I was trying to remove a chapter that was an error in my almost finished autobiography and accidentally removed the main manuscript. I have not closed down my Mac and will not do so. But i cannot find a way of restoring that manuscript, Please, please help me restore it!
It is version 3.2.3
Nothing is ever deleted unless you specifically confirm so.
Look in the “Trash” folder.
There is also the possibility that you unwillingly moved it (the content of your manuscript) and that it is now nested under another document (whichever) that is part of your project.
If you can’t find what’s missing in the trash folder, use project search to look for a word you know to be somewhere in your text.
That will lead you to one of its documents, revealing its location.
Thank you. It is not in my trash folder so I will try your alternative idea.
Project search is found where?
Alternatively (and perhaps even better), you can click in the binder to make sure it has focus, then use View / Outline / Expand all.
It’ll reveal everything that’s in the binder.
I think you cannot literally delete the blessed Draft/Manuscript folder in a Scrivener project, so maybe we need to know more about what you are seeing.
Vincent, you are a hero! I have recovered the book. Thank you so much.
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GR, see my reply of a few moments ago to Vincent.
Now my challenge is to convert my pdf, now recovered, back into a Scrivener file?
@PaulBrit, you’ve just survived a near-death loss-of-work experience. Yay!
Before you do anything else, back up your project! It’s worth your peace of mind, right?
I asked OneDrive to list all the ways to back it up. (I gave it a quick read, and it seems valid, though others here will no doubt catch anything that is not quite right.)
1. Automatic Backups (Built-in Scrivener Feature)
Scrivener automatically backs up your project when you close it.
Steps to enable or customize:
- Go to
File > Options(Windows) orScrivener > Preferences(Mac) - Click the Backup tab
- Ensure “Turn on automatic backups” is checked
- Choose when backups occur:
- On project close
- On project open
- On manual save
- Before syncing with mobile
- Set how many backups to keep (3, 5, 10, 25, or all)
- Choose a backup location (ideally separate from your working folder)
2. Manual Backup to a Specific Location
You can manually back up your project at any time.
Steps:
- Go to
File > Back Up > Back Up To... - Choose a folder (e.g., external drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)
- Optionally check “Backup as ZIP file” to compress the project
- Click Save
3. Cloud Backup (Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud)
Backing up to the cloud ensures offsite protection.
Steps:
- Use
Back Up To...and select a synced folder (e.g., Dropbox) - Avoid working directly from cloud folders to prevent sync conflicts
- Let the cloud service sync the backup ZIP file
4. Email Backup to Yourself
A simple offsite method that doesn’t rely on cloud sync.
Steps:
- Use
Back Up To...to create a ZIP file - Attach the ZIP to an email and send it to yourself
- Store it in a dedicated folder in your email client
5. External Drive Backup
Ideal for physical redundancy.
Steps:
- Plug in your external drive
- Use
Back Up To...and select a folder on the drive - Optionally automate this with backup software like Time Machine (Mac) or File History (Windows)
6. Time Machine (Mac Only)
macOS’s built-in hourly backup system.
Steps:
- Connect an external drive
- Enable Time Machine in
System Preferences > Time Machine - Scrivener projects will be backed up automatically
- Be cautious with restoring — Scrivener projects are bundles, so restore the entire
.scrivfolder
7. Third-Party Backup Software
For full-system or scheduled backups.
Examples:
- Windows: Macrium Reflect, Acronis True Image
- Mac: Carbon Copy Cloner, SuperDuper
Steps:
- Set the software to include your Scrivener backup folder
- Schedule regular backups to external or cloud destinations
8. Exporting as Compiled Files (for reference backups)
Not a full project backup, but useful for preserving drafts.
Steps:
- Go to
File > Compile - Choose format (e.g., DOCX, PDF, TXT)
- Save to a backup folder or cloud location
9. Project Snapshots (Internal Versioning)
Scrivener’s way of saving document versions.
Steps:
- Select a document in the Binder
- Go to
Documents > Snapshots > Take Snapshot - Name it for easy reference
- Use
CompareorRoll Backto restore versions
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Yes.
To develop backup how-to knowledge and habits is your next logical step.
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It’s good that you’ve found your PDF file, though, as others have said, chances are you haven’t actually deleted the Scrivener writing you’ve done. Have you tried the steps suggested by your colleagues here?
If all else fails, you can convert the PDF into a docx or rtf file, which can be imported in Scrivener.
Thanks. Scrivener automatically backs up.
Then, if for some reason (it shouldn’t) your PDF is nowhere to be found in the imported version, fetch it from a backup.
I have found the full version in my backup folder. But it is still a pdf. I still need to make a few changes and I have tried Wondershare to convert the pdf into a text file. Still trying to get that to happen.
Oh.
You mean it never actually was in the state you want it.
Like… this is an other “issue” completely. (?)
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Scrivener’s automatic backups are not pdf files. Depending on your settings, they are either backed up as .scriv project files or as .zip files (safer).
I think you are not looking in your Scrivener backup folder. In Scrivener go to Scrivener menu > Settings > Backup tab. Then click the Open Backup Folder… button.
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I have now recovered the file in a Scrivener format, not a pdf. 
I am getting too old for this lark!
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Glad you found it! 
One’s never too old! I’m 80 in a couple of months and I find working with Scrivener (and many markdown extensions, e.g. into Typst) is what keeps my brain alive!
Mark
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