So stellen Sie nicht gespeicherte oder gelöschte Notepad++-Dateien wieder her
Losing a tab after a crash, restart, or accidental closure can wipe out hours of work in seconds. The good news is that Notepad++ may have stored a temporary snapshot even if you never clicked Save. This guide explains how to recover Notepad++ unsaved files, where to look first, and when a Wiederherstellung gelöschter Dateien scan is appropriate. If the missing content had already been written to disk, Magic Data Recovery can also search for deleted TXT files and lost Notepad++ backup copies.
Unterstützt Windows 7/8/10/11 und Windows Server
Act before troubleshooting: Avoid installing programs, downloading large files, or running cleanup tools on the affected drive. New data may overwrite a deleted text file or backup snapshot.
Inhaltsübersicht
Can Notepad++ Recover an Unsaved File?
Sometimes. The answer depends on whether Notepad++ wrote the text to its backup folder before the loss occurred.
Notepad++ can create a session snapshot of edited tabs at a set interval. The default backup location for a standard installation is usually:
- %AppData%\Notepad++\backup
However, this snapshot is temporary. According to the official Notepad++ user manual, Notepad++ uses periodic backups for changed files and removes a snapshot after the related file is saved. Closing an unsaved tab and choosing not to save it may also remove the temporary copy.
This distinction matters because Notepad++ recover files methods do not all solve the same problem:
| Was ist passiert? | Die beste erste Methode | Can recovery software help? |
| Notepad++ crashed with the tab still open | Reopen Notepad++ and check the restored session | In der Regel unnötig |
| An unsaved tab disappeared after a restart or update | Check the Notepad++ backup folder and session.xml | Possibly, if a snapshot existed and was deleted |
| A saved .txt, code, or log file was deleted | Check Recycle Bin, File History, then scan the drive | Yes, if the file has not been overwritten |
| A file was replaced or saved with unwanted changes | Check backup-on-save, Previous Versions, or cloud history | Recovery tools may find an older deleted copy |
| The document was never saved and periodic backup was disabled | No disk copy may exist | Usually not; software cannot reconstruct text never written to storage |
How to Recover Notepad++ Unsaved Files: 7 Practical Methods
Start with the least invasive option. Do not jump straight to a full disk scan if Notepad++ still has a valid session snapshot.
Method 1: Reopen Notepad++ and Check the Previous Session
If Notepad++ or Windows closed unexpectedly, launch Notepad++ once and wait for the tabs to load. When Remember current session for next launch and periodic backup were enabled, the program may reopen unnamed tabs such as new 1 together with unsaved changes in named files.
As soon as the missing tab appears:
- Wählen Sie Datei > Speichern unter.
- Give the document a clear filename and extension.
- Save it to a backed-up folder, preferably on another drive if the original disk has errors.
Do not repeatedly close and reopen the application. Session information can change during each launch, so save any recovered content immediately.
Method 2: Open the Default Notepad++ Backup Folder
For most standard Windows installations, the backup directory offers the fastest answer to how to recover Notepad++ unsaved files.
- Presse Gewinn + R.
- Paste %AppData%\Notepad++\backup and press Eingabe.
- Sortieren Sie den Ordner nach Datum der Änderung.
- Look for names such as new 1@2026-08-24_091500 or notes.txt@2026-08-24_091500.
- Copy promising files to a different folder before opening them.
- Open each copy in Notepad++ and save the correct one with its intended extension.
Do not search only for *.txt. Periodic snapshots often end with a timestamp rather than .txt, so a wildcard search can miss the exact file you need.
Method 3: Check the Configured or Portable Backup Location
The default AppData path is not universal. A portable Notepad++ installation can keep configuration files and backups near notepad++.exe. Users can also select a custom directory.
Öffnen Sie Einstellungen > Einstellungen > Sicherung and inspect these options:
- Remember current session for next launch
- Enable session snapshot and periodic backup
- Backup path
- Backup on save settings
If a backup path appears, copy it into File Explorer. For portable mode, check the Notepad++ installation directory for a backup subfolder. When the application is unavailable, search the computer for folders named Notepad++, then inspect recently modified backup directories.
Keep in mind that session snapshot and periodic backup differs from backup on save. The former temporarily protects unsaved changes. The latter can create .bak copies when you actively save a document.
Method 4: Use session.xml to Find the Backup File
When the backup folder contains dozens of timestamped items, session.xml may map a missing tab to its snapshot.
- Close neither Notepad++ nor any recovered tabs until you have copied the relevant folders.
- Open %AppData%\Notepad++ in File Explorer.
- Copy session.xml and the entire backup folder to a safe location.
- Open the copied session.xml in another editor.
- Search for the original filename, tab name, or backupFilePath.
An entry may show the original filename and a timestamped backupFilePath. Browse to that path, copy the backup, and open the copy. This approach is especially useful when you need to recover Notepad files whose backup names no longer resemble the original project names.
session.xml is an index, not the document itself. If it references a backup that no longer exists, move on to Recycle Bin, Previous Versions, or a deleted-file scan.
