Expanded Deleted File Solutions - Windows Users

If you're using third party anti-virus software like McAfee or Norton, those solutions are unique to those products. We are only covering problems caused by Windows built-in features in this article.

If you are using a product called "Avast", we advise you to stop using the product immediately. The company was ordered by the FTC to pay a 16.5 million dollar fine for illegally collecting private data without user's consent. Article link:

Avast will pay $16.5 million for compromising consumers’ privacy

Problem 1: I clicked on the download link in email, but my .zip file can’t be found

Normally (by default) your internet browser (Firefox, Edge, Chrome, etc) will automatically download all files from links you click on (that it recognizes) to a common folder within Windows named “Downloads”.

If you navigate to the Downloads folder or use the “downloads” tool at the right-top of your browser and don’t see a file ending in “.zip”, most likely, “Windows Defender” has deleted it... because “Microsoft always knows what’s best for you”. You won’t be alerted about the file being deleted... it will just mysteriously disappear.

The solution to this problem involves temporarily disabling Windows Defender -OR- creating an isolation (exeception) folder which you can use consistently as a place where a file will never get deleted. But, before you do this, you have to change the setting in your browser that gives you a choice where your downloads get saved.

Here is some links to possible solutions for adding an exclusion folder:

.zip files automatically delete from my downloads folder

Windows 10 keeps deleting downloaded files

Problem 2: I saw the .zip file in my downloads, but later, it disappeared

Remember, you can always go back to your original email and use the same download link. If you lost or deleted the email, use our contact form and request that your emails are re-sent (at no charge).

In the case of missing files, you are probably a victim of another feature more prevalent in Windows 11 called “Storage Sense“. This is a feature that Microsoft thinks you need but it deletes files you might have a hard time recovering, especially if it’s a paid file like a graphic you're using to promote your business or an e-book. More about this problem from this link: