Microsoft improved Sticky Notes with Windows 10 while retaining the simplicity of taking notes that came with the classic version. No wonder it is a popular way to take quick notes that you can later delete easily. I used it for a long time, but I recently moved to Google Keep.
Sticky Notes has no archive feature which means clicking on the delete button will directly delete it. So how to recover a deleted Sticky Notes in Windows 10?
Step 1: Double-click the Sticky Keys icon on taskbar to display the Set up Sticky Keys window. Tip: If you cannot directly find the icon, tap the up arrow on taskbar and you'll see it. Step 2: Deselect Turn on Sticky Keys and hit OK. Related Articles: 5 Ways to Open Sticky Notes in Windows 10; 2 Ways to Turn on Mouse Keys in Windows 10. Oct 08, 2018 Sticky Notes has been improved a lot in Windows 10 October 2018 update. The new Sticky Notes can now sync between devices, supports search function, can recognize handwriting, add entries to Cortana, support for dark mode, light accent colors, etc. Additionally, Sticky Notes now has a dedicated formatting bar that lets you format text in bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and even toggle.
That can be worrying. If you are facing similar issues, here are a few ways to recover deleted Sticky Notes and a couple of solutions to make sure you are never in the same situation again.
1. Check Outlook
Yup, that’s right. I am guessing that you don’t use the web version of Outlook much because if you were, you wouldn’t be here probably. See, every time you delete a note, a copy of the same is stored in the Trash folder of Outlook.
Click on the link below to open Outlook in your favorite browser and log in using the same Microsoft account that you use on your computer. Click on Deleted Items in the left sidebar, and you will see all the notes there waiting for you to be recovered!
How long these deleted notes stay there will depend on your Outlook settings but if you have never used it, the chances are that it is still there.
Visit Outlook2. Restore It
Microsoft has made it difficult to find this feature, but it exists and is easy to use. You can restore Sticky Notes to a previous version which will recover any deleted notes the next time you launch Sticky Notes.
Search for Sticky Notes, right-click on it and select Properties. You can also use the Alt+Enter shortcut if you have a desktop shortcut for the app to launch the Properties dialog directly. Under the Previous Versions tab, you will find older versions of Sticky Notes with dates. If there is a previous version, select it, and click on Restore, Apply, and OK.
In my case, there is no previous version because I stopped using Sticky Notes since last year and I will share why later in the guide. Now close Sticky Notes and relaunch it and you should see all deleted notes from that day back in the list.
Also on Guiding Tech
Stickies: The Superior Alternative to Sticky Notes for Windows 10
Read More![Undo Undo](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133939095/692756446.jpg)
3. The Hidden File
Your computer doesn't show all files and folders are visible. Some files are hidden to protect them from getting deleted accidentally — mostly the system files. There is one folder where you can find the contents of your deleted Sticky Notes note. However, you will have to unhide it first. Search for Show Hidden Files in Windows search and open it.
Under the View tab, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and click on Apply and OK. You will now see hidden files that were not visible before, and they will be a little faded compared to other folders/files. Navigate to the below folder:
That is where you will see the StickyNotes.snt file. Right-click on this file and open it with Notepad because it is a file format that is otherwise not recognized by Windows.
Once the file opens, you will notice that there is a lot of gibberish text that is not making any sense and that is OK. Don’t change anything.
Use the search feature (Ctrl+F) to find the content of your deleted notes. This file will have text from notes that you have accidentally deleted. So if your note had the word ‘call’ in it, search for the same.
4. Enable Delete Confirmation
Sticky Notes in earlier versions before Windows 10 arrived would delete the notes directly when you clicked the little 'x’ button. Thankfully Microsoft fixed that.
On Windows 10 running latest version of Sticky Notes, clicking on the 'x’ will only close the note. Sticky Note will delete a note only when you click the trash icon.
But if you go to Settings and enable Confirm before deleting option, you will get a pop-up asking your permission before erasing the note. That will act as a safety net in case you end up clicking the delete button accidentally.
Also on Guiding Tech
A Comparison of the Best Minimal Cross-Platform Note Taking Apps
Read More5. Backup Sticky Notes
If you are using Sticky Notes to store important information, then it is imperative to take a backup of these notes just in case. Press the Windows key+R on your keyboard to launch the Run prompt and type the following command before hitting enter.
You will notice a file named plum.sqlite which you need to copy and paste in a secure folder.
I would recommend using a flash drive or your favorite cloud storage service. To restore, paste the backup file back in the folder where you found it replacing the old file. I would suggest taking a backup of the old file that you are replacing to prevent losing those notes.
6. Use Google Keep
Best Desktop Sticky Notes
I started using Google Keep because it replaces sticky notes perfectly. Google designed Keep with the concept of sticky notes in mind. You can color code notes, make lists with checkboxes, and use labels to group them.
One feature that you will like is the ability to archive notes that you no longer need instead of deleting them. This way, you can always go back to them if need be. Another benefit of using Keep is that it works on all platforms like Windows, Android, and iOS. Also, you can open Keep in any browser.
Sticky Notes Shortcuts
Stick It, Forget It
The idea of digitizing your Sticky Notes is excellent. You can carry it anywhere you want, and it brings a ton of features with it while still retaining the simplicity and visual appeal. If you're going to continue using Sticky Notes, these handy tips will help you stay on top of things.
