Accidentally Deleted User Folder in Windows 10/11 [Recover Now]

Accidentally deleting the User folder in Windows 10/11 can cause major problems, including the loss of personal data and even login issues. Since the Users folder stores documents, downloads, pictures, and user credentials, its deletion can make your system unstable or even unusable.

Can you recover a accidentally deleted User folder in Windows 10? Yes. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through 5 effective ways to recover deleted User folder in Windows 10/11. Whether it's using File History, System Restore, Registry Editor, Previous Versions, or MyRecover, we’ve got you covered.

What Happens If I Delete the User Folder in Windows 10/11?

Deleting the User folder can lead to 2 major scenarios:

1️⃣ You cannot log in – Windows will fail to find the user profile, preventing you from signing in.

2️⃣ Windows creates a temporary profile – You can log in, but all changes made will be lost after logging out.

How to Recover a Deleted User Folder in Windows 10/11 (5 Methods)

If you're facing the issue Windows 10 User folder disappeared, follow the 5 feasible solutions below to recover accidentally deleted User folder in Windows 11/10.

Method 1. Recover Deleted User Folder with MyRecover 🔥

If your user folder has been permanently deleted and cannot be found in the Recycle Bin, and you do not have a backup, the easiest way is to use professional data recovery software such as MyRecover. This tool can scan your storage device and is designed specifically to retrieve lost user folders, deleted files, and more without any omission.

★ Why choose MyRecover: 

Recover 1000+ File Types: Support recovering documents, photos, videos, audio, and other file types.

Scan for Lost Files: MyRecover scans both your device’s internal and external storage devices, allowing you to recover files from various types of media.

Support Multiple Data Loss Scenarios: Whether you’ve lost data due to accidental deletion, formatting, hard drive corruption, virus attacks, and system crashes. MyRecover can help.

Support Various File Systems: It works with NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and other file systems on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server.

Free Recovery: Restore up to 500MB of deleted files for free.

Download MyRecover on your Windows computers to recover accidentally deleted User folder in Windows 10/11 for free. Have a try!

Step 1. Scan the C Drive

Install and launch MyRecover. After opening the software, navigate to Deleted File Recovery. Select the drive or location where your deleted User folder was stored and click Scan.

Step 2. Filter and preview User folder

The software uses advanced scanning algorithms for Quick & Deep scanning of C drive to locate your missing files. You can preview the folder before restoring them, ensuring that you recover only the files you need.

Step 3. Recover deleted User folder

Select the User folder you want to recover by checking the boxes next to them and click on Recover. Be sure to save the recovered files in a different location, such as your PC, to avoid overwriting data.

Method 2. Retrieve Deleted User Folder via File History

Windows File History is another great way to recover lost or deleted User data. If you have a backup of your files on C drive with File History, you can easily restore files from backup, thus greatly reducing or even avoiding data loss, especially the loss of important data.

Steps to Restore a Deleted User Folder from File History:

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System & Security > Restore your files with File History.

Step 2. Navigate to C:\Users and select your deleted folder. Browse different backup versions and choose the one you want.

Step 3. Once found, check it and click the green Restore button to recover User folder. 

Method 3. Recover Deleted User Folder Using System Restore

System Restore can revert Windows to a previous state, including restoring your User folder if a restore point was created before deletion. Here are steps to recover deleted User folder in Windows 7/8/10/11 using System Restore.

Step 1. Press Windows + S, type "System Restore", and select "Create a restore point".

Step 2. In the System Properties window, click System Restore. Follow the wizard and pick a restore point from before the User folder was deleted.

Step 3. Click Next and restart your PC once the process completes.

Method 4. Recover Accidentally Deleted User Folder via Registry Editor

If Windows is loading a temporary profile, modifying the Registry may help recover your user data. Editing the Windows registry can be risky—proceed with caution and create a backup first!

Steps to Restore the User Folder via Registry Editor:

Step 1. Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges. Type whoami /user and press Enter. You'll see the SID of the current account.

Step 2. Type regedit in the Search box and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. You'll see a list of SIDs.

Step 3. Check for Duplicate SIDs: If the SID is listed twice, delete the folder without the .BAK extension. Right-click the folder and click Delete. Confirm by clicking Yes.

If the SID is listed once with a .BAK extension, click Rename, and remove .BAK. Press Enter to save.

If there are no duplicate SIDs and no .BAK extensions, skip this step.

Step 4. Click the folder that matches your SID. Double-click ProfileImagePath and input the correct path for your User folder in Value Data and click "OK". (To check the right path of your User folder, press Win + R, input: C:\Users and press Enter. You will see your User folder.)

Step 5. Double-click State on the right-hand pane, change the Value data to 0, and click OK.

Step 6. Then, close the Registry Editor and restart your PC, sign into your user account and everything should have been restored to normal.

Method 5. Restore Deleted User Folder via Previous Versions

Windows sometimes creates shadow copies of files that allow you to restore earlier versions of the User folder.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Users. Right-click on the deleted User folder folder (if it still exists) and select Properties.

Step 2. Go to the Previous Versions tab, choose a version before deletion, and click Restore.

FAQs 

1. Can I recover my deleted User folder if I emptied the Recycle Bin?

Yes! You can use System Restore, File History, or MyRecover to restore deleted files even after emptying the Recycle Bin.

2. What happens if I delete a user profile in Windows 10?

Deleting a user profile permanently removes all personal files, settings, and credentials. You may face login issues or temporary profiles.

3. How do I prevent accidental deletion of the User folder?

• Enable File History for automatic backups

• Create regular System Restore points

• Use a third-party backup tool like AOMEI Backupper

4. Can I recover a deleted User folder without third-party software?

Yes! System Restore, Registry Editor, File History, and Previous Versions are built-in methods to recover lost user profiles without external software.

5. Does System Restore affect my personal files?

No. System Restore only affects system files and settings, not personal data. However, apps and updates installed after the restore point will be removed.

Conclusion

Losing your User folder in Windows 10 can be frustrating, but recovery is possible using File History, System Restore, Registry Editor, Previous Versions, or MyRecover.

It's highly recommended to use MyRecover to recover accidentally deleted User folder in Windows 10/11 quickly. Free download and enjoy this tool!

To prevent future data loss, we recommend using backup solutions like File History or AOMEI Backupper Standard. This ensures that your personal files remain safe, even in the event of accidental deletions.