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Comprehensive Guide: How to Find Lost PDF Files?
Don’t know how to �nd lost PDF �les? This article gathers several possible reasons and
multiple methods to perform PDF recovery. Check it out!
By Lora / Updated on April 3, 2024 Share this:
Table of Contents
“How do I �nd a PDF that disappeared?”
PDF �les, also known as Portable Document Format �les, are widely used in everyday life.
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People create, edit, read, and share PDF �les while working and studying.
It can be said that PDF �les are very critical, and PDF document loss can bring a big
disaster.
However, many users sometimes �nd PDF �les missing from their hard drives while
editing and sharing.
PDF files missing after the most Recent Windows 10 Update
All my PDFs seem lost, same with office documents.
Neither program would open.
- Question from Microsoft Community
Recovering accidentally deleted pdf files.
How can I recover the pdf files I deleted from windows 7? I also emptied my recycle bin.
- Question from Microsoft Community
Except for accidentally deleting �les from Windows and faulty updates, you may have
encountered other situations from which we can �nd out the reasons behind PDF
document loss.
Why has my PDF disappeared?
Are you also wondering: “ Why does my PDF disappear?” Several culprits can lead to a
missing PDF issue.
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• Deletion. You may have mistakenly removed the wrong �les while organizing your data.
• Recycle Bin emptying. If you have activated Storage Sense or manually emptied the Recycle Bin, you cannot
recover deleted �les from Recycle Bin directly.
• Virus. If your computer is virus-infected, your �les might get deliberately hidden/deleted/moved/encrypted.
• Faulty updates. Some users have discovered �les missing after the Windows update. If so, you may need to
uninstall the malfunctioned update �les.
In the next section, we will �nd lost PDF �les in multiple ways.
PDF �les disappear: how to �nd lost PDF
�les?
Check out the relevant solutions to recover PDF �les.
Method 1. Search for PDF �les in File Explorer
First of all, before trying to “recover” deleted or missing PDF �les, it would be better for
you to try searching for them again in File Explorer.
Step 1. Start This PC > type pdf in the search box > press Enter > Search Tools.
Step 2. Search > Kind > click Document/input kind:document in the search box.
Step 3. Thus you can view all the documents on your device. Try locating all the �les
ending with a .pdf extension.
Method 2. Show hidden �les/folders
As you have learned, viruses can hide your �les silently. You could unhide them in some
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easy steps and access them.
★Tips:
✍ It is not suggested to show system-protected �les to avoid misoperation.
✍ Windows 7 users can refer to the guide to show hidden �les in Windows 7.
>> Start This PC > go to the PDF �les’ original location > View > Options > View> Show
hidden �les, folders, and drives.
Method 3. Perform PDF recovery from Recycle Bin
How to �nd lost PDF �les if searching is of no help? If no PDF �les were found using the
last two methods, they are likely to be lost/deleted.
You can try recovering them from the Recycle Bin �rst.
★Tips:
✍ If deleted PDF �les are not in Recycle Bin, it indicates that the PDF docs are permanently removed. Please head over to the
following methods.
>> Go to Recycle Bin > locate the deleted PDF �les > right-click them > click Restore.
Method 4. Recover PDF �les from File History
How to recover deleted PDF �les if they were deleted? The Windows machines are
equipped with tools to help users retrieve their deleted/lost/damaged/corrupted �les. One
of them is File History.
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It records the changes you made every hour (by default); thus, you can get data back
whenever you like, e.g., your data was deleted/corrupted/lost/damaged, etc.
But it is like a backup tool, requiring users to activate it in advance.
Step 1. Start Control Panel > System and Security.
Step 2. Click File History.
Step 3. Click Restore personal �les.
Step 4. Go to the �le location of the PDF �les > select the PDF �les > click Recover.
Thus you can recover PDF �les. Also, you can recover deleted Word documents using it.
Method 5. Restore previous versions of the upper folder
If the PDF �les were previously saved in a speci�c folder, you could use the Previous
Versions feature to revert to an earlier status.
This feature stores the �les copies of your C: drive �les using restore points and File
History.
Every time you make some signi�cant modi�cation to the system, a restore point will be
generated. Combined with the File History, you will have a big chance to perform a
successful PDF recovery.
Step 1. Start This PC > locate the parent folder of the PDF �les.
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Step 2. Right-click this folder > click Restore previous versions > choose a preferred
version > Restore. Except for folders, you can also restore previous versions of �les to get
back an overwritten �le.
If these backup-required methods do not suit your situation, you may need to �nd another
way to recover PDF �les without backups. Check out the next part.
Method 6. Find lost PDF �les quickly and readily
Windows inbuilt tools like File History and Previous Versions require backups. If there are
no available backups with you, how to �nd lost PDF �les if they are permanently gone?
Instead of paying a high price to send the hard drive to a data recovery service, users
might as well turn to a professional data recovery tool for Windows – MyRecover.
It is developed by a sophisticated team with over 10 years of experience. Supported by
this team, it is equipped with advanced scanning techs and algorithms, facilitating users
to perform PDF recovery in a breeze.
Using it, you can get help in different aspects.
Perform PDF recovery in a breeze
• Perform data recovery after deletion, formatting, Recycle Bin emptying, virus infection, etc.
• Restore deleted and lost �les from internal/external HDD/SSD/USB/SD card, etc.
• 200+ recoverable data types, including pdf, doc, txt, ppt, xlsx, jpg, png, avi, mov, wav, zip, etc.
• Select �les to restore during the scanning process.
• Available in Windows 11/10/8/7/Server.
Download Software
Win 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download
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Follow the detailed instructions to learn how to recover deleted PDF �les in only 3 simple
steps.
Step 1. Install and run MyRecover > Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted �les
before, and click Scan.
Step 2. Input extensions and �lenames to target your wanted PDF �les in the search box.
Step 3. Go to Deleted �les > navigate to the original location > and select the PDF �les>
click Recover x �les.
This powerful tool can also help you recover PDF �les from formatted hard drives.
Minimize data loss risk
In this article, you can learn how to �nd lost PDF �les after deletion, Recycle Bin
emptying, viruses, or malfunctioned updating.
But these are far from enough. If you are eager to minimize or avoid data loss risk in the
future, you would better take some measures and precautions.
• Prevent emptying the Recycle Bin too frequently.
• Stay away from untrusted websites and emails.
• Use antivirus to protect your device from viruses and malware.
• Back up your critical data in different places using a professional data backup tool for Windows.
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Lora · Editor
Lora is an editor of AOMEI Technology. She is also a tester and editor of AOMEI Data
Recovery Tools. -- "Keep testing, write the most useful tutorials for helping people recover
the lost data for Windows and phones" is the most meaningful thing for her. Dedicated to
creating helpful tutorials, she hopes her tutorial can assist users to effortlessly solve data
loss problems on their personal computers and mobile phones.
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