Guide: How to Restore Deleted Sticky Notes in Windows 10
Microsoft’s Sticky Notes has been a popular way to quickly take notes for years, and with Windows 10, the classic version has been improved while still retaining its simplicity. Despite the upgrade, users can still easily delete their notes when they’re done. Though I’ve used Sticky Notes for a long time, I recently switched to Google Keep.
Sticky Notes in Windows 10 don’t have an archive feature, meaning that once you click the delete button, your notes are gone for good. How can users recover deleted Sticky Notes?
If you’ve lost your Sticky Notes, don’t panic. Here are some tips to help you recover them and prevent future data loss.
1. Check Outlook
Outlook on the web users may not be aware that when they delete a message, a copy is stored in the Trash folder.
Access your deleted Outlook notes with ease: simply open Outlook in your preferred browser, sign in with your Microsoft account, and select Deleted Items from the left sidebar. Your notes will be waiting for you!
Deleted Outlook notes may remain in your account, depending on your settings. If you’ve never adjusted them, the notes may still be present.
2. Fix it
Microsoft has made it tricky to locate, but a simple solution exists: reverting Sticky Notes to an earlier version. Doing so will bring back all deleted notes when the app is restarted.
To restore an earlier version of Sticky Notes, right-click on the app and select Properties. Alternatively, use the Alt + Enter keyboard shortcut if you have a desktop shortcut for the app. On the Previous Versions tab, select an older version and click Restore, Apply and OK.
Relaunching Sticky Notes will restore deleted notes from the same day, allowing users to recover lost information.
3. The hidden file
You can find the contents of your deleted Sticky Notes note in a hidden folder, but you must first make it visible. To do so, search for “Show hidden files” in Windows Search and open it.
Users can now view hidden files, folders, and drives on their computer by navigating to the View tab in their settings. After selecting “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” and clicking “Apply” and “OK,” users will be able to access previously unseen content that appears slightly faded compared to other items.
To open the StickyNotes.snt file, right-click it and select Notepad as Windows does not recognize the file format.
Opening a file may reveal nonsensical text, but don’t worry - no changes are necessary.
Lost a note you didn’t mean to delete? Don’t worry - you can use the search feature (Ctrl + F) to find the contents of your deleted notes. Simply type in a keyword from the note and you’ll be able to recover it.
4. Enable Delete Confirmation
Microsoft has addressed an issue with sticky notes in earlier versions of Windows 10, which caused them to be deleted when the ‘x’ button was clicked.
Clicking the ‘x’ in Windows 10’s latest Sticky Notes version will only close the note, not delete it - to delete, you must click the trash can icon.
Ensure you don’t accidentally delete notes by enabling the Confirm before deleting option in Settings. This will prompt you for permission before deleting, providing a safety net.
5. Back upup of sticky notes
To ensure important information stored on sticky notes is not lost, it is essential to have a backup. To do this, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run prompt and enter the command.
Copy and paste the file “plum.sqlite” into a secure folder for safekeeping.
Backing up your files is essential to avoid data loss. To do so, use a flash drive or cloud storage service to save a copy of the file you wish to keep. When restoring, paste the backup into the original folder and replace the old file. Be sure to back up the old file before replacing it, so you don’t lose any notes.
6. Use Google Keep
Google Keep was designed to replace sticky notes, offering users the ability to color code drawings, create check box lists and group them with labels.
Keep offers users the convenience of archiving notes they no longer need, rather than deleting them, so they can be easily accessed later. Plus, Keep is compatible with all platforms - Windows, Android and iOS - and can be opened in any browser.
Paste it, forget it
Digitizing your sticky notes is a great way to stay organized and informed on the go. With its simple design and useful features, you can take your notes with you wherever you go without sacrificing any of the convenience of traditional sticky notes.
Google Keep users, take note: 16 keyboard shortcuts can help you save time.
How to Restore Deleted Sticky Notes in Windows 10: benefits
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Final note
If you’ve accidentally deleted a Sticky Note in Windows 10, this guide can help you restore it. Have any questions? Reach out to us. And don’t forget to share the love by sharing the article with your friends.
If you have any questions about restoring deleted Sticky Notes in Windows 10, please ask us in the comments section or contact us directly. This guide is for educational purposes only. If you want to correct any misinformation, add more methods, or need help, please use our contact page. You can also follow us on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter for your questions; we usually respond within 24-48 hours (weekends excluded). For the latest software updates and discussion about any software, join our Telegram channel.
