choose to restore your files to their original place or to a new one. Then, in Windows 11, click "Restore" to get back the files from the Downloads folder.
If you accidentally delete the Downloads folder in Windows 11, you can restore it by using the system restore feature or File History. These tools create backups of your files automatically. To recover deleted Downloads folder, please check the previous versions of the folder. File History or system restore points save earlier versions of files and folders. You can easily use them to restore deleted or replaced files.
Step 1. Find the file or folder you want in File Explorer. Right-click and choose "Restore Previous Versions". Then pick the right version from the list under "Previous Versions".
Step 2. Click "Restore" to recover it to its original location.
You can use data recovery tools like AOMEI FastRecovery to recover the lost Downloads folder in Windows 11. Even if you empty the Recycle Bin, this tool can still get the folder back. Besides, you can recover the folder from a backup if you have one. Making copies of important files, like the Downloads folder, is always a good idea to make sure you don't lose them.