Accidentally Deleted Desktop Files or the Folder? Recover Now

This article covers 5 easy ways to recover a deleted folder on desktop or the Desktop folder and guides you step by step how to do it. Get started now!

Lora

By Lora / Updated on December 11, 2024

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As a matter of fact, there are quite a few users who store their files in use in a folder on the desktop for convenience. In this way, they canaccess and organize the folder directly. However, during use, some users may accidentally delete the folder, even the entire desktop folder. So, the question arises:

  • How to recover a deleted folder on desktop?
  • How to recover deleted desktop folder?

When you delete a folder (either folder on the desktop or itself) using a Delete key, itwill be sent to the Recycle Bin folder. But if you use the "Shift + Delete" keys or empty this folder, your will be permanently deleted. It will be more difficult to recover. But don't lose hope.

Scroll down to explore more about desktop data recovery!

A few hours ago I unintentionally deleted a large folder of many photos on my desktop. A message flashed out saying that the size was too large for the recycling bin to take, click Yes to confirm you want to delete it. I clicked it without realizing it. How do I recover a deleted folder on desktop” – Microsoft Community

“I accidentally deleted my desktop folder from the C:\Users\user_name directory and, now I am getting the C:\Users\user_name\Desktop is unavailable error every time I open file explorer. Any help would be appreciated." – Reddit

Quick Fix to recover accidentally deleted a folder on Desktop

 The very first action that can save you is “Undo”. You could tap the “Ctrl+Z” key to revoke the deletion. If not, take a quick fix: recover deleted files from Recycle Bin. It stores the deleted items temporarily till no free space is available or reaches 30 days.

Step 1. Go to Recycle Bin > locate the folder you have just deleted.

Step 2. Right-click the folder > Restore. Then the folder will go back to its original location.

restore-deleted-folder-from-recycle-bin

However, unluckily, the more likely you will find is that the deleted folder not in Recycle Bin. It indicates that the folder was permanently deleted. But don’t be frustrated, the methods below could help you.

How to recover a deleted folder on desktop or the desktop folder

Several viable and tested solutions will be provided in this part. We have 3 ideas, and you can select one based on your situation.

  • One is to restore from backup, i.e. File History, Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
  • Two are restoring from software, such as MyRecover.
  • The last one is to restore the default location (which can be moved to another location).

Method 1. Recover a deleted folder or the desktop folder using software

Accidents occur without any clues. So if you have accidentally deleted folders from desktop or the desktop folder but don't backup it,  the best practice is using a professional Windows data recovery tool. MyRecover is efficient, convenient, and powerful, which is a good choice.

You can click the download button below to get it.

MyRecover
👍Why Choose MyRecover
  • Has a high success rate and fast recovery speed.
  • Support cutting-edge scanning algorithms to perform a deep scan of your disk for deleted or lost data.
  • In excess of 1000 formats, including photos, videos (e.g. recover deleted MP4 files), office files, zip files, etc.
  • A quick way to locate deleted folder on desktop or the desktop folder.
  • Selectively restore files or folders instead of all. 
  • Support recovering deleted files in Windows 11/10/8/7 SP 1, and servers.
  • 500MB cost-free data recovery volume.

Don’t hesitate to use this powerful tool to perform desktop data recovery.

Step 1. Select the drive to scan. 

Install and run MyRecover. Hover the mouse over the drive saved desktop folder, and click Scan.

select-location-to-scan

Step 2. Scan for deleted or lost desktop folder or files. 

It will automatically run Quick Scan & Deep Scan to perform a thorough scan of the disk. It helps to find all the recoverable data including the desktop folder or files.

scanning-drive

Step 3. Recover the entire desktop folder or a folder.

Go to Deleted files > navigate to the Desktop folder > select the folder you need. If no wanted folders are found, please go to Recycle Bin or Other missing files to check.

select-deleted-folder-from-desktop-click-recover

You can also type desktop in the search box to locate the desktop folder and files quickly. It will list the deleted desktop folder and all the files inside it. 

Search for Desktop Folder and Files

Before recovery, you can double-click them to preview and confirm. Then, click Recover x files and select a new location to recover deleted desktop folder or files.

This useful app can also help you recover permanently deleted Excel from desktop.

Method 2. Recover deleted folder from desktop using File History

File History saves copies of Desktop, Libraries, Contacts, etc., which is very suitable for users to recover deleted folder from desktop. Be sure you have a copy of your files in File History, then follow the steps below : 

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History.

file-history

Step 2. Click Restore personal files.

restore-personal-files

Step 3.  Navigate to the Desktop folder > select the folder you have removed > click Restore. You could tap the arrow to view earlier versions.

select-deleted-folder-click-restore

With a file history, you could also retrieve deleted Excel files not in Recycle Bin.

Method 3. Get deleted folder on desktop back using Windows backup

Windows Backup feature – Backup and Restore (Windows 7) stores the backup data of your selected drive and user files in a preferred place.

With this feature, you can restore files from backup in Windows 10 conveniently.

⚠️Note: It only backs up local drive data. If you need to recover data from external hard drives, please seek help from the tutorial or move on to the following method.

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Then, click Restore my files.

restore-my-files

Step 2. Browse for folders > select the backup you made> choose your deleted folder > Next.

browse-for-folders-to-restore

Step 3. Choose a preferred destination or restore it to the original location > click Restore.

restore-to-its-original-location

Way 4: Restore desktop folder to default location

If you can't find the desktop folder using above ways, there is a chance it's moved to a different location but you forget. Thus, you may think it's deleted by mistake. Try to restore it to the default location using the following steps:

Step 1. Press Win + R to open the Run window. Then, type shell:UsersFilesFolder and press OK to access the user folder. 

Step 2. Locate and right-click the Desktop folder > select Properties.

Step 3. Go to the Location tab and click Restore Default > Apply and OK

Restore Desktop to Default Location

Conclusion

You can find 5 feasible methods of how to recover a deleted folder on desktop or the entire Desktop folderin this article. Both backups and professional recovery tool like MyRecover can help you.

Free download it to have a try if you don't have a backup! With advanced scanning technologies, it can search for deleted or lost files completely and help you easily recover a deleted folder on desktop or the Desktop folder with it.

Download SoftwareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

From this accident, you may know the importance of backup. It's suggested to backup your files immediately after recovering them. Windows backup software like File History, or third-party choices - AOMEI Backupper Standard are both good choices.

FAQs

Lora
Lora · Editor
Lora is an editor of AOMEI Technology. She is also a tester and editor of AOMEI Data Recovery Tools. -- "Keep testing, write the most useful tutorials for helping people recover the lost data for Windows and phones" is the most meaningful thing for her. Dedicated to creating helpful tutorials, she hopes her tutorial can assist users to effortlessly solve data loss problems on their personal computers and mobile phones.