Please do not confuse "My Documents" or "Documents" with physical paper documents. It is a special system folder used to store personal documents in Microsoft Windows. You can typically find the missing "Documents" folder in Windows 11 by following these steps:

C:\Users\UserName\Documents. You'll also find other system folders here, such as Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Favorites.

However, the Documents folder along with its contents can go missing due to accidental deletion, movement issues, formatting of the hard drive, system issues, or any other reasons. If you are facing the issue of Documents folder missing in Windows 11, use the recommended 5 methods below to recover the lost Documents folder along with its files.

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Workable Solutions
Effective Solutions Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Solution 1: Recover Folder with Data Recovery Software When the "Documents" folder is missing in Windows 11, you need to perform data recovery promptly...Full Steps
Solution 2: Recreate the Documents Library Folder Restoring the Documents library is another option. It only takes a few simple steps...Full Steps
Solution 3: Re-create My Documents Folder with CMD If there are no files in the "Documents" folder, you can create a new one...Full Steps
Solution 4: Recover Folder from Previous Versions Files in Restore Points and File History are previous versions of your files...Full Steps
Solution 5: Create Documents Folder via Registry Issues while modifying the registry might damage your Windows operating system...Full Steps

Solution 1: Recover Document Folder with Data Recovery Software

Regardless of the reason behind the missing Documents folder in Windows 11, if you want to get your data back, you need a quick data recovery solution. A professional data recovery wizard offers a simple and reliable way to restore the Documents folder and all its files in 3 steps. Apart from data recovery from HDD/SSD, the professional data recovery wizard also allows you to recover deleted files from USB flash drives, external hard drives, pen drives, SD cards, micro cards, music players, and more.

Here's how to restore the missing "Documents" folder in Windows 11:

Step 1. Run the Data Recovery Wizard. Under Location, select “Select Folder.” Browse to where your lost folder was located and click “OK” to scan.

Select the folder to scan

Step 2: You can search for the target folder or use the filter feature to look for a certain type of file within the folder.

Select the files you wish to recover and click "Recover". Select files to recover

Step 3: Preview the recovered folder, and then click the “Restore” button to save the retrieved data to a new secure location on your computer.

Recover Lost Folder Data

After the restart, the “Documents” folder should work normally. If you encounter issues with a Windows 10 folder not showing files in your day-to-day use, here are some troubleshooting tips to try.

?There's a video with detailed steps on how to open the Documents folder in Windows 11:

    • 00:37 - Open the "Documents" folder from File Explorer
    • 00:57 - Expand the "Home" folder
    • 01:20 - Find the "Documents" folder on the drive where Windows 11 is installed
    • 01:44 - Open the "Documents" folder via the search bar
    • 01:56 - Open the "Documents" folder using the Run command
    • 02:20 - Access the "Documents" folder from the Start menu

If you found this information helpful, please share it on social media to help others overcome this common challenge.

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Fix 2: Restore the document library to get back the folder

Restoring a document library is another option, and it's straightforward:

Step 1: In the left pane of the File Explorer window on your computer, find the “Libraries” option. If it's not there, refer to the screenshot.

Step 2: Right-click “Libraries” and select “Restore Default Libraries.”

Step 3. Windows should immediately restore your missing My Documents folder, as well as other libraries like Music, Videos, and Pictures.

Restore My Documents folder

This option can be used without restarting, but use it only when the other library is empty to avoid data loss.

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Fix 3: Recreate the My Documents folder using CMD

If there are no files in the Documents folder, or you don't want to recover lost files, you can create a new folder instead of using data recovery tools to restore the folder. Follow these steps:

Missing Documents Folder

Step 1: Create a new “Documents” folder in File Explorer.

Step 2: Reset the user folder settings in the registry.

    1. Open the Start menu, search for regedt32, and click on Run the Registry Editor tool. 2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders 3. Check the name and data for the "Documents" folder, which should read Personal, %USERPROFILE%\Documents. Make sure they're correct. If not, you can manually edit the name and data value.

Figure 2: Missing My Documents folder

Step 3: Repair or recreate the “Documents” folder.

    1. Click "Start," type **cmd**, then right-click "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator." 2. Type **attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Documents /S /D** and press **Enter**.

Recreate the Lost Documents Folder

After performing these operations, restart your Windows 11 computer, and the Documents folder will immediately return to the desktop.

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Fix 4: Restore My Documents folder from a previous version

Files from System Restore Points and File History are copies of previous versions. If you have this feature enabled, you can try using it to recover deleted files from the My Documents folder in Windows 11.

Step 1: Press “Win + E” keys to open Windows File Explorer, and then find the folder where your lost files were saved.

Step 2: Right-click the folder and select “Properties.”

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Step 3. In the Properties window, select the “Previous Versions” tab. Choose the version of the folder you want from the available ones, and then click “Restore.”

Fix 5: Create the “Documents” folder through the Registry

You can also restore a missing “My Documents” folder by creating a new empty folder and updating the path address via the Registry. However, modifying the Registry carries a risk of damaging your Windows OS if done incorrectly. Let's take a look at how it's done.

To begin, create a new “Documents” folder at the standard location, C:\Users\UserName.

Step 2. To open the Registry Editor, press “Win + R” and type in regedit in the Run box.

Step 3. Open the Shell Folder directly:

Computer\Current User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer.

Step 4: Under “Value name,” enter “Personal.” In the “Value data” field, enter the corresponding save path for the new “Documents” folder, and press “OK.”

