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How to Find a Word File That Was Moved, Renamed, or Deleted
Question details
The user needs to locate a missing Microsoft Word document that has been lost due to being moved to an unknown location, renamed, or accidentally deleted.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- The user is trying to resume editing a document but cannot find it in its original folder or by using its previous shortcut.
- Observed behavior
- The file is missing from the expected directory, or the user is receiving an error stating the file has been moved or deleted.
Before you begin your search, try to recall any specific keywords from the document's content or the approximate date it was last modified, as this will help narrow down the search results.
Search via Windows Search and File Explorer
Quickly locate files that were moved or renamed by searching your entire system for keywords or file extensions.
If the document was accidentally dragged to a different folder or renamed, using the built-in Windows Search is the most efficient way to track it down across your entire hard drive.
Click the Windows Start menu or the Search bar on your taskbar and type the name of the file or a distinctive phrase found within the document's text.
If the file doesn't appear in the Start menu, open File Explorer (Windows Key + E) and navigate to 'This PC' or the 'Documents' folder.
Click the search box in the top-right corner of File Explorer, type '*.docx' (or '*.doc' for older files), and press Enter. This will display all Word documents in that directory.
Check the Recent Files List in Word
Use Word's internal history to find the previous or current file path of a recently accessed document.
Recover from Recycle Bin or Cloud Backups
Restore documents that were accidentally deleted locally or from synced cloud storage accounts.
Never Lose a File Again with WPS Office Auto-Backup
WPS Office features a robust built-in local backup and global document search system. Even if you accidentally move, rename, or delete a file, you can effortlessly locate or restore your work using WPS Writer's advanced Data Recovery tools.
- 1. Use Global Search: Open WPS Office and use the Global Search bar at the top of the Home screen to search for documents by name or keyword across all your local and cloud drives.
- 2. Access Backup and Recovery: If a file was deleted or lost, click on 'Menu' (or the 'WPS' icon) in the top-left corner, go to 'Backup and Recovery', and select 'Auto Backup'.
- 3. Restore the file: Browse your local backup folder, select the most recent version of your missing document, and open it directly to resume editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do deleted Word files go on Windows?
By default, deleted files are moved to the Windows Recycle Bin on your desktop. If the file was stored on a synced cloud drive like OneDrive, it will go to the OneDrive Recycle Bin, which you can access via your web browser.
How do I find a Word document if I forgot its exact name?
Open File Explorer, navigate to the folder or drive where you usually save files, and type '*.docx' into the search bar. This will pull up all Word documents in that location. You can then sort the results by 'Date modified' to easily spot the file you recently worked on.
Why does my Word shortcut say the item has been moved or deleted?
This error occurs when the original file the desktop shortcut points to has been moved to a different folder, renamed, or deleted. You will need to locate the actual source file using Windows Search and then create a new desktop shortcut for it.