Method 5: Search Windows, Recycle Bin, and Recent Locations
The file may be saved rather than unsaved. It might have a different extension, live in another folder, or have been moved accidentally.
Probieren Sie diese Kontrollen aus:
- Open File Explorer and search Dieser PC for a distinctive phrase, the filename, *.txt, or the expected code extension.
- Ergebnisse sortieren nach Datum der Änderung.
- Siehe Home/Quick access > Recent and Notepad++’s File > Open Recent File Menü.
- Open Recycle Bin and search by name, file type, or deletion date.
- If the file appears, restore it or copy it to a safe location.
For an accidental move or rename that just happened in File Explorer, Strg + Z may undo the operation. Use this only when you clearly know what the most recent file action was.
Method 6: Restore a Previous Version or Cloud Copy
Windows and cloud services can preserve versions that Notepad++ itself no longer holds. Right-click the original file or its parent folder, choose Eigenschaften, und öffnen Frühere Versionen. Available copies may come from File History or restore-point data.
Before clicking Restore, use Öffnen Sie to inspect the version. Then copy the desired document elsewhere. Restoring in place can replace the current folder contents.
If the file lived in OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Git, or another synced location, check the service’s web-based recycle bin and version history. This is often the best fix for an overwritten file because it preserves distinct historical versions rather than searching raw disk space.
Searching %TEMP% is a low-probability fallback, not the main Notepad++ recovery method. Notepad++ normally relies on its configured snapshot folder. Still, you can enter %TEMP% in Run, sort by date, and inspect recent text-like files if every documented location is empty.
Method 7: Recover Deleted Notepad Files with Magic Data Recovery
Use recovery software when a saved TXT file, a .bak copy, or a Notepad++ snapshot existed on disk and was later deleted. This is different from recovering text that never left the computer’s memory.
Magic Data Recovery addresses the situations that built-in Notepad++ methods cannot: permanent deletion, an emptied Recycle Bin, accidental formatting, a RAW or damaged file system, and files lost from internal or external storage. It supports quick and deep scanning, previews recoverable files before saving, and recognizes more than 5,000 file types.
To use it safely:
1. Stop writing new data to the drive that held the missing file.
2. Download and install Magic Data Recovery on another drive when possible.
Unterstützt Windows 7/8/10/11 und Windows Server
3. Launch it and select the affected partition or storage device.
4. Start the scan, then filter results by path, file type, name, size, or modification time.
5. Preview likely TXT, source-code, log, .bak, or Notepad++ snapshot files.
6. Recover selected items to a different drive.
Why is this approach more reliable than searching random temporary folders? It scans storage for file-system records and recognizable file data rather than depending on one guessed path. It can therefore recover Notepad files that Windows no longer lists. Still, no responsible tool can guarantee recovery: SSD TRIM, secure deletion, physical damage, and overwritten sectors may make a file unrecoverable.
Notepad++ Backup Recovery vs. Data Recovery Software
Choosing the right method saves time and reduces unnecessary disk activity.
Option | Am besten für | Hauptvorteil | Begrenzung |
Reopen previous session | Crash or forced restart | Fast and built into Notepad++ | Depends on session settings and intact snapshots |
Notepad++ backup folder | Unsaved changes captured periodically | Preserves the latest temporary text | Snapshot may disappear after saving or discarding the tab |
Backup on save / .bak | Older version of a saved file | Simple copy with readable content | Must have been enabled beforehand |
Windows or cloud version history | Overwritten or synced documents | Can restore multiple versions | Requires prior backup or synchronization |
Magic Data Recovery | Deleted saved files or deleted snapshots | Scans beyond visible folders and supports damaged file systems | Cannot recover text that was never written to disk |
Das Beste Notepad++ recover files workflow is therefore layered: check the active session, copy the backup folder, inspect version history, and scan the drive only when a disk copy likely existed.
Why the Notepad++ Backup Folder May Be Empty
An empty folder does not automatically mean Notepad++ malfunctioned. Common explanations include:
- Periodic backup was disabled before the loss.
- The interval had not elapsed before the crash.
- You saved the file, so Notepad++ removed the temporary snapshot.
- You closed the tab and chose Nein when asked to save.
- Notepad++ uses a custom or portable backup path.
- Another Windows account owns the relevant AppData folder.
- A cleanup utility, antivirus action, profile reset, or storage error removed the files.
- Multiple Notepad++ instances used different session behavior.
If you suspect deletion, preserve the folder and drive before running a scan. Continuing to work on the same system partition can overwrite the very snapshot you want to find.
How to Prevent Lost Notepad++ Work
Once you know how to recover Notepad++ unsaved files, spend a minute preventing the next incident.
- Öffnen Sie Einstellungen > Einstellungen > Sicherung.
- Aktivieren Sie Remember current session for next launch.
- Aktivieren Sie session snapshot and periodic backup and choose a sensible interval.
- Einschalten backup on save for important work and use a dedicated backup directory.
- Save new tabs early with meaningful names.
- Store critical documents in a versioned or synced folder.
