AOMEI FastRecovery
Downloaded Files Disappear on Windows 10/11 [9 Quick Fixes]
In this article, you will learn 9 useful methods and how to fix downloaded files disappear on Windows 10/11 step by step, even entire Downloads folder. Scroll down to explore more.
By Ivy / Updated on May 23, 2025
⬆⬇ Quick Navigation: The Best Fixes in Different Scenarios
| Scenarios | Best Fixes |
|---|---|
| Hidden files | Show hidden files; CMD; Antivirus Quarantine |
| Files not found in the search | Rebuild Index; File History; Data Recovery Software |
| Deleted or corrupted files | Recycle Bin; File History; Data Recovery Software |
| Missing entire Downloads folder | File History; Previous Versions; Data Recovery Software |
My files in Downloads folder disappeared in Windows 10!
"I downloaded some pictures and videos a few days ago, but today I can not find my downloaded files. All folders were great but the download folder's files disappeared in Windows 10, how can I get my stuff back? please help me.” – Questions from Microsoft (a few days ago)
It's very frustrating to lose downloaded files in Windows 10. But plenty of people are willing to to save files downloaded from the Internet, such as pictures, documents, software, video files, etc., in the Downloads folder.
In fact, it's not the right place to save files, especially for the long term. It's just a destination for browsers to download and save downloaded files. To be safe, it's suggested to move downloaded files to a location where you want them to be. It's highly likely to be lost over time. The same applies to Windows 11.
If your downloaded files disappear in Windows 10/11, don't worry much and there are some useful methods you can try to fix it. We will include the possible reasons as well.
Why do my downloaded files keep disappearing?
A variety of reasons may cause downloads disappeared on Windows 10. In this section, we outline the common ones below. You can figure out the cause of the problem and try out some fixes to solve it.
- 👁🗨Downloaded files are being hidden. Due to the wrong operation or other reasons, the downloaded files may be hidden.
- 👾Virus or malware. A virus or malware attack on your computer may result in files being deleted or where files are stored being modified.
- ❌Accidentally deleted the Downloads folder. The files or folders that disappear from your computer may result from an accidentally deleted downloads folder on Windows 10/11.
- ⚡Files are corrupted. A downloaded file can also be invisible in the Downloads folder if it is accidentally damaged.
Please read further and find the corresponding solution according to the reason why your downloaded files disappeared.
How to fix "downloaded files folder disappear" in Windows 10/11
Downloaded files or the entire Downloads folder disappeared on Windows 10/11? Don't worry, here are 8 feasible solutions you can apply to get them back. Let's get more information together.
Solution 1: Recover deleted or lost files in Windows with software 🔥
AOMEI FastRecovery is a fast and reliable data recovery software that can scan and get back your deleted or missing Downloads folder on Windows 10, 11, or previous systems easily and quickly, even without a backup (created previously).
It's partitioned well, so you can easily find the recovery locations, e.g., Recycle Bin, Desktop, Select folder, specific partitions (C:, D:, E:, etc.), or USB/SD cards. In addition, it simplifies the entire data recovery process from scanning to searching and recovering, and there are no complicated steps.
AOMEI FastRecovery- 👵 With a user-friendly interface, you can get started quickly even without technical skills.
- 📁 Cover 1000+ data types, including documents (e.g., recover deleted Word files), photos, videos, compressed files, etc.
- 🚀 Quick Scan any disk in 3-5 seconds for deleted files/Recycle Bin. Deep Scan is available to find more data in complex scenarios or USB/SD cards.
- 🔄 Search, filter, preview, and recover files while scanning, especially for recovering specific files or folders.
- 🧩Recover data in any scenario, including deleted files, formatted drives, lost partitions, virus attacks, system crash, and so on.
- 🛡️ Safe & reliable to use as it's read-only and does not write data to your devices, causing data overwriting. Please contact us if you have any questions.
100% SecureDownload it and follow the steps below.
❌Don't download and install AOMEI FastRecovery to the location where downloaded files or the Downloads folder are deleted or missing. It may cause data overwriting.
Step 1. Launch AOMEI FastRecovery after installing. It will display the Hard Drive Recovery section to scan any disks for deleted files. Select the C: drive containing the Downloads folder, and then click Scan.
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The “Hard Drive Recovery” section will include all available disks, including removable devices such as USB and SD cards. You can also select "USB/SD card recovery".
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The key difference between the two data recovery options is the pre-set scanning method - Quick Scan usually takes only 3 - 5 seconds, while Deep Scan will be longer.
Step 2. It will start Quick Scan automatically to find deleted or missing files. By default, it does not include all files currently existing on the disk, greatly saving your time.
Step 3. During scanning, you can search, filter, preview, and recover downloaded files as long as you find them. Select the files you need and click Recover to start the recovery process.