Next up: Are you using Google Keep or want to begin using it? Here are 16 amazing keyboard shortcuts that will save you time while using it.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextTop 16 Google Keep Keyboard Shortcuts for the Web and Chrome AppAlso See#windows 10 #sticky notes
Did You Know
You can switch manually to the tablet mode in Windows 10.
More in Windows
Top 3 Fixes for Camera Not Working on Windows 10 PC
Our beloved Sticky Notes on Windows has grown in a beautiful app over the years. The Sticky Notes can be accessed on other devices like iPhone, Android, and the web. Sure, it may be lacking certain useful features such as folders for organizing your notes or tags, but it was designed to be a simple and productive app. And it does the job well. The Sticky Notes app comes with several useful keyboard shortcuts to increase your productivity. Let’s find some of those handy productivity shortcuts in the post.
The keyboard shortcuts simplify the process of using an app. Instead of fiddling with your mouse, you can control the Sticky Notes app with your keyboard that you are anyway using to enter the text to Sticky Notes.
Here are the best shortcuts for Microsoft Sticky Notes that you can use on your Windows 10 PC.
1. Create New Sticky Note
One of the primary benefits of Sticky Notes is that one can access it quickly from the desktop. The note creation process must also be fast, and it certainly is. Once you have your Sticky Notes app in the foreground, use Ctrl + N keyboard shortcut to create a new note. The cursor will automatically appear in the new note so you can immediately start penning down your thoughts.
Pro Tip: Add emojis to your Sticky Notes using the Windows key + . (period key) keyboard shortcut.2. Open Notes List
The Notes list of Sticky Notes is home to all your notes. When you are writing a note and want to view your Notes list, use Ctrl + H keyboard shortcut to move the focus to the Notes list.
Also on Guiding Tech
5 Best Free Sticky Notes Alternatives for Windows 10 Users
Read More3. Close Current Sticky Note
When you are done writing or editing a Sticky Note, you can either keep it on the desktop at your preferred place or close it. Closing the note will put it inside the Notes list from where you can access it anytime. To close the currently active note, use Ctrl + W keyboard shortcut.
4. Delete Current Sticky Note
If you want to delete a Sticky Note from your desktop and the Notes list, you can use Ctrl + D keyboard shortcut for the currently active note.
Do remember that once you delete your note, you cannot undo it within the app. You have to use other ways to restore your deleted Sticky Notes. To avoid deleting your notes accidentally, you should enable the 'Confirm before deleting' setting. For that, click on the Settings icon in the Sticky Notes List window. Turn on the toggle for Confirm before deleting.
5. Add Bullet Lists
Lists help in organizing and decluttering our notes. You can create bulleted lists in Sticky Notes using Ctrl + Shift + L keyboard shortcut. The shortcut works both before and after typing the text. Use the same shortcut to remove the bullet points.
6. Format Text
The usual text formatting shortcuts work in Sticky Notes as well. Select the text that you want to format and use the following keyboard shortcuts:
![How How](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133939095/262169852.jpg)
- Ctrl + B: Bold your text
- Ctrl + I: Italicize the text
- Ctrl + U: Underlines the text
- Ctrl + T: Strikethrough your text
Also on Guiding Tech
#notes
Click here to see our notes articles page7. Align Text
Not many would know that you can align your text in Sticky Notes. The app supports the left and right alignment of the text. To right-align the selected text, press Ctrl + Right Shift keys on your keyboard. Similarly, for left alignment of the selected text, use Ctrl + Left Shift keyboard shortcut.
8. Cycle Between Open Notes
When you have many Sticky Notes open on your computer, you can cycle forward between them or move the focus with the help of Ctrl + Tab shortcut. Interestingly, the shortcut works even for the notes that are in the background. The shortcut brings the open notes to the foreground one-by-one and shows the Notes list when moving between notes.
Pro Tip: Use Ctrl + Shift + Tab keyboard shortcut to cycle backward between open Sticky Notes.9. Search Your Notes
Luckily, you can search through all your notes in Sticky Notes. For that, open the Sticky Notes list and use the Ctrl + F keyboard shortcut. Type your search query and the results will appear. To remove the search term and return to the Notes list, press the Esc key.
Fix: Sometimes, Sticky Notes may give you unwanted trouble by not opening on your computer. Find out how to fix Sticky Notes not working on Windows 10.Also on Guiding Tech
How to Share Sticky Notes Between Computers
Read MoreExplore the Greatness of Shortcuts
Those were some of the top Sticky Notes shortcuts on Windows 10 that will help you become more productive. Microsoft keeps on adding new keyboard shortcuts to the official list. The keyboard shortcuts for Sticky Notes and screen reader also comes handy to people with visual impairments.
Next up:Want to be more productive with Sticky Notes? Check out 9 best tips to use Sticky Notes in the best possible manner from the next link.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read Next9 Best Sticky Notes Productivity Tips for Windows 10 UsersAlso See#windows 10 #sticky notes
Did You Know
How To Undo In Sticky Notes
You can pin the Recycle Bin on the Start menu in Windows 10.
Diplomacy game mac. The game of diplomacy free download - FIFA 17, Diplomacy, Diplomacy, and many more programs. Diplomacy is an American strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959. Its main distinctions from most board wargames are its negotiation phases (players spend much of their time forming and betraying alliances with other players and forming beneficial strategies) and the absence of dice and other game elements that produce.