“In order to create a new user account with admin privileges on the Windows 10 system, I deleted the old user profile and its respective folder on the Windows 10 system and enabled the “Keep Files” option. After creating a new Windows 10 user profile, I checked the backup copy of the old user folder, but it was empty. I got tense and checked for the files in my Recycle Bin. How should I recover the deleted user folder from the Windows 10 hard drive? Please help me!”
Windows PC settings and personal files can be lost if you delete user profiles by mistake. Usually, the user folder resides in the primary partition (C: Drive on a Windows PC). It includes complete files and folders stored by the respective user.
Major Scenarios That Can Cause Deletion Of User Profiles In Windows 10/11/8/7
Here is a list of the most common scenarios that can lead to user profile loss or deletion in Windows:
- Accidental Deletion: A user may delete a User account without taking a backup.
- Human Error: A user might also lose user profiles during human errors. This can include formatting the hard drive or installing a new OS without saving.
- Wrong Update: Updating the wrong OS could result in you losing your User Profile as well.
- Virus Attack: When your User Folder is infected with a virus, it may be lost. But, you can still recover data after a virus attack.
No need to panic, in case you end up deleting your user profile from your Windows 10 or other versions. This is not an exclusive problem. There are various methods to resolve this issue. We have brought to you the most secure, efficient, tried and tested method picks.
How To Restore User Profile In Windows 11/10/8/7?
Listed below are our top picks of methods to recover lost or deleted user profiles.
Method 1: Recover Deleted User Profile Manually
Step 1: Find Security Identifier
- In the Windows search bar type Command prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Type the command whoami/user and press the Enter key. This will show you the SID of the current account.
Step 2: Edit The Registry
- Type regedit in the search box and hit Enter. Then, click on Yes to open Registry Editor.
- Now, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList to open the list of SIDs in the User profile list.
Step 3: Recover Deleted/Lost User Profile
- Find the User folder that matches your SID. Then, select the Rename option by right-clicking it, and remove .bak extension from its name.
- Now, press the Enter key to make changes.
Usually, the solution mentioned above will work. However, if you failed to restore the User Profile on your Windows OS, you can move on to the next solution.
Method 2: Restore Deleted User Profile From A Backup
Note: Have you previously created a restore point? You can move to the below steps or else without wasting any time you can skip this method and move to Method 3.
- Enter File History in the search box.
- Select Restore your files with File History
- Choose the folder, i.e., C:\Users\folder [ If the User Profile was located in any other drive, navigate to that location and select the folder]
- Click on the Restore button to restore the deleted user profile.
Method 3: Recover Deleted User Folder Using Yodot File Recovery Tool
The above-mentioned methods may fail in some cases. In such cases, you rely on a professional tool like Yodot File Recovery.
This tool can effectively scan and restore the deleted user folder/profile. Download the Yodot File Recovery application and restore your User Folder.
Steps to Restore User Folder from Windows 11/10/8/7 OS:
- Download and install the Yodot File Recovery app on your Windows PC. Launch the application.
Caution– Do not use the drive where the user profile folder was saved. This may lead to data overwriting and cause data loss.
- Click on the Deleted File Recovery option to restore the User Folder from Windows OS.
- Choose the drive and click on Next. This will start the scanning process and recover the deleted user folder from the Windows PC.
- After completion of the scan, you will find a list of deleted files and folders from the selected drive..
- You can view the recovered User Folder with the help of Preview options. Mark the user folder or required files to restore them on your Windows system.
- Browse for a new destination path and save the user folder.
Also Read: How To Find Hidden Files and Folders From Windows 10/11?
Losing files accidentally is one of the major problems faced by PC users. Deleting important files accidentally can be a big stress. Software like Yodot file recovery can be life-saving in such incidents.
Tips to Avoid Losing User Folder from a Windows PC:
- Before deleting the Windows user folder, ensure you have taken a backup copy.
- Ensure your Windows system is protected with an antivirus and a valid password.
- To prevent overwriting, don’t save new data after accidentally deleting a user folder.
Conclusion:
If you’ve lost your user profile, don’t worry. This guide has the best solution for you. We provide Three different methods to help you recover your deleted user profile. Out of these methods, using recovery software is the most reliable option.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Right-click on the desktop > select “Personalize” > choose “Themes” > enable “User’s Files” in the Desktop Icon Settings.
Deleted user profiles are typically moved to the “C:\Users\Deleted” folder or completely removed from the system.
When you delete the user’s folder, all the associated files and data are permanently removed. It is essential to exercise caution when deleting user folders to avoid data loss.
