Windows 11/10 Documents Folder Missing? 7 Fixes! (2024)

The My Documents folder or Documents folder is an important system folder in Windows operating system. It’s commonly used to save essential documents including personal files and application data like game progress.

Nowadays Documents folder missing problem arises, which tends to happen after deleting or unlinking OneDrive, after Windows OS upgrade, or under other unexpected situations. If you need to restore the Documents folder missing in Windows 11/10 and get back files in it, this article must be your landing page.

Where is the Documents Folder in Windows 11/10?

The Documents folder is created automatically when we create a user account, thus located in the user profiles folder. By default it’s present on the drive where Windows operating system is installed. For example, if Windows 11 is installed on the C drive and your user account name is “username”, the Windows 11 Documents folder location will be C:\Users\username\Documents.

7 Ways to Fix Documents Folder Missing in Windows 11/10

Normally, we can easily reach Documents folder from Quick Access column in File Explorer. In case you’ve found the Documents folder missing in your Windows 11 or 10 computer, no worries, here come 7 solutions to restore it back.

1# Recover Documents Folder and Files with Software

Sometimes the lost Documents folder seems to be less annoying, but all files disappearing along with it would be a huge disaster without doubt. To safely restore the missing Documents folder and files, you’re recommended to opt for a piece of professional data recovery software.

Steps to Restore Missing Documents Folder and Files in Windows 11/10:

Download and install Cisdem on your PC.
Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
Launch this program, go to PC Recovery, click on “Select Folder” to specify a location for scanning, and select OK to start. Here we choose Documents folder.
After scanning done, choose Path or Type, and look through the listed folders or use filters to locate your lost items.
Select them and click Recover button to restore missing Documents folder or files. You’re allowed to preview the wanted files before recovery.

2# Show Hidden Folder

The missing Documents folder may just become invisible after being hidden accidentally. Here’s a simple trick to make it reappear using “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” option on Windows 11 or 10.

Go to File Explorer > View tab > Options.
In the Folder Options window, under Hidden files and folders section, make sure “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” is checked. If no, check it, click Apply and OK.
Confirm if your Windows 11/10 Documents missing from Quick Access or somewhere else shows up again.

#3 Restore Default Location of Documents Folder in Properties

If Documents folder is misplaced somehow, it seems to be missing as well. Then it’s a wise option to restore the Documents folder to its default location in Windows OS, so that this folder could be regained easily.

Open File Explorer, copy and paste shell:UsersFilesFolder into your address bar > press Enter.
Right-click on Documents folder you want to restore > select Properties.
Click Location tab > Restore Default button > OK.
If prompted to create a folder at the default location, choose Yes.
If prompted to move all files from old location to the new default one, continue to select Yes.
Finally go to check whether the missing Documents folder is present in its default location.

4# Restore Documents Folder by System Restore

In the event that any system changes lead to Windows 11/10 Documents folder missing issue, such as update, downgrade, reinstallation, etc., the most suitable fix is to try System Restore. It will revert your system status back to an earlier point when Documents folder was still available. Keep in mind that this works only if you have created a System Restore point before changes.

Right-click on the Start button > select Run.
Type rstrui.exe > click OK.
Click Next to continue.
Choose an appropriate restore point > click Next.
Confirm your selected restore point > click Finish to start the system restore.
After restoration, the missing Documents folder should reveal in Windows 11/10.

5# Create A New Documents Folder

Providing your missing Documents folder is empty or you don’t think lost files in this folder is important, this method is for you. It’s suggested to rebuild a new Documents folder from scratch, using Registry Editor utility combined with Windows Command Prompt.

Create a new Documents folder in default Windows 11/10 Documents folder location (C:\Users\username).
Exit File Explorer.
Press Win+R to open Run windows, and input regedit > click OK.
In Registry Editor, navigate to this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders.
Find Personal registry key > input the location of Documents folder you created in the first step > click OK.
Run CMD as administrator.
Type this command: attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Documents /s /d and press Enter.
Restart your Windows 11/10 PC to get back the missing Documents folder.

6# Run Anti-Virus App

Malware or virus infection is also one of major factors causing system glitches like Documents folder missing in Windows 11/10. So running your anti-virus app is well worth a shot. The following tutorial matches if you’re using Microsoft’s Windows Security as your anti-virus tool. Workflow for other 3-rd party anti-virus apps would be pretty much the same.

Open up Windows search menu > search and open Windows Security.
Go to Virus & threat protection > click Quick scan button to detect and remove any viruses.
Wait for the scan to complete. Finally check if your Documents folder is back.

7# Reset Windows PC

All the above solutions fail to fix Windows 11/10 Documents folder missing trouble? As a last resort, make an attempt to reset your PC, which will send system settings back to their defaults and possibly recover the missing Documents folder.

Press Win+I to open Windows Settings on your PC.
Head over to System > Recovery.
From Recovery options, click Reset PC button.
Choose an option between “Keep my files” and “Remove everything”. If you have no backup in hand, go with the former one.
Continue to choose an option between “Cloud download” and “Local install”, to download the new copy of Windows.
Click Next and Reset to begin the factory reset.
When the installation is finished, the Documents folder should reappear.

Bottom Line

There might be a same resonance that you can get Windows 11/10 Documents folder missing unexpectedly, even after a minor change done to your PC. Disappeared Documents folder and files would always result in inconvenience and massive loss for you. Luckily, one of the fixes from above should have helped you get rid of this problem by now, among which Cisdem Data Recovery must be our first recommendation.

Zoey Wen

Zoey shows a great interest in what she does. Although not long with Cisdem, she has possessed a professional understanding of data recovery.