How To Find A Lost Word Document On My Computer

If you can't find a file on your computer or you accidently modified or deleted a file, you can restore information technology from a backup (if you're using Windows backup) or you tin can try to restore information technology from a previous version. Previous versions are copies of files and folders that Windows automatically saves as role of a restore point. Previous versions are sometimes referred to as shadow copies.

To restore a file from a backup, make certain the media or drive that your backup is saved on is bachelor, and so follow these steps:

To restore files from a backup

Open Backup and Restore past selecting the Beginning button , selecting Control Panel, selecting System and Maintenance, and then selecting Backup and Restore.
Select Restore my files, and so follow the steps in the sorcerer.

Restore deleted files and folders or restore a file or binder to a previous land.

To restore a deleted file or folder

Open Reckoner by selecting the Start button , and and so selecting Computer.
Navigate to the folder that used to contain the file or folder, right-click it, and and then select Restore previous versions. If the folder was at the top level of a drive, for instance C:\, correct-click the drive, and then select Restore previous versions.

You'll run into a list of available previous versions of the file or folder. The list volition include files saved on a fill-in (if you are using Windows Fill-in to back up your files) equally well as restore points, if both types are bachelor.

Note:To restore a previous version of a file or folder that'south included in a library, correct-click the file or folder in the location where it's saved, rather than in the library. For instance, to restore a previous version of a movie that's included in the Pictures library but is stored in the My Pictures folder, right-click the My Pictures folder, and then select Restore previous versions.

Picture of the Previous Versions tab

Some previous versions of files

Double-click a previous version of the binder that contains the file or folder you want to restore. (For instance, if a file was deleted today, cull a version of the folder from yesterday, which should contain the file.)
Drag the file or folder that yous desire to restore to another location, such equally your desktop or another folder.

The version of the file or folder is saved to the location that yous selected.

Tip:If you don't remember the verbal file or folder name or its location, you can search for it past typing part of the proper noun in the search box in the Documents library.

To restore a file or binder to a previous state

Right-click the file or folder, and and so select Restore previous versions.

You'll see a listing of available previous versions of the file or binder. The listing will include files saved on a backup (if you're using Windows Backup to back up your files) as well as restore points, if both types are available.

The Previous Versions tab, showing some previous versions of files
Earlier restoring a previous version of a file or folder, select the previous version, and then click Open to view it to make sure it's the version you want.

Note:You can't open up or copy previous versions of files that were created by Windows Backup, but yous can restore them.
To restore a previous version, select the previous version, then select Restore.

Warning:The file or folder replaces the current version on your computer, and the replacement can't be undone.

Note:If the Restore button is unavailable, yous can't restore a previous version of the file or binder to its original location. You might be able to open up it or save it to a different location.