How to recover unsaved/lost Notepad++ files with/without backup?

Question: How can I recover an unsaved file in Notepad++ after a crash?

"Notepad++ deleted my unsaved TXT file from my computer. This morning, I was editing an important document with Notepad++, but it suddenly crashed. When I immediately reopened Notepad++, all my work was gone. I stopped using it right away. Can I recover the lost and unsaved Notepad++ file? How? By the way, I'm using Windows 10."

Original: Hello, how are you? Translation: Hey, how ya doin'?

Notepad++ File Recovery Overview

Did your Notepad++ file get deleted or removed due to a program crash? Or did you lose your unsaved .txt file because you accidentally closed it without saving? If so, you must be wondering how to recover unsaved Notepad++ files. You've come to the right place. On this page, we'll discuss how to restore unsaved Notepad++ files using backups. After that, we'll tackle another common issue: how to recover lost or deleted Notepad++ files. Use the quick navigation below to jump to the content that interests you.

Method 1: How to Recover an Unsaved Notepad++ File from a Backup

Unlike Notepad, Notepad++ is more powerful. It has a feature that creates backup files during the editing process, which means that Notepad++ automatically generates temporary files for the documents you're editing and haven't saved yet.

If you have the backup feature enabled (which is usually the default), you can immediately restore your unsaved Notepad++ file by following this detailed guide.

Step 1: Open Notepad++, and click on “Settings” then “Preferences.”

Click on the “Backup” button to locate the unsaved Notepad++ file in the “Backup Path.”

Note: To prevent losing your Notepad++ files again, you can check the "Load last session on startup" and "Enable session snapshot and periodic backup" options. Also, set the backup interval as per your preference.

Step 3: Copy the backup folder path for Notepad, which is usually C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\backup. Paste this in Windows Explorer and hit "Enter" to access the Notepad backup folder.

Step 4. You should see all of your Notepad backups listed there. Click on "Modified Date" to sort by the most recent, then right-click on the lost Notepad file and select "Open with Notepad++."

Step 5: You should now be able to view and save the recovered Notepad++ file to a secure location.

Method 2: How to Recover a Lost or Unsaved Notepad++ File Without a Backup

These methods only work for unsaved Notepad++ files. Once you've hit "Save," your file is no longer temporarily stored in the "Backup" folder. So how do you recover a saved file that's been deleted without a backup?

First, check your Recycle Bin to see if the deleted files are there. If not, your data might be lost permanently. In this case, you'll need to use a professional data recovery tool to get your files back. tools Data Recovery Wizard is a top-rated data recovery software that can help you recover data lost due to accidental deletion, hard drive damage/formatted, partition loss, virus attack, or system crash. It's fully compatible with all Windows operating systems and Mac OS X.

Download and install the file recovery software on your computer, then follow these 3 simple steps to get back your lost Notepad++ files.

Step 1. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard tool. Select the drive where you lost your files and start the scan. This software lets you recover lost data from all kinds of devices, including HDD, SSD, USB drives, SD cards, flash drives, cameras, and more.

Step 2: Preview the complete scan results. You can click on the file type filter to select the file types you need. The tool supports over 1000 file types, such as photos, videos, documents, emails, audio files, and more.

Step 3: Preview the files you want to recover. Click “Recover” and set a location to save the recovered data.

• Related: How to Transfer Notepad++ Config, Settings, and Plugins to Another Computer

In the end, then?

I believe you have successfully recovered your unsaved or deleted Notepad++ files using the methods mentioned above. But that's not all. To prevent the accidental loss of important Notepad++ files, remember to enable the backup feature to automatically save unsaved files. Additionally, it's a good habit to back up your saved Notepad files regularly. If you don't want to or forget to manually copy them, you can use Windows' Scheduled Backup software for automated backups. This way, you won't have to worry about unintended data loss.