Where are all of your documents saved on a computer? Check out this article if you have lost or deleted documents from your computer.
In people’s daily life, they create, edit, and share documents like Word files, txt files, PDF files, Excel files, etc.
Some users are willing to store their documents in the Documents folder under File Explorer for easy access and management. Thus they can visit, move, edit, delete, and share their docs whenever they like.
But some users seem to need to be made aware of how to find their documents. A bunch of users don’t know where to access the docs, while some find their docs have disappeared.
Where have all my saved documents gone???
I have no idea where my documents go when I save them in Word! Does anyone know how to do a search or where to look? I would appreciate anything ASAP! My paper is due tomorrow, and I can't find it! This is the third copy I have had to re-type!
- Question from Microsoft Community
Are you also wondering, “Where are all of your documents saved”? This is not rare. Some users who are unfamiliar with file storing on computers will also be curious about where are screenshots saved on Windows PC.
How to achieve document recovery when the docs are lost or deleted? This article can give you detailed answers.
In this section, users who are curious about “How to find my documents on my computer?” can learn two feasible methods.
There is a “shortcut” to the Documents folder in File Explorer, facilitating users to conveniently access their documents in use.
>> Open This PC by pressing the Win + E key > scroll down to find Documents in the sidebar. You can access your documents saved there.
If you have accidentally deleted files in File Explorer, don’t worry; there are also methods to recover them.
There is another simple way to visit the Documents folder. The process is also straightforward.
If you find Windows 10 Start menu and Taskbar not working, seek help from the detailed guide.
>> Click the Start menu icon > choose Documents. Then you will come to the Documents folder in File Explorer.
But in fact, not all documents are saved in this path; Microsoft Word, Notepad, and some more word processing software offer high freedom for users to save their documents anywhere they like.
So, if you fail to find your wanted documents here, don’t be upset; check the following methods.
It doesn’t mean your documents are lost if you fail to locate them in the Documents folder. Sometimes, you may have just saved them in another place. This part can help you figure out where are all of your documents saved on a computer.
File Explorer has a set of search tools to help users target their wanted files quickly. The search tools will be pretty helpful if you don’t know where they are stored.
Step 1. Start This PC > type the file name or the extension in the search box, e.g., doc > click Kind > choose Documents. This feature can also help users find all photos on a computer by selecting Pictures.
Step 2. Wait for File Explorer to screen and search for all eligible documents.
If you still cannot locate your target docs, they might have been hidden due to a virus attack or misoperation.
You could try to unhide them in File Explorer.
Step 1. Open the Documents folder or navigate to the exact folder you suspect contains the documents you need. Here we take the Documents folder as an example.
Step 2. Click View in the toolbar > Options > click View under Folder Options > scroll down and check the option Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
The hidden files will be visible. See if your wanted files are there. If no target documents are found, they are likely to have been deleted. But don’t be frustrated; you could learn how to perform document recovery even after deletion in the next part.
Except for users who want to know “Where are all of your documents saved on a computer”, many users also need help in document recovery.
Word has offered an Autosave feature to help its users recover unsaved Word documents; similarly, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., have the feature as well.
But when users have deleted those documents, most of them can only retrieve them from the Recycle Bin because they didn’t make any backups.
Then what if the documents are permanently removed? How to get them back without backups?
MyRecover, as an excellent Windows data recovery app, can help all users restore deleted and missing documents from internal/external HDD, SSD, flash drives, memory cards, etc.
Check the detailed instructions to learn how to recover deleted documents effortlessly.
Step 1. Install and run the software > Hover the mouse over the C drive, and click Scan.
Step 2. While scanning, search and sort the wanted documents with filenames, extensions, file types, etc.
Step 3. Go to Deleted files or Recycle Bin > navigate to the Documents folder or the specific folder which used to store the docs you need > choose your wanted files > click Recover x files.
Or you might go to Other missing files > Documents > Word. What’s more, you can use this app to recover permanently deleted Excel files from desktop.
Where are all of your documents saved on a computer? Read this article; you can get a detailed guide to help you achieve document recovery, no matter whether the docs are hidden or lost.
Moreover, if the documents are removed from your hard drive, the recommended data recovery tool for Windows – MyRecover- can help restore your wanted docs without any difficulties.