The bottom line?

Here are five effective ways to recover deleted documents from a Windows 11 computer. All these methods can retrieve your lost data, though each has its pros and cons. We recommend using a handy and user-friendly tool like Data Recovery Wizard Pro for the best chance of success.

**Frequently Asked Questions About Missing "Documents" Folder in Windows 11** 1. **Q: Why can't I find my "Documents" folder?** **A:** It might be due to accidental deletion of the shortcut or changes in system settings. Try searching for "Documents" in the search bar. If it's still not found, you may need to check user configurations or run a troubleshooter. 2. **Q: How do I restore a missing "Documents" folder?** **A:** Press `Win + E` to open File Explorer, then look for it in "Quick Access." If it's not there, click "View" > "Hidden items" to show hidden folders. If you still can't locate it, try restoring default folder locations via "Control Panel" > "Folder Options." 3. **Q: How do I make the "Documents" folder visible?** **A:** Right-click the taskbar, select "Taskbar settings." Scroll to the bottom and click "Choose which icons appear on the taskbar." Ensure the switch next to "File Explorer" is turned on. Then, right-click the "File Explorer" icon, choose "Folder Options" > "General," and ensure "Documents" is selected under "Quick access." 4. **Q: My "Documents" folder has been moved. How do I find it?** **A:** Go to "Control Panel" > "All Control Panel Items" > "Folder Options" > "Locations" tab. Check the current location of "Documents" and navigate there manually. 5. **Q: Can I create a new "Documents" folder in Windows 11?** **A:** Yes, simply right-click anywhere, select "New" > "Folder," and name it "Documents." However, note that it won't sync with the default "Documents" folder unless you change the folder location. 6. **Q: How do I reset the "Documents" folder's location?** **A:** In File Explorer, right-click "Documents," choose "Properties." On the "Location" tab, click "Restore Default." Confirm the dialog, and the folder location will revert to the default setting. 7. **Q: What if files within the "Documents" folder are missing?** **A:** If you have backups, restore from them. Otherwise, try data recovery software. Stop using your computer immediately to minimize the chances of data overwriting. Select the appropriate solution based on your situation and remember to back up important files regularly to prevent data loss.

If you're still wondering why My Documents folder is missing, check the quick answers below to troubleshoot it yourself:

**How to restore the "My Documents" folder in Windows 11?** To restore the "My Documents" folder in Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. **Open File Explorer:** Click on the folder icon on the taskbar or use the keyboard shortcut `Win + E`. 2. **Navigate to "This PC":** In the left pane, locate and click on "This PC." 3. **Find the "My Documents" folder:** Browse through the folders on the right side to see if you can find "My Documents." If it's not there, it might have been renamed or moved. 4. **Create a new "My Documents" folder:** If the original "My Documents" is missing, create a new folder by right-clicking anywhere in File Explorer, selecting "New" > "Folder," then naming it "My Documents." 5. **Set the "My Documents" folder location:** To set the new folder as the default, press `Win + I` to open "Settings." 6. **Go to "System" settings:** In the Settings window, click on "System." 7. **Select "Storage":** On the left menu, click on "Storage." 8. **Click "Change where new content is saved":** Under the "Storage" settings, scroll down to the "Save locations for new content" section, and then click "Change where new content is saved." 9. **Change the save location for "Documents":** In the pop-up window, find the "Documents" option, click the dropdown menu, and select the "My Documents" folder you just created. 10. **Apply the changes:** After confirming your selection, click "Apply" to save the changes. Now, you have created a new "My Documents" folder and set it as the default location for documents in Windows 11. If you have backups of your previous files, remember to copy them into the new folder.

  • Solution 1: Restore the Document Library
  • Solution 2: Recreate My Documents using CMD
  • Solution 3: Recover from an earlier version
  • Solution 4: Create a Documents Folder via Registry

2. Where is the "Documents" folder hidden in Windows 11?

You can find the "Documents" folder at the following path: C:\Users\UserName\Documents.

3. Where are your files?

Open File Explorer by using the taskbar or by right-clicking the Start menu. In the left sidebar, choose a location to search or browse. For example, select "This PC" to search your computer's hard drives and devices, or choose "Documents" to only search for files saved there.

4. How do I add a folder to "My Documents"? To add a folder to "My Documents" (referred to as "Documents" in newer versions of Windows), follow these steps: 1. Open File Explorer: You can do this by pressing `Win + E` or clicking the folder icon on the taskbar. 2. Navigate to the folder you want to add to "My Documents" or "Documents." 3. Select the folder, then right-click and choose "Properties" from the context menu. 4. In the Properties window that appears, switch to the "Location" tab. 5. Click the "Move" button, then browse to the location of "My Documents" or "Documents" (usually at `C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents`). 6. Click "Select Folder." This will move your chosen folder into "My Documents" or "Documents." 7. If you want the new folder to be the default "My Documents" folder, you can directly input the new path in the Location tab, then click "Apply" and "OK." Please note that this will change the location of "My Documents" or "Documents," and all new documents will be saved in the new folder you specified. If you just want to create a shortcut, right-click within the "My Documents" folder, choose "New" > "Shortcut," and then point it to the folder you wish to add.

    1. Open the "Documents" app. 2. Tap the Plus icon. 3. Select "New Folder." 4. Enter the folder name and tap "Done."

You can now drag the desired files into the newly created folder.