Downloads folder

psmjr said:

Here's what I see when I right click in Downloads, then Sort, then More. You can also see the five category choices do not include A Long Time Ago.

View attachment 25717

Click to expand...

Yes it seem you've lost them. This is how I get to the full list though I doubt it will make a difference now.

It definitely exists if you have files old enough to fit that criteria. Here's mine..



If you have done a full search through windows and they aren't showing then sorry, but I think they have gone.

So...How? Why? I know I did not just delete an entire category. All I can think of is that they got eliminated during the upgrade to W11. Very odd. I appreciate everyone's input so far. Thanks!

Then they will be in the windows.old folder
Did you choose to keep all your data, and programs ?

I did wonder about windows.old but am pretty sure that it self deletes after 10 days.

Windows should keep all files under C:/users/'username' so the downloads folder should have made it across on an upgrade if keeping all files and folders. The process shouldn't delete them and has never deleted mine.

If they're not on the laptop, not on a backup and can't be found in sent emails then apart from praying for a resurrection at Easter I think they've gone

Seeing that older downloads are for some reason getting deleted I would make a folder and save the files you want to keep in it. I would also suggest making backups.

psmjr said:

So...How? Why? I know I did not just delete an entire category. All I can think of is that they got eliminated during the upgrade to W11....

Click to expand...

Not necessarily, they could have been accidentally deleted long ago. There was a time that Windows 10 included Downloads in the Disk Clean-up list. That was, until MS realised the chaos they caused and removed it again.

Have you allowed your computer to save files to OneDrive?

Just a WAG, but maybe they're there?

Since OneDrive "Files on Demand" is the default, it's certainly worth checking.