Notepad++ is one of the most popular text editors for programmers, writers, and anyone who needs a fast, lightweight tool. But even with a reliable editor, unexpected crashes, power outages, or accidental window closures can create stressful moments—especially when you realize you never saved your work.
If you've ever wondered, "Where does Notepad++ store unsaved files, and can I recover them?" this guide walks you through all the locations that Notepad++ uses for backups, temporary files, and crash-recovery data.
Why Notepad++ Can Recover Unsaved Files
Notepad++ includes a feature called Session Snapshot & Periodic Backup. When it is enabled, Notepad++ automatically stores temporary versions of unsaved files in the background. This allows you to recover files even if you never manually saved them.
These temporary backups are stored in specific folders on your Windows system, and knowing where to look is the key to getting your work back.
1. The Main Notepad++ Backup Folder
The primary location for auto-saved or unsaved Notepad++ files is:
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\backup
You can quickly access it by pasting this into your File Explorer address bar:
%AppData%\Notepad++\backup
Inside this folder, you may find:
- Files named after your original documents
- Files titled “new 1”, “new 2”, etc. (for completely unsaved tabs)
- Files with timestamps in their names
These files can usually be opened directly in Notepad++ just like any normal text file.
2. Crash-Recovery Folder for Unexpected Shutdowns
If Notepad++ or Windows crashed before it could save backups, there is another location worth checking:
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Temp\N++RECOV\
This folder may contain:
- Crash-dump versions of open documents
- Temporary recovery files saved moments before the failure
- Fragments of text that Notepad++ attempted to preserve
These files may not have a typical .txt extension. If they don’t open immediately, try renaming them to .txt or opening them through Notepad++ manually.
3. What Types of Files You Might Recover
Depending on the situation, these folders may contain:
- Auto-saved backup files (normal text format)
- Timestamped versions of your documents
- Dump files from crashed sessions
- Restored tabs from session history
Even if the files look unfamiliar, it’s always worth opening them—you might find exactly what you need.
4. When Recovery May Not Be Possible
Unfortunately, recovery isn’t guaranteed. You may not find your unsaved data if:
- Session Snapshot & Periodic Backup was disabled
- You clicked “Don’t Save” before exiting
- The system crashed before Notepad++ had time to write backup files
- The temporary files were cleared by the OS or cleanup tools
In those cases, Notepad++ simply never had a chance to preserve the data.
5. How to Prevent Losing Work in the Future
To minimize the risk of losing unsaved work again, enable and fine-tune your backup settings:
- Open Settings in Notepad++
- Go to Preferences
- Select Backup
- Make sure Enable session snapshot and periodic backup is checked
- Set a short backup interval (5–10 seconds works well)
This ensures that Notepad++ keeps creating silent background copies of your work.
Conclusion
Recovering unsaved Notepad++ files is usually possible, thanks to its automatic backup system. By checking these two folders:
- %AppData%\Notepad++\backup
- %LocalAppData%\Temp\N++RECOV\
you give yourself the best chance of restoring lost text—whether it was a quick note or an important project.
Take a moment to enable automatic backups in Notepad++ so you’re always protected, no matter what happens.
