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Is it possible to retrieve a word file saved in the downloads folder, but which later got deleted upon closing mozilla?

  • 5 replies
  • 6 have this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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Yes, I researched everything about how to possibly retrieve a word document that was lost. Unfortunately I didn't set it to save backups, so I don't have that.

Other people inquiring if you can retrieve lost data from the download's folder which got wiped got a "no, you can't" answer, but that's not good enough to me.

I'm know that when these files got deleted, they didn't get shredded, and with an adequate software that can retrieve the database sqlite files that stores data, you can get the data back. My question is, how can I extract my word document file from an sqlite file? Also, how can I identify to most recent sqlite files which got wiped on my computer?

Thank you

Yes, I researched everything about how to possibly retrieve a word document that was lost. Unfortunately I didn't set it to save backups, so I don't have that. Other people inquiring if you can retrieve lost data from the download's folder which got wiped got a "no, you can't" answer, but that's not good enough to me. I'm know that when these files got deleted, they didn't get shredded, and with an adequate software that can retrieve the database sqlite files that stores data, you can get the data back. My question is, how can I extract my word document file from an sqlite file? Also, how can I identify to most recent sqlite files which got wiped on my computer? Thank you

Chosen solution

hello, firefox doesn't save your downloaded files into a sqlite database but directly into the download directory on your disk. what you might be able to extract from your download history (ctrl+j) is the url of a file to re-download it. you might also try to run a program like "recuva" to restore deleted documents on your disk, but this is outside the scope of support for mozilla products...

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Chosen Solution

hello, firefox doesn't save your downloaded files into a sqlite database but directly into the download directory on your disk. what you might be able to extract from your download history (ctrl+j) is the url of a file to re-download it. you might also try to run a program like "recuva" to restore deleted documents on your disk, but this is outside the scope of support for mozilla products...

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Did you try to open this file in Word for editing and saved the modified file under the same name?

If that is the case then you should always use Save as to save the file under a different name and in another folder. If that wasn't the case then you should have kept the file unless other (cleanup or anti-virus) software has removed the file because Firefox wouldn't remove files that weren't saved to temp folder.


There are other things that need your attention. Note that your System Details List shows a very old Flash plugins 9.0 r45 version.

  • Shockwave Flash 14.0 r0
  • Shockwave Flash 9.0 r45

Such an old Shockwave Flash plugin may not be installed in the default location.

You can find the installation path of all plugins on the about:plugins page.

You can check the Flash player installation folder for multiple Flash player plugins and remove older version(s) of the plugin (NPSWF32) and possibly (re)install the latest Flash player.

  • (32 bit Windows) C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\
  • (64 bit Windows) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\
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Press <Control> J to open your download manager. Look for your file. If you find it, right click and select Open Containing Folder.

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I've tried recuva but it didn't seem to find it. I didn't try the deep scan though. What I think may have happened is that Mozilla crashed when I had closed it, and somehow this made the files I downloaded during that session disappear as well.

Also, I remember locating my word document in download history, but not being able to open it, since the file itself got wiped out somehow.

Modified by jgk3

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Once a file is done downloading, Firefox should release it.

Have you tried the Download Manager?