- 🔎Search box: Directly type the file name or extension in the search box. You can sort the name, date modified, etc., to find files quickly. It’s recommended to recover specific files or folders.
- 🔽Filter: Click the funnel-shaped button to specify the data type and its size (<128KB, 128 KB~1MB, etc.) to narrow your search.
- 👁🗨Preview: Double-click the file to check out clear thumbnails, including ico, jpg, png, bmp, jpeg, tif, svg, gif, ico, mp4, mp3, txt, xlsx, pdf, ini, docx, etc.
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If you don't find the desired data, click the Deep Scan button to scan the disk thoroughly. It will take longer.
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Don't save the recovered files to the original location, as it may cause data overwriting. It's irreversible.
Try it if your downloaded files are deleted or missing! With it, you can recover deleted files in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and servers.
Solution 2: Search the downloaded files on your computer
If you're sure that you didn't delete the file but it's gone in the downloads folder, the file's storage location may have been modified due to a virus attack or other reasons. Also, you may have unknowingly saved the file to another location.
Step 1. Open File Explorer using the Win + E keyboard shortcut.
Step 2. In the search box, type the file name or file extension (e.g., .jpg, .pdf).
Step 3. Browse through the results to locate your missing files. Once found, move them to a new location or restore them as needed.
Solution 3: Recover disappeared files from Recycle Bin
If you can't find the downloaded files you want, you can check and recover deleted files from Recycle Bin on your computer. Since there's a good chance you've accidentally deleted them.
Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin to find the deleted files or folders. You can search the file names to get them quickly.
Step 2. Right-click the files or folders you want to recover and select the Restore option.
Solution 4: Show hidden files and folders in File Explorer
When the downloaded file contains some virus-carrying software or advertisements, the Windows system will hide the file attributes. This means you need to show hidden folders as the file or folder still exists on your computer.
Step 1. Open File Explorer, and click on View
Step 2. In the Show/hide section, tick Hidden items. It will show you the hidden folders.
Step 3. If you need more file viewing options, click Options > View > tick Show hidden files, folders, and drives option > click on Apply > OK.
Solution 5: Show hidden files in CMD
If your file is hidden due to system flags or corruption, try the attrib command to remove hidden and system file attributes. You can also add chkdsk command beforehand if there is potential file system errors.
Step 1. Type cmd in the search box and select Command Prompt > Run as administrator.
Step 2. Type chkdsk X: /f /r /x and press Enter.
Step 3. After the process is complete, type attrib -h -r -s /s /d X:\*.* and press Enter.
Solution 6: Recover missing files using File History(even Downloads folder)
Windows 10/11 provides users with built-in backup software File History to save copies of your user folder, such as the Downloads folder, Pictures folder, Desktop folder, etc. So you can try to restore missing files from it, even the entire folder.
Step 1. Type File History in the Start menu and select Restore your files with File History.
Step 2. Browse for the downloaded file or the entire Downloads folder. Select files or folders and click Restore to send it back to the original location.
Solution 7: Restore disappeared files to previous version (even Downloads folder)
If you enable File History in Windows 10/11, you can also use the Previous Versions feature to restore previous version of files or or folder.
Step 1. In File Explorer, go to the location where the downloaded files or the Downloads folder is located.
Step 2. Right-click the blank space and select Properties.
Step 3. Browse the file or folder version to find disappeared files or folders, and then select one and click Restore.
Solution 8: Find virus-infected files from the Quarantine Section
All antivirus or security software will block the file or folder on Windows 10/11 if the downloaded file contains a virus or malware. You may have missed a hint about it. Downloaded files are usually stored in the Quarantine section, where you can restore files and mark them as restored.
Step 1. Type Windows Security in the search bar and open it. Select Virus & threat protection and then, under Current threats, select Protection history.
Step 2. Click the Quarantined items in the Filters options.
Step 3. Select the files downloaded and change their storage location. Or directly click the Restore button.
Solution 9: Change Indexing Options
Windows 10 use an indexing feature to speed up the search process. When downloaded files do not show up on Windows 10 or files are suddenly lost, you can change the Indexing Options to troubleshoot the problem.
Step 1. Tap Indexing Options in the search box on the Windows taskbar. Select the top result.
Step 2. Click on the Advanced Options and then, under the Index Settings tab, tap Rebuild.
Wrapping up
In this guide, we demonstrate the common causes of downloaded files disappear on Windows 10/11, and also outline 9 reliable solutions to help you effectively recover them with ease. Hope you already have a clear understanding of how to fix similar issues on your computer now.
Most importantly, it is essential to equip your computer with a professional data recovery tool - AOMEI FastRecovery. This tool can quickly and deeply scan deleted or lost files with an advanced scanning algorithm and finish the retrieval process in a short time. Try it if your files are deleted or missing!
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