How To Recover Deleted Favorites In Microsoft Edge (Easy Guide)

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Edgar Nicov

How-To

5 min. read

Published on October 3, 2025

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Losing your saved favorites in Microsoft Edge can be frustrating. Whether you accidentally deleted them or they disappeared due to a browser update, there are a few methods you can try to recover them. This guide will walk you through the steps to restore your deleted favorites and get your browsing experience back on track.

Fortunately, Microsoft Edge offers a few built-in features and external tools that can help you retrieve your lost bookmarks. From checking your Microsoft account sync settings to utilizing file recovery software, we’ll cover the most effective techniques to recover your deleted favorites in Microsoft Edge.

Can You Recover Deleted Favorites in Microsoft Edge?

Method 1: Check Microsoft Account Sync Settings

If you’re signed in to Microsoft Edge with your Microsoft account and sync is enabled, your favorites should be backed up to the cloud.

Open Microsoft Edge.
Click on the three dots (ellipsis) in the upper-right corner.
Select Settings.
Click on Sync in the left sidebar.
Ensure that Favorites is toggled On.
If it’s already on, try toggling it Off and then On again. This can force a re-sync of your data.
Restart Microsoft Edge.

Method 2: Restore from the Favorites Backup File

Microsoft Edge automatically creates backup files of your favorites. You can try to restore your favorites from one of these backup files.

Close Microsoft Edge completely.
Open File Explorer.
In the address bar, type %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default and press Enter.
Look for a folder named Bookmarks.bak. If you find it, proceed to the next step. If not, this method won’t work for you.
Rename the Bookmarks file to Bookmarks.old.
Rename the Bookmarks.bak file to Bookmarks.
Open Microsoft Edge. Your favorites should now be restored from the backup file.

Method 3: Use File Recovery Software

If the above methods don’t work, you can try using file recovery software to scan your hard drive for deleted files, including your Edge favorites.

Download and install a reputable file recovery software (e.g., Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard).
Launch the file recovery software.
Select the drive where Microsoft Edge is installed (usually the C: drive).
Start the scan.
After the scan is complete, search for files named Bookmarks or Bookmarks.bak in the following directory: %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default.
If you find any of these files, select them and click on the Recover button.
Choose a location to save the recovered files (preferably a different drive than the one you scanned).
Once the files are recovered, follow the steps in Method 2 to replace your current Bookmarks file with the recovered one.

Method 4: Restore from a System Restore Point

If you have System Restore enabled on your computer, you can try restoring your system to a previous state before your favorites were deleted.

Search for “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar and open it.
Click on the System Restore button.
Click Next.
Choose a restore point from the list. Make sure to select a restore point that was created before you deleted your favorites.
Click Scan for affected programs to see which programs will be affected by the restore.
Click Close, then click Next.
Click Finish to start the system restore.
After the system restore is complete, open Microsoft Edge and check if your favorites have been restored.

Tips for Preventing Future Data Loss

Enable Sync: Always keep sync enabled in Microsoft Edge to back up your data to the cloud.
Regular Backups: Consider creating regular backups of your entire system or at least your user profile.
Be Careful: Pay attention when deleting favorites to avoid accidental deletions.

Here’s a comparison of the recovery methods:

Method	Effectiveness	Difficulty	Data Loss Risk
Microsoft Account Sync	High	Easy	Low
Favorites Backup File	Medium	Easy	Low
File Recovery Software	Medium	Medium	Medium
System Restore Point	High	Medium	High

Getting Your Favorites Back in Edge

Recovering deleted favorites in Microsoft Edge can be a straightforward process if you act quickly and utilize the built-in features and tools available. Remember to enable sync and create regular backups to minimize the risk of data loss in the future.

FAQ

Can I recover deleted favorites if I haven’t enabled sync? If sync is not enabled, you can try restoring from a local backup file or using file recovery software.

Where are Microsoft Edge favorites stored? Microsoft Edge favorites are stored in the Bookmarks file in the %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default directory.

How often does Microsoft Edge create backup files of my favorites? Microsoft Edge automatically creates backup files of your favorites periodically.

Will system restore delete my personal files? System Restore will not delete your personal files, but it may remove programs that were installed after the restore point was created.

Is file recovery software safe to use? Choose a reputable file recovery software and scan the downloaded file for viruses before installing it.