Where Does Paint.NET Store Auto-Recovery Files?

Paint.NET features a built-in document recovery system designed to protect your unsaved work in the event of an unexpected crash or system shutdown. This guide explains the exact file locations where Paint.NET stores its temporary auto-recovery files, scratch data, and how you can access them manually on Windows.

The Auto-Recovery File Location

When Paint.NET unexpectedly closes while you have unsaved canvases open, it stores temporary backup files within your Windows user profile.

The primary location for auto-recovery data is:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\paint.net\AutoSaveCache

To access this folder directly:

  1. Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type or paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\paint.net\AutoSaveCache into the text field.
  3. Press Enter or click OK.

If you installed Paint.NET from the Microsoft Store, the path may alternatively reside within the sandboxed package directory:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\dotPDNLLC.paint.net_*\LocalCache\Local\paint.net\AutoSaveCache

General Temporary and Scratch Files

During normal operation, Paint.NET also writes temporary scratch files to manage large images and undo histories without exhausting system RAM. These files are kept in the standard Windows temporary directory:

%TEMP% (typically resolving to C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Temp)

In this directory, Paint.NET creates files prefixed with names such as paint.net or temporary working directories.

How to Recover Your Files

  1. Relaunch Paint.NET: Under normal circumstances, you do not need to manually copy files from the cache folder. The next time you open Paint.NET after a crash, the application automatically detects the contents of the AutoSaveCache folder and prompts you to restore your unsaved images.
  2. Manual Retrieval: If the automatic prompt does not appear, check the AutoSaveCache directory before continuing to use the program. Files stored here usually retain the .pdn structure or proprietary transaction data. You can copy these files to a safe location (such as your Desktop) and try opening them directly with Paint.NET or renaming their extensions to .pdn.

Note: Paint.NET automatically clears the AutoSaveCache directory upon a clean, normal exit. Temporary auto-recovery files only exist if the application terminated unexpectedly.