How to Recover Your Lost Files after Upgrading to Windows 11?

You might find your important files get lost after upgrading to Windows 11.

If you have backed up your data beforehand, you could just restore them from the backup.

The announcement of Windows 11 is breaking news.

Many users couldnt wait to experience Windows 11.

The official Windows 11 has not been released to the public.

But the Windows 11 Insider preview build is available now.

Files Are Lost after Installing Windows 11

Windows 11 Insider preview build is not stable.

Some unexpected issues might happen during or after the Windows 11 update process.

For example, some users reflect that their files get lost after upgrading to Windows 11.

If these files are important to you, you should want to get them back.

Well then, is it possible to get lost data back after installing Windows 11?

Of course, yes.

There are multiple methods.

We will show them in this post.

You could use one or more to find your lost files based on your situation.

How to Recover Lost Files after Upgrading to Windows 11?

In a situation like this, you will be unable to find your files on your machine.

To rule out this possibility, you should reboot your machine to sign in again.

This operation could remove the temporary account and you could see your files again.

You might just forget the locations of them.

You could try Windows search to find them.

For example, I want to search for a photo which name containstest.

Here, I will show you how I find it on my computer.

Click theWindows searchicon (it is a magnifying glass in the taskbar) to call out Windows Search.

Typetestto the top search bar.

This tool automatically shows you all the search results by default.

Here, I selectPhotos.

Now, I could see the file I am looking for.

You could just tap the found file to open it.

Besides, you’re free to find the files location from the right section of the interface.

You could just nudge the location address to pop swing open the folder where the found file is saved.

The followings are two methods to retrieve the lost and deleted on a Windows 11 computer.

You could try them to help you recover lost files after upgrading to Windows 11.

For example, you might have backed up your files using File History.

If so, you could restore your files via File History.

Then you could restore your files from the cloud backup.

To be specific, it uses thewinfrcommand to recover your lost and deleted files in Windows 11.

This tool has two data recovery modes:Regular ModeandExtensive Mode.

The Regular Mode could only recover the recently deleted files from an NTFS partition or drive.

How to Recover Data Using Windows File Recovery?

You should go to Microsoft Store to find it and download & install it on your rig.

Step 2: Use the Winfr Command to Recover Your Data

1.

After installation, you could just click theOpenbutton in Microsoft Store to open this Microsofts data recovery tool.

ClickYesif you see theUser Account Controlinterface.

First, you will see the usage of thewinfr command.

The rule iswinfr source-drive: destination-folder [/mode] [/switches].

(y/n), you should press theYkey to continue.

The data recovery process will start.

You should wait until the whole process ends.

Then, you’re free to see a message sayingView recovered files?

You could press theYkey to directly kick off the destination folder.

you better remember these command lines if you use Windows File Recovery to recover your files.

If you throw in a wrong command, this tool will not work.

Perhaps, you want to use an alternative to easily rescue lost files after upgrading to Windows 11.

You could try MiniTool Power Data Recovery.

This software has a free edition, which allows you to recover 1GB of files without paying any cent.

You could first try this freeware to scan your gear drive for lost files.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

1.

Download and install thisfree file recovery toolon your system.

2. kick off the software to enter its main interface.

By default, you could see all partitions of the drive on your PC under theLogical Drivestab.

The software will begin to scan the selected drive or rig.

The scanning process will last for a while.

You should wait until the whole process ends to guarantee the data recovery effect.

On the scan result interface, you could open each path to find your needed files.

You could also use theTypeandFindfeatures to find your files.

This software supports previewing up to 70 types of files.

(In the free edition, the previewer package is not downloaded and installed.

you better first download it for use for the first time.)

Select your needed files and click theSavebutton to choose a suitable location to save these files.

The destination location should not be the original location.

Otherwise, the lost files could be overwritten and become unrecoverable.

How to Upgrade to Windows 11 without Losing Data?

There are many available Windows data backup methods.

You could use the Windows snap-in tool File History to back up your Windows data to an external drive.

You could also use a cloud backup service to perform a data backup.

A more reliable solution is to use third-party data backup software to achieveautomatic data backup.

MiniTool Software gives you a good choice: MiniTool ShadowMaker.

This software has a trial edition, which allows you to use it for 30 days for free.

2. launch the software and switch to theBackupsection.

3. hit the Source section to choose theDisk and Partitions/Folders and Filesyou want to back up.

Click theDestinationsection to choose the connected external drive.

Click theSchedulebutton at the bottom-left corner.

Turn on the button at the bottom-left corner to switch on the data schedule feature.

Select a time for a data backup schedule according to your requirements.

ClickOKto save the setting.

Click theBack up Nowbutton to start backing up your data.

Besides, this software could automatically back up your data at your specified time.

There should be a suitable solution for you.