It’s not unusual to come across users complaining that their files disappeared after a Windows update.
When the system will not boot, the files are often still on the drive. Before reinstalling Windows, see how lab data recovery works, starting with a free diagnosis.
Because it happens so often, it’s worth knowing how to recover your files after a system update.
In this article, we explain what may have caused the data loss, how to recover your lost files (and the safest way to do it), and how to update your system safely, step by step, if you decide to do so.
Possible causes of data loss after a Windows update
These are some of the reasons why files may go missing after updating Windows:
- Windows signed you in with a temporary profile instead of your usual account
- The account you used before the upgrade is not working
- Files were moved to different locations
- Files were accidentally deleted during the upgrade to the new version of Windows
How to recover files after a Windows update
Here are five ways to recover files after a Windows update.
Method 1: Get rid of the temporary profile
If Windows signed you in with a temporary profile after the update, your old documents may simply be in your usual profile, which isn’t loaded.
- Step 1: Check whether you are signed in with a temporary profile;
- Step 2: Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > “Sync your settings”. If you see a message at the top saying “You’re signed in with a temporary profile. Roaming options are currently unavailable”, restart your computer and sign in again. This usually removes the temporary profile and makes your documents accessible again;
- Step 3: After restarting, check the “Sync your settings” page again to confirm the message is gone;
- Step 4: Restarting and signing in again also helps if you see the message “We can’t sign in to your account”. This problem can usually be fixed by signing out and then signing back in.
Method 2: Find lost files after a Windows update using search
If you are not signed in with a temporary profile, you can search for the missing files directly in the search box on the taskbar.
You can search by file name or file type.
For example, if you’re looking for a lost Excel file, search for the name it was saved under, or for *.xlsx.
If search doesn’t find anything, type “indexing” in the taskbar search box and select “Indexing Options”.
Click “Advanced” to see more options, or select “Troubleshoot search and indexing” and follow the steps.
This can help you find files that seemed to have disappeared after the Windows update.
Other things you can try:
- The update may have hidden some files. In the taskbar search box, type “File Explorer Options” and open the “View” tab. Under “Hidden files and folders”, select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”. Then search for your files again;
- Some of your files may have been moved when the new version of Windows was installed. To see where a file you found is stored, press and hold (or right-click) it and select “Open file location”. Copy any files you need to the location you want.
Method 3: Restore lost files from a backup
Open the Start menu, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup and select “Go to Backup and Restore”.
Select “Restore my files” and follow the instructions to recover the files lost after the Windows update.
In some cases, you can also get a file back by creating a new one with the same name and type in the same folder. Then, right-click the new file and:
- Step 1: select “Properties”;
- Step 2: open the “Previous Versions” tab;
- Step 3: choose the version of the file you want to restore (this only works if restore points or File History were enabled).
Method 4: Enable the administrator account
After upgrading to the latest version of Windows, the administrator account you were using may have been disabled automatically.
If so, you won’t be able to see the documents stored in that account.
To get back the files that disappeared after the upgrade, enable the account by following these steps:
- Step 1: type “Computer Management” in the taskbar search box and click “Open”;
- Step 2: in the “Computer Management” window, click “Local Users and Groups” in the left-hand pane;
- Step 3: double-click “Users” in the right-hand pane;
- Step 4: double-click “Administrator” to open its properties;
- Step 5: clear the “Account is disabled” checkbox if it is selected;
- Step 6: click “Apply” and then “OK”;
- Step 7: sign in with the administrator account and look for your lost documents.
Method 5: Recover files after a Windows update without a backup
If you still can’t find the lost documents, they may have been deleted during the upgrade. Before anything else, check the C:\Windows.old folder, where Windows keeps files from the previous installation for a few days after an upgrade.
If the files aren’t there either, you will need data recovery software.
However, these programs require some experience with this type of tool.
And if they’re used incorrectly – for example, installed on the same drive or saving the recovered files to it – they can overwrite the deleted data and make it unrecoverable.
How to recover your files professionally if nothing else works
The safest way to recover your data, with the lowest risk of damaging your disk, is to use a professional recovery service.
Like the one we offer at Bot!
Our highly trained professionals work in a Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanroom, where airborne dust particles are controlled, preserving the integrity of your disk while recovering your data.
What’s more, we collect your device free of charge (islands not included).
And we’re fast: our standard diagnosis is free and takes up to 48 hours.
How to upgrade to the latest version of Windows safely
If you want to upgrade to the latest version of Windows, follow these three steps:
1. Make a full backup before updating
With a full system backup, you can go back to your previous Windows installation whenever you want, even after the 10-day rollback period has passed.
2. Make sure there’s enough space on the system drive (C:)
Before upgrading to the latest version of Windows, make sure the system partition has enough free space.
If needed, you can extend the C: partition before upgrading by shrinking or moving other partitions (such as D:, E: or F:) to make room. Resizing partitions carries some risk, so do it only after making the backup.
3. Free up space by removing unnecessary files from the C: drive
Tools such as Disk Cleanup are a good way to free up space by deleting temporary files and browser caches and uninstalling apps you no longer use.
Once you’ve completed these three steps, you can upgrade to the latest version of Windows with a much lower risk of losing data.
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Conclusion
Files disappearing after a Windows update is a common complaint among users of this operating system.
There are many possible causes, including being signed in with a temporary profile, accounts that stop working, files moved to different locations, or files accidentally deleted during the upgrade to the new version of Windows.
To try to recover your files after a Windows update, you can get rid of the temporary profile, use search to find the lost files, restore a backup, enable the administrator account or use data recovery software.
However, of all these options, the safest way to recover data that disappeared after a Windows update is to use a professional service, like the one we offer at Bot.
We are data recovery experts with more than two decades of experience, whatever the make and model of your device or your operating system.
We have handled more than 200,000 cases, with a 96% success rate.
We also offer 24/7 support through our social media pages. If you have any questions, just contact us!
Start your data recovery with us now and get your data back safely!
