Download files have disappeared  

I can not find my downloaded files. They were there yesterday and gone today. I have read other posts and I think I have tried everything offered. However, I am a 72-year-old with limited knowledge. I can usually work my way through things by reading instructions, but I did not understand some of the language that was in the instructions. I installed Windows 10 on my own, which was a major accomplishment for me and things have been working OK. It is Version 1909 (OSBuild 18363.592). I download from several browsers and they always go to the same place "This PC Downloads"

CorgiMom said:

I can not find my downloaded files. They were there yesterday and gone today. I have read other posts and I think I have tried everything offered. However, I am a 72-year-old with limited knowledge. I can usually work my way through things by reading instructions, but I did not understand some of the language that was in the instructions. I installed Windows 10 on my own, which was a major accomplishment for me and things have been working OK. It is Version 1909 (OSBuild 18363.592). I download from several browsers and they always go to the same place "This PC Downloads"

I prefer to designate my own downloads folder in Chrome so I have full control over deleting the content

Thank you so much for responding dalchina. Thank you, I never thought that would happen. I seem to put too much faith in the programs and figure they know what the right thing to do is. Yes I use Disk Cleanup before every work shift and did not pay attention to what it was cleaning. I wonder why it never happened before now, though. I also see that there are some new items that were not there before and everything was ticked. I unticked downloads and then went back in again and it was ticked. I guess that means that I need to untick it everytime I use it. Boy, do I feel dumb. Well, now that I know where they went, is there any way to get them back? Also, should I only tick Temporary Internet Files and leave the rest?

I will do what you suggest and if I get any of them back it will be a plus. If not, then this is a well-learned lesson. So happy to have found this forum.

I think I have, but am so confused about all this. One post advised that he made a folder in Chrome for his downloads, and I tried to do that but could not figure it out, so I created a download folder on my desktop and to get to it, I have to go into
"Susan Adams" under One Drive. It shows up under a couple of other paths, which I do not understand, but I can find them. I tried to recover the files, and when I ran recuva I got 432,000 files and none of the nomenclature meant anything to me. So, I have given up on getting them back. Is there an easy way to create a folder to store my downloads? Thanks for your assistance. Susan aka CorgiMom

Susan:

Open Windows Explorer and find the C drive.

Right click that C drive and make a new folder within it named "my downloads".

Then open your browser of choice and find it's setting for where your downloads should land. Choose the "my downloads" folder that you just made. If you use 2 browsers, you will have to make that same choice for each.

This new "my downloads" folder will not be automatically cleaned by Windows.

You can see my own downloads folder below. It is on the D drive, but it could just as easily be on C.

Thank you so much for your easy to follow instructions on creating a "my document" folder. A guest saw it as well and he asked me to thank you. You guys and gals ROCK!