How to recover unsaved Notepad files
14 Jul 2025
Losing unsaved Notepad files can be really frustrating, especially when you have important data to lose.
Thankfully, Windows provides a number of ways to recover these files.
In this article, we will walk you through practical steps to get back your unsaved Notepad documents.
Using these methods, you can enhance the likelihood of recovering your lost data without being a tech whiz.
Check temporary files
Temp files
Windows frequently generates temporary files as a backup for various applications, including Notepad.
To see if anything is there, head over to the Temp folder by entering `%temp%` in the Run dialog box and hitting Enter.
Check if there are any files having `.txt` extension that may resemble your lost document.
If yes, open them in Notepad and save immediately to prevent further loss.
Use File History feature
File history
File History is a built-in Windows feature that backs up versions of your files at regular intervals.
In order to use it, head over to Control Panel and click on 'File History'.
Look through the available backups for any version of your missing file.
If you find it, restore it by clicking on the appropriate version and hitting 'Restore'.
Utilize previous versions
Previous versions
Windows has a feature called Previous Versions that lets you restore earlier versions of your files or folders.
Simply right-click on the folder where your file was saved (before it was lost) and select 'Restore previous versions'.
You will see a list of available versions; pick one from before the file was lost and click 'Restore' to recover it.
Employ data recovery software
Data recovery tools
If built-in options don't work, try third-party data recovery software. These programs scan your hard drive for recoverable fragments of data. They then try to reconstruct them into workable documents.
While some software might ask you to pay after trial periods, many provide free basic recovery options. These could help you recover unsaved Notepad files seamlessly.
