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Asked: 2024-09-24T12:28:15+05:30 In:

I mistakenly removed my home directory on Ubuntu. Is there any way to recover it? What steps should I take to restore my files?

So, I’ve found myself in a bit of a pickle. I was trying to clean up my Ubuntu system and, in a moment of panic (or stupidity), I accidentally deleted my entire home directory. I know, I know—it sounds like something out of a tech horror story, right? I wasn’t thinking straight; I figured a few files could get purged, but I didn’t realize my home directory deletion would mean losing all my documents, pictures, and even some of those really important project files I’d been working on for ages.

I’ve tried to stay calm and think logically about what to do next, but I’m kind of freaking out. It all happened just a few hours ago, and I’m hoping there might still be a chance to recover some, or ideally all of my files. I read somewhere that Linux might create backups or something, but I have no idea where to start looking. Should I be booting from a live USB? Is there a way to use a recovery tool or something, and if so, which one?

Honestly, I’m feeling pretty lost. I’ve done some back-ups in the past, but I guess I was too caught up in my daily chaos to keep it consistent. I definitely don’t want to make things worse—like overwriting data or making recovery impossible. Anyone been through this and managed to pull off a miracle? Maybe some steps or a procedure that worked for you?

I’d really appreciate any advice or suggestions, no matter how small. Even knowing what tools I should consider could help alleviate some of this stress. I’m just hoping there’s some technique that could help me retrieve my files without a total meltdown or having to wipe everything and start over. So, if you’ve faced this before or know some tricks of the trade, please share!

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    2 Answers


    1. Uh-oh! Lost your home directory? Let’s try to recover those files!

      First off, take a deep breath. I know it feels like the end of the world right now, but there might be hope! Here’s a little guide to help you on your rescue mission.

      1. Stop Using the System!

      This is super important. The more you use your system after deleting files, the higher the chance of overwriting the data you want to recover. So, try to minimize any activity on it.

      2. Boot from a Live USB

      This step might save you. Get a live USB of Ubuntu, boot from it, and use it to recover files without risking overwrites.

      3. Use Recovery Tools

      There are some recovery tools that could help you:

      • TestDisk: It’s powerful and can recover lost partitions and make non-booting disks bootable again. You can install it from the terminal with sudo apt-get install testdisk.
      • PhotoRec: This is a part of TestDisk, focusing on file recovery, especially for images. It works great even if the file system is severely damaged.
      • extundelete: If you’re using the ext3/ext4 file system, this tool can be very helpful to recover deleted files directly from the disk.

      4. Don’t Forget to Check Backups!

      You mentioned some backups, so check if you’ve saved any snapshots or made manual backups that could help you out. Sometimes they can be found in places like /mnt or

      5. Recovery Procedure

      After booting from the live USB:

      1. Open a terminal.
      2. Install TestDisk or whichever recovery tool you choose.
      3. Run the recovery tool and follow its prompts. Be careful and read everything to understand what you’re doing.

      6. Seek Help Online

      If you get stuck, don’t hesitate to post on forums like Ask Ubuntu or r/linuxquestions. The community can really come through with specific advice!

      Things may feel bleak, but there’s a chance some of your files can be salvaged. Good luck, and don’t forget to set up a more consistent backup plan in the future—maybe even use tools like Backblaze or rsync for easy backups!


    2. It’s unfortunate to hear about the accidental deletion of your home directory, but there may still be hope for recovery. First, the most critical step is to stop using the affected partition immediately. The more you use the system, the higher the chance that the deleted files will be overwritten, making recovery challenging or impossible. Boot your computer using a live USB with a Linux distribution. This way, you can work without mounting the hard drive that contains your deleted files, reducing the risk of overwriting any recoverable data. Once in the live environment, you can use recovery tools such as TestDisk or Photorec. TestDisk is excellent for recovering lost partitions and making non-booting disks bootable again, while Photorec specializes in file recovery based on file signatures.

      After launching a recovery tool, follow the prompts carefully to scan your file system. If you’ve used ext4 as your filesystem, these tools can often recover deleted files efficiently. Be sure to output the recovered files to a different external drive or USB stick to prevent overwriting any remaining data on your system. Additionally, if you had any backup services active, such as Deja Dup or rsync, you may want to check those for recent backups of your files. Time is crucial in these situations, so please act quickly and methodically. With a bit of luck and the right tools, you might be able to retrieve a significant portion of your lost data.

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