- Use Git for code and maintain a separate, tested backup for irreplaceable notes.
Periodic snapshots are a safety net, not an archive. If a document matters, save it as a real file and include it in a regular backup plan.
Schlussfolgerung
To resolve how to recover Notepad++ unsaved files, first reopen the previous session, inspect %AppData%\Notepad++\backup, verify the configured backup path, and use session.xml to match tabs with snapshots. For saved files, also check Recycle Bin, Previous Versions, and cloud history.
When a TXT document or snapshot was actually written to disk and later deleted, Magic Data Recovery is worth trying because it can scan deleted files, formatted storage, and file-system errors while letting you preview results. It complements built-in backups; it does not invent content that was never stored. For more safe-recovery principles and related methods, visit the Anleitung zur Wiederherstellung gelöschter Dateien.
Unterstützt Windows 7/8/10/11 und Windows Server
FAQs About Notepad++ File Recovery
Wo speichert Notepad++ nicht gespeicherte Dateien?
Wenn die regelmäßige Datensicherung aktiviert ist, werden die Snapshots bei einer Standardinstallation normalerweise im Verzeichnis „%AppData%\Notepad++\backup“ gespeichert. Bei einer portablen Installation oder einer benutzerdefinierten Konfiguration kann ein anderes Verzeichnis verwendet werden. Überprüfen Sie Einstellungen > Einstellungen > Sicherung für den aktiven Pfad, bevor davon ausgegangen wird, dass die Dateien fehlen.
Wie kann ich einen geschlossenen, nicht gespeicherten Reiter in Notepad++ wiederherstellen?
Öffnen Sie zunächst Notepad++ erneut und suchen Sie dann im Sicherungsverzeichnis nach einer kürzlich geänderten neuen Datei mit dem Namen „N@Zeitstempel“. Wenn Sie die Registerkarte absichtlich geschlossen und das Speichern verweigert haben, hat Notepad++ den Snapshot möglicherweise entfernt, sodass eine Wiederherstellung weniger sicher ist.
Kann Notepad++ Dateien nach einem Neustart des Computers wiederherstellen?
Ja, sofern der Sitzungsspeicher und die regelmäßige Sicherung aktiviert waren und die entsprechenden Dateien intakt sind. Starten Sie Notepad++ einmal und überprüfen Sie, ob die Registerkarten wiederhergestellt wurden. Wenn nichts angezeigt wird, kopieren Sie den Sicherungsordner und die Datei „session.xml“, bevor Sie weitergehende Wiederherstellungsmaßnahmen ergreifen.
Warum ist mein Notepad++-Sicherungsordner leer?
Möglicherweise wurde die regelmäßige Datensicherung deaktiviert, das Snapshot-Intervall ist noch nicht abgelaufen oder Notepad++ verwendet einen anderen Pfad. Das Programm löscht außerdem temporäre Snapshots, nachdem eine Datei gespeichert oder eine ungespeicherte Registerkarte geschlossen wurde.
Kann ich eine nicht gespeicherte Notepad++-Datei aus dem Temp-Ordner wiederherstellen?
Sie können unter „%TEMP%“ nachsehen, dies ist jedoch nur eine sekundäre Ausweichmöglichkeit. Notepad++ speichert regelmäßige Snapshots normalerweise in dem konfigurierten Sicherungsordner und nicht im allgemeinen Windows-Temp-Verzeichnis. Konzentrieren Sie sich zunächst auf den offiziellen Sicherungspfad und die Sitzungsdateien.
Kann Magic Data Recovery eine nicht gespeicherte Notepad++-Datei wiederherstellen?
Es kann einen gelöschten Notepad++-Snapshot oder eine zuvor gespeicherte Textdatei wiederherstellen, sofern diese Daten auf die Festplatte geschrieben und nicht überschrieben wurden. Ein ungespeicherter Speicherpuffer, den Notepad++ nie auf den Speicher geschrieben hat, kann jedoch nicht rekonstruiert werden.
Wie kann ich eine endgültig gelöschte TXT-Datei wiederherstellen?
Verwenden Sie das betroffene Laufwerk nicht mehr, überprüfen Sie die vorhandenen Sicherungskopien und scannen Sie es mit einem Tool zur Dateiwiederherstellung. Speichern Sie die wiederhergestellten Dateien auf einem anderen Laufwerk. Die Ergebnisse hängen davon ab, ob die ursprünglichen Daten durch Windows, SSD-TRIM oder spätere Aktivitäten überschrieben wurden.
Werden durch eine Neuinstallation von Notepad++ nicht gespeicherte Dateien wiederhergestellt?
In der Regel nicht. Bei einer Neuinstallation wird ein fehlender Snapshot nicht wiederhergestellt, und es kann zu Änderungen an den Konfigurationsdaten kommen. Kopieren Sie zunächst die vorhandenen Ordner „AppData“ und „Backup“ von Notepad++. Suchen Sie nach verlorenen Dateien oder führen Sie einen Scan durch, bevor Sie etwas auf dem betroffenen Laufwerk installieren.
