How to Recover Files After Windows Update [Easy Methods]

Windows Update Deleted All Files FromMy Desktop!

Windows Update is a Microsoft service that delivers critical security patches, bug fixes, performance improvements, and feature updates to Windows operating systems (Windows 10, Windows 11, and older versions). It ensures your PC stays secure, stable, and up to date with the latest enhancements.The update typically contains:

• Security Updates – Protects against vulnerabilities and malware.
• Quality Updates – Fixes bugs and improves system stability.
• Feature Updates – Adds new functionalities (e.g., major OS upgrades).
• Driver Updates – Enhances hardware compatibility.
• Automatic & Manual Options – Can be scheduled or triggered manually.

Why Are Files Missing or Deleted After Windows Update?

Windows updates are essential for security and performance, but sometimes they can cause files to go missing or get deleted. Here are the most common reasons why this happens:

1. Failed or Interrupted Update

If an update is interrupted (e.g., power loss, forced shutdown), system files or user data may become corrupted or lost.

2. Profile Corruption After Update

Windows updates can sometimes corrupt user profiles, making personal folders (Documents, Pictures, Desktop) appear empty. The system may create a temporary profile, hiding original files.

3. System Restore or Rollback

If an update fails, Windows may revert to a previous restore point, potentially removing recently added files.

4. Storage Space Cleanup (Windows Cleanup Tool)

Windows Update may delete temporary files, old system backups, or "unnecessary" files to free up space. In rare cases, user files in temporary folders may be removed.

5. File Permission Changes

Updates can reset file permissions, making some folders (like `C:\Users`) inaccessible. Files may still exist but appear missing due to permission issues.

6. Syncing Issues (OneDrive/Cloud Storage)

If OneDrive or other cloud services sync incorrectly after an update, files may seem "deleted" when they’re just not synced properly.

7. Bug or Glitch in the Update

Some Windows updates (especially major version upgrades) have bugs that accidentally delete or misplace files. Microsoft has occasionally pulled updates due to such issues.

How to Recover Files After Windows10 or 11Update?

If your files disappeared after a Windows update, don’t panic—try these proven recovery methodsto get them back.

Method 1: Check Temporary User Profile

When your Desktop/Documents/Pictures folders appear empty after Windows update, you can check the temporary user profile, which is created as a fallback when Windows encounters an error loading your normal user profile, and contains basic Windows folders like Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads, Music, and Videos.

1. Restart your PC (sometimes fixes temporary profile issues).

2. Press "Win + R", type "%userprofile%", and check if files are in the original folder.

3. If Windows created a "temp profile", look for files in:

C:\Users\"Old_Username" or C:\Users\"Temp"

Once lost files after Windows updates are found, copy them to a safe location.

Method 2: Check Windows.old Folder

When you upgrade Windows (e.g., from Windows 10 to 11) or install a major feature update, Windows automatically creates a Windows.old folder. This folder contains:

• Your previous Windows installation (system files, drivers).
• Your personal files from the old user profile (C:\Users\YourName).
• Installed programs (though they may not work without reinstallation).

To recover files after Windows update from Windows.old folder, follow the steps:

1. Open "File Explorer" (Win + E). Navigate to "C:\Windows.old".

2. If you don’t see it, check "View → Hidden Items"since sometimes it’s hidden.

3. Go to "C:\Windows.old\Users\YourOldUsername". Inside, you’ll see familiar folders like: Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads.

4. Open two File Explorer windows:

One for "C:\Windows.old\Users\YourOldUsername\Documents (example)".

Another for "C:\Users\YourCurrentUsername\Documents".

5. Drag and drop missing files from "Windows.old" to your current folders.

Method 3: Use Windows in-built "Backup and Restore"[Require Prior Backup]

If your files missed after a Windows 10/11 update, you may be able to recover them using the built-in Backup and Restore (Windows 7) tool, which still works in newer Windows versions.

Before You Begin:

✔ Requirement: You must have previously set up a backup using this tool.

✔ Works for: Restoring documents, photos, music, and other personal files.

1.Press Win + S, type "Backup and Restore", and open it.

2. Click "Go to Backup and Restore Windows 7" under "Looking for an older backup".

3. Click "Restore another backup to restore files from" (if you want individual files) or "Restore all users' files" (for full recovery).

4. If your backup was on an external drive or network location, connect it now.

5. Navigate to the backup and select what you want to recover. Click on "Next".

6. Select "In the original location" (recommended) or "Browse" to pick a new folder.

7. Click "Restore" to recover your files.

Method 4: Restore from Windows File History [Require Prior Backup]

File History is another Windows in-built feature, focusing on backing up versions of personal data. If you have enable this feature before Windows updates, then take the steps below to recover files after Windows update.

1. Press Win + S, type "Restore your files with Windows File History", and open it.

2. In the File History control panel, browse through all backups and choose what you want to recover. Click "Restore" if you want to restore them to the original location, or "Restore to" if you want to move them to another different drive.

Method 5: Restore using Previous Versions [Requires System Protection Enabled]

Windows' Previous Versions (also known as Shadow Copies) allows file/folder restoration to pre-update states, but requires:

✅ System Protection must be enabled beforehand (configured before data loss)

✅ Existing restore points (automatic or manual)

1. Right-click the folder containing lost files (e.g., Documents/Desktop)

2. Select Properties and switch to "Previous Versions" tab.

3. Available historical versions appear (sorted by date). Choose pre-update versionand "Open" to previewif necessary. Once the correct version is confirmed, you can click "Restore" to recover lost files from Windows update.

Method 6: Restore Via Windows File Recovery [Not Require Backup]

If you don’t have any backup, Windows File Recovery can considered as a workaround, which is developed and offered by Microsoft. It can recover deleted files from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards for free, even when no backup exists.

1. Download the command-line tool from Microsoft store and install it on your computer (note: only work on Windows 10 and later).

2. Enter "Command Prompt" in Windows search box, click the matching result and select "Command Prompt as administator".

3. In the Command Prompt window, run the command to recover lost files after Windows update: Winfr G: D: /extensive /n *.pdf (as example, G is the source drive where the files were stored while the D: is the destination drive to store the recovered files)

Method 7: Restore Via MyRecover [Not Require Backup]

If Windows File Recovery is stuck at 99%, gives errors like "There was an error parsing your command", or simply fails to recover your files, switching to a third-party data recovery tool like MyRecover is the best last-resort solution.

The Free MyRecoveris a user-friendly data recovery software that helps restore deleted or lost files from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards without requiring a backup. It supports various file formats and offers a high recovery success rate. No matter what cause the data loss, including accidental deletion, emptied Recycle Bin, virus attack, partition format / deletion, system crash, etc, MyRecover can help realize data recovery.

1. To recover files after Windows update using Free MyRecover, first download and install it on your Windows computer. Then do as following:

Download Freeware
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Server

100% Secure

2. Launch MyRecover, select the drive where the files are missing after Windows update and click "Scan".

3. The "Quick Scan" runs firstby default;you can turn to "Deep Scan" if neededand it will take a longer time with finding more files.

4. Browse through all found and recoverable files, and you can filter results by file type, or name.Check the target files or folders, click on "Recover".

5. Save to a different drive (to avoid overwriting lost data).

Summary

Losing important files after a Windows update can be a frustrating experience, but there are several ways to recover them. No matter you have created a backup or not before the case, you can find the proper solution. For a simpler and more reliable solution, "MyRecover" is an excellent choice. This user-friendly software can scan your drive and restore lost files even without a backup, making it ideal for accidental deletions, system crashes, or update-related data loss.