You might unintentionally delete notes from the Sticky Notes app on your Windows computer or decide they are no longer needed. However, if you later wish to retrieve them, several techniques can help you do so. Below, we outline various methods to recover your deleted Sticky Notes.

Useful to know: if you use Obsidian, discover how to enhance your notes.

Table of Contents

• 1. From Outlook
• 2. With a File Recovery Tool
• 3. From SNT/SQLITE File
• 4. Using File History
• 5. Using DB Browser for SQLite
• Frequently Asked Questions

How to Retrieve Deleted Sticky Notes

Before exploring the main methods to recover Sticky Notes on Windows, first check your Notes list. Closing the Sticky Notes app does not delete your notes; it simply minimizes the app for a tidier workspace. To access your notes again, relaunch Sticky Notes, right-click the app's icon in the taskbar, and choose the "Note list" option. If you want to keep notes accessible even when away from your PC, consider dictating them.

1. From Outlook

Your Microsoft account on your Windows PC syncs with Outlook. If you accidentally delete notes from the Sticky Notes app, you can recover them via the Outlook web app, making them accessible in the cloud.

1. Log into your Outlook account using a web browser.

2. Select "Notes" from the left-hand menu to view your current notes.

3. To access deleted notes, click on the "Deleted Items" option.

Hint: boost your productivity by setting up a block schedule in Outlook Calendar.

2. With a File Recovery Tool

A reliable way to recover deleted notes or files from the Sticky Notes folder is by using third-party data recovery software. For this guide, we'll use Disk Drill.

1. Download and install Disk Drill on your PC.

2. Open the software and choose the drive where your operating system and notes are stored (typically the C:\ drive).

3. Click the "Search for lost data" button.

4. After Disk Drill completes its scan, click the "Review found items" button.

5. To quickly locate your Sticky Notes files, enter "Plum.sqlite" (for Windows 11 and later versions of 10) or "StickyNotes.snt" (Windows 7, 8, and earlier versions of 10) in the search bar at the top and press Enter.

6. Once you locate the file, click the "Recover" button.
7. Choose where to save the recovered Sticky Notes files and click "Next" to complete the process.

8. Transfer the recovered note files back to their original location. Open File Explorer, and based on your Windows version, enter one of the following addresses in the address bar and press Enter.
9. For Windows 7, 8, and 10 (version 1511 or earlier), Sticky Notes files are found at:

<code>%AppData%\Microsoft\Sticky Notes\</code>

10. For Windows 10 (version 1607 or later) and Windows 11, enter the following address and press Enter:

<code>%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState</code>

11. Copy the recovered file into this folder, allowing it to overwrite the existing file.
12. Launch the Sticky Notes app to view your notes.

Info: seeking alternatives for note-taking apps on your Windows PC? We highlight the best free options available.

3. From SNT/SQLITE File

Another effective and common method to recover deleted Sticky Notes on Windows involves locating the app's .SNT or .SQLITE file. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start menu and select "Run."

2. Depending on your Windows version, copy-paste the address to the Sticky Notes folder (as mentioned in the previous section) into the Run window.

3. Locate the "plum.sqlite" file or "StickyNotes.snt" file and double-click it.

4. To open the file, choose a text editor such as Word or Notepad.

5. The editor will prompt you to decode the file. Click "OK" to proceed.

6. Use CTRL F to search for the content of your deleted notes. You'll need to recall at least a few words from the note to find it quickly.

Hint: experiencing issues with File Explorer? We provide solutions for common errors.

4. Using File History

This method requires that you have enabled the File History option before deleting any notes. It not only safeguards your data but also allows you to select the file version you wish to restore.

Note: to activate File History, go to Control Panel, navigate to "System -> Security -> File History," and click the "Turn on" button.

1. Right-click the Start menu and select "Run."

2. Enter the following address and press Enter:

<code>%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState</code>

3. Right-click on the "plum.sqlite" file or StickyNotes.snt, then select "Show more options."

4. Choose "Restore previous versions," pick a version, and click "OK."

5. Open the Sticky Notes app to access your notes.

6. Using DB Browser for SQLite

If you can't access your notes in the app but the Sticky Notes files are still at their location (refer to section #2 for the exact address), you can retrieve them using DB Browser for SQLite.

1. Download DB Browser for SQLite and choose the version suitable for your operating system.

2. After installation, launch DB Browser and click "Open Database" at the top.

3. Navigate to the Sticky Notes app directory (as indicated above) and select the "plum.sqlite" file (or "StickyNotes.snt") to open it.

4. In DB Browser, click on the "Browse Data" option.

5. After expanding the drop-down table, select the "Note" table.

6. You can view all your Sticky Notes, both current and deleted. Note that DB Browser for SQLite does not allow keyword searches within the notes. You'll need to click through them one by one to find what you're looking for.

Hint: unsure about upgrading to Windows 11? Review our list of reasons to make the switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I back up Sticky Notes?

Your notes in the Sticky Notes app are automatically backed up to Outlook if you're logged in with your Microsoft account. To export your data from your Outlook inbox, navigate to "Settings -> View all Outlook settings -> General -> Privacy & data" and select "Export."

How do you permanently delete files so that they can’t be recovered?

Deleting files from the Recycle Bin does not prevent recovery by software. To permanently delete files, you must use file shredder software.

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Farhad Pashaei.

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