While working on a project or document, it's always a good idea to save the file to a location you can remember later, such as your Desktop of a specific folder. Sometimes mistakes happen, and it can be difficult to locate a saved file. Click the appropriate operating system below to view instructions on how to find missing files you have saved to your device.Expand/Collapse All Windows 10 There are a few different methods of locating saved files on a Windows 10 computer. Below are two methods to locate saved files through the File Explorer: Search for File Open the File Explorer application from your taskbar (alternatively, you can press Windows key+E). Locate the Search bar in the top-right corner, type your file name or a keyword to start the search. Wait a few moments for the search to complete. Any files with that name or keyword in it will appear. NOTE If a large number of files pop up because of this search, you can sort them by either clicking the Name column or the Date Modified column from the label bar above the first file. Check Recent Files Open the File Explorer application from your taskbar (alternatively, you can press Windows key+E). Click Quick Access from the menu on the left. Once the window loads, scroll down to view Recent Files NOTE This section will only show your most recently opened files. If you are looking for a file that you have not opened recently, attempt the Search for File method above. Windows 11 There are a few different methods of locating saved files on a Windows 11 computer. Below are two methods to locate saved files through the File Explorer: Search for File Open the File Explorer application from your taskbar (alternatively, you can press Windows key+E). Locate the Search bar in the top-right corner, type your file name or a keyword to start the search. Wait a few moments for the search to complete. Any files with that name or keyword in it will appear. NOTE If a large number of files pop up because of this search, you can sort them by either clicking the Name column or the Date Modified column from the label bar above the first file. Check Recent Files Open the File Explorer application from your taskbar (alternatively, you can press Windows key+E). Click Home from the menu on the left. Once the window loads, scroll down to view Recent Files NOTE This section will only show your most recently opened files. If you are looking for a file that you have not opened recently, attempt the Search for File method above. Mac There are a few different methods of locating saved files on a Mac computer. Below are two methods to locate saved files: Search for File Using Spotlight To open Spotlight search, click the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of the menu bar (alternatively, you can press Command+Spacebar). In the Spotlight search, type your file name, a keyword, or a phrase to start the search. Double-click the file you would like to open from the search results. Search for File Using Finder Open the Finder application from your Dock (alternatively, you can press Command+N). Locate the Search bar in the top-right corner, type your file name or a keyword to start the search. Wait a few moments for the search to complete. Any files with that name or keyword in it will appear. NOTE If a large number of files pop up because of this search, you can sort them by either clicking the Name column or the Date Modified column from the label bar above the first file. NOTE If you are unable to locate your file after using the steps above, check your computer's Recycle Bin (Windows) / Trash (Mac) folder. Icons for these folders typically appear as trashcans on a user’s desktop.Showing Hidden FilesOccasionally you may need to locate a file that is hidden or not visible when searching for it using the (Windows) File Explorer or (Mac) Finder options. Click the appropriate operating system below to view instructions on how to adjust your settings to show hidden files. Windows 10 Open the File Explorer application from your taskbar (alternatively, you can press Windows key+E). Click the View tab at the top of the window. In the Show/hide section, check the Hidden items checkbox. Windows 11 Open the File Explorer application from your taskbar (alternatively, you can press Windows key+E). Click the View menu that is located to the left of "Filter". In the View menu, hover over Show and then select Hidden items. Mac Open the Finder application from your Dock (alternatively, you can press Command+N). Open the folder you would like to see hidden files in. Press the Command+Shift+Period key combination on your keyboard to show hidden files. Locating Files to Upload to Halo LearnWhen uploading a document to Halo Learn, it may be difficult to find the file in a folder that is congested. Click the appropriate operating system below to view instructions on how to sort your files in the pop-up window. NOTE If you are looking for instructions on how to submit assignments to Halo Learn, check out our Submitting Assignments in Halo Learn article. Windows After clicking the My Computer option in Halo Learn, navigate to the folder you would like to search in. Click the View icon that is in the top-right corner of the pop-up window. In the View quick menu, click Details. You can sort your files by either clicking the Name column or the Date Modified column from the label bar above the first file. Mac After clicking the My Computer option in Halo Learn, navigate to the folder you would like to search in. Click the View icon that is in the top-left corner of the pop-up window. Click the List option under the “Show items as” section. You can sort your files by either clicking the Name column or the Date Modified column from the label bar above the first file. June 01, 2026 16:42 Updated Related articles Submitting Assignments in Halo Learn Compressing your File(s) to Upload to Halo | Learn Zoom FAQ Password Reset Process Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)