[Closed] Finding a folder on a PC

Search for the most unusual file name that you remember being in the folder?

Usually works for me.

Use Windows Explorer (if you open up the This PC icon you'll be able to search all mounted devices).

You can also search for Folders using the Windows 10 search function (the magnifying glass icon next the Start Menu in the Task Bar).

Don't search from the windows task bar as it's a bit wooly. Open file explorer (Windows key + e) and use the search in there (top right of file explorer is the search function). You can tell it to look in hidden folders and protected operating system locations as well.

Have you checked what's in the recycle bin?

The usual reason for a folder disappearing is it being accidentally dragged onto another in Windows Explorer, so is now inside it. As above, type all or part of the folder name, or a file in it, into the search window top right in Explorer. Either start from the drive it's on, or shorten the search by starting in a possible parent folder.

Nope, nothing...it's gone 🙁

As above, have you checked that it's not in the Recycle bin?

Do you have File History running on Windows 10? If you do it might be possible to recover it through this.

There'll be some file recovery tools out there too, but I've no idea what works.

Have a look in the recycle bin (does that show in searches?)

If you know the file type and have a vague idea of where it might be, you can try searching for the file extension (for example, .txt for a plain text file). Then sort the results by date modified, so the most recent file is at the top of the list.