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Since Windows 11 (or maybe earlier) Windows Notepad internally stores unsaved files so if the application (or Windows) crashes they will be still there later. For example, Notepad++ stores those temp files in:

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\backup

I've searched here (and searching online about this pointed me here too) :

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local

But it seems they are not there (I even grepped all .txt files in those directories recursively)

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    If I were to hazard a guess, despite it being bad practice, it probably is within the installation directory within WindowsApps which is a protected folder. Commented Sep 19, 2024 at 7:58
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    My guess would be \AppData\Local\Temp, but keep in mind they may not be .txt files. Word for instance when doing autosaves generates .tmp files, so if notepad is using a similar mechanism then it may also be using a similar naming scheme. Commented Sep 19, 2024 at 11:26

3 Answers 3

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Found it in:

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState

Not sure what is the encoding, at least Notepad++ couldn't identify it, but the text is there

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  • If you can not decode it, how you know it's the text? Commented Sep 20, 2024 at 9:27
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    there is a character every 2 bytes (l.i.k.e.t.h.i.s), but it's not UTF16 Commented Sep 20, 2024 at 9:29
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    Yes, this seems to be correct, found: "it will be stored in a .bin file at in C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Notepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\TabState and/or C:\Users\Gebruiker\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\WindowState" Commented Sep 20, 2024 at 12:23
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    This was also helpful for me since I was migrating between PCs and I just copied the contents of both folders to be right where I left off. Commented Nov 20, 2024 at 15:42
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The temp Notepad files are stored as bin files in HEX. You can view them in any text editor that supports/recognizes HEX-format. To convert the file to plain text visit: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/dsa/convert-hexadecimal-value-string-ascii-value-string/

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Try : %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\backup

or C:\Users<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\backup

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    OP is asking about Notepad, not Notepad++. Commented Sep 11 at 22:26

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