Adobe Photoshop is a great tool for any designer or creative professional. But sometimes, you may experience issues like accidental or sudden deletion of unsaved Photoshop PSD files from your devices. Such issues of losing important Photoshop file can be frustrating and occurs due to many reasons, such as user deletion, power failure, computer crashes, etc. Luckily, there are several methods available that you can try to recover deleted or unsaved Photoshop files in a Windows environment.

Photoshop software itself offers several features that you can use for deleted Photoshop file recovery. However, if these methods fail to work, you can use any professional data recovery software to restore your valuable Photoshop files. Here, in this article, we will describe some best ways to recover deleted or unsaved Photoshop files on Windows devices with ease. Keep reading this article!

What Causes Deletion of Photoshop Files?

Deletion of Photoshop PSD files can occur due to many reasons, ranging from human error to virus or malware attacks. It is important to find the exact cause of your data loss issues in order to minimize the risk of losing your valuable work. Some main causes of Photoshop file deletion are:

  • Accidental Deletion: One of the main causes for the deletion of PSD files is human error, where users may accidentally delete files while performing other tasks on their devices.
  • Software Issues: Sometimes Photoshop app crashes or freezes all of a sudden while you are working on it, which causes potential data loss issues.
  • Hardware Failure: A failing or corrupted hard drive can cause data loss issues, and sometimes this as result leads to the deletion of unsaved Photoshop files on your device.
  • Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious software can affect your computer and corrupt or delete files, including deletion of PSD files.
  • File Corruption: Issues like software glitches, incomplete downloads, or transmission errors, can corrupt files stored on your device. Corrupted files might fail to open in Photoshop or become inaccessible at all.

Quick Methods to Recover Deleted or Unsaved Photoshop Files

In this part of the article, we will discuss some best ways to recover deleted or unsaved Photoshop files in Windows systems. Before you proceed with any Photoshop file recovery method to restore your deleted .psd, .tmp, and .psb files, it is important to avoid using your system. Once you encounter data loss on your device, just go with the below methods to restore your deleted files:

Method 01: Recover Deleted Photoshop Files from Recycle Bin

Every deleted file on the Windows system first goes to the Recycle Bin folder and remains there for a specific number of days, say 30 days. After this, the deleted files will be permanently removed from your device. If your deleted Photoshop file is located in the Recycle Bin folder, you can go through the following steps to restore it:

  • Firstly, launch Recycle Bin on your device and locate the deleted Photoshop file.
  • Select the file that you need to restore. Right-click on it, and then choose the Restore option.
  • Now, save the required file in a specific folder or desktop for quick and easy access.

Method 02: Recover Photoshop File from temp File

If your deleted Photoshop file is not present in the Recycle Bin due to any reason, you can restore it using the Temporary Files of your device. All you have to do is:

  • Launch Windows Explorer and go to the path: User\YourUserName\Local Settings\Temp.
  • Now, locate the folder that contains files with names beginning with Photoshop followed by alphanumeric characters.
  • Once you get the desired file, save it again on your device for future use.

Method 03: Utilize the AutoRecover Feature

Photoshop software itself consists of an AutoRecover feature that you can use when data loss occurs due to unexpected application or system shutdown. Go through the following steps to learn how to recover deleted or unsaved Photoshop files in Windows using the AutoSave feature:

  • Launch the Photoshop app on your computer.
  • Now, the last auto-saved file with “Recovered” in the file name will automatically appear on your screen.
  • After that, save the file without making any changes and then continue working on it.
  • If no recovered file opens when you launch the app, then go to the path: C:> Users>username>AppData> Roaming>Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 > AutoRecover to search for the AutoRecover folder on your device.
  • Once you find the required unsaved Photoshop file, open it and save it at a safe storage location.

Method 04: Use Data Recovery Software to Recover Deleted or Unsaved Photoshop Files

If the above-mentioned Photoshop file recovery methods fail to restore your lost or deleted Photoshop files, then you can use the Stellar Data Recovery Standard tool. This all-in-one windows data recovery software offers many features and functions to restore your deleted PSD files in no time. The software supports recovery of files deleted from any internal or external storage location, including SSDs, HDDs, USB drives, and even from Recycle Bin or crashed computers, etc.

  • The software supports the recovery of files of multiple types, including PSD files, Photos, Videos, Music, Documents, PPT, Word files, and many more.
  • Recover data deleted due to any reason, including accidental deletion, virus or malware attacks, sudden power failures, etc.
  • The software is 100% safe and secure to download and user-friendly.
  • It allows you to preview the recoverable files before saving them on your computer.

To restore your deleted Photoshop files using this Windows data recovery software, download and install it on your system, and follow the below-given steps:

  • Launch the Stellar Data Recovery Standard tool in your system. Select the All Data checkbox to recover everything deleted on your device and then click the “Next” button.
  • Now, select the storage location from where you need to restore the deleted Photoshop file and click the Scan button.
  • Click Advanced Settings from the top-left corner and then tap the File List icon.
  • After that, select Adobe Photoshop from the list located under the Photo Formats, and then click the Close button first, then the Scan button.
  • After successful completion of the scanning process, preview the recoverable Photoshop file and click the Recover button to save them at the desired storage location.

Tips to Prevent Photoshop Files from Deletion on Windows

Though there are numerous strategies available that you can try to recover deleted or unsaved Photoshop files in the Windows system, it is important to avoid such deletion issues on your devices. Here are some tips to protect your Photoshop files on Windows systems:

  • Make a habit of saving your PSD file every time you start working on Photoshop. Also, it is important to save your files manually, even after making a small change.
  • Ensure to turn ON the Photoshop-inbuilt Autosave features on your Windows device. This option creates a backup of your files at regular intervals, which you can use if any data loss occurs.
  • Make multiple backups of your important Photoshop files on different storage locations, such as External storage drives or Cloud storage locations.
  • It is important to update your device’s operating system and its installed applications, including Photoshop on a regular basis.

By following the above tips, you can lower the risk of your Photoshop file deletion. These habits will also help you to improve your workflow and keep your Photoshop files protected on your device.

Wrapping up:

In conclusion, whatever is the cause for the deletion of Photoshop files on your Windows devices, there are always chances to recover them. Whenever you encounter such issues, go through the aforementioned best ways to recover deleted or unsaved Photoshop files on Windows devices with ease. Along with the manual Photoshop file recovery methods, you can use the Stellar Data Recovery Standard tool to restore your lost files in no time. The software is easy, fast, and effective to use and makes your recovery process easier.

About the Author

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Mirko Humbert

Mirko Humbert is the editor-in-chief and main author of Designer Daily and Typography Daily. He is also a graphic designer and the founder of WP Expert.