Updated TurboTax 2025 and files are missing

Is the file a .tax2025 file?

Try starting the program first and navigating to that same file. See if it will open.

Are you on Windows or Mac?  You need the file ending in .tax2025.  If you don't have the main .tax file you might have one that starts with a Tilde sign ~ like  "~your name.tax2025".  That file is if your computer crashes or your real file gets lost or deleted or corrupt so you can restore it.

Are you saving backups to a usb or external drive?  You should always make backups of both the .tax and pdf files, especially if you have a problem with them disappearing.   A lot of people use OneDrive for backing up folders like Documents, and so if you just put the data file in Documents\TurboTax you are actually putting it in: "C:\Users\Username\OneDrive\Documents\TurboTax".

For Windows

Did you search your whole computer for all files ending in .tax2025 etc?  And check the recycle bin and your backups.  Check in the Admin User Account, One Drive, Drop Box, etc.  It should be in your Documents then in the Turbo Tax folder.  Also if you have multiple Windows user accounts, log into each one and do the search for the *.tax20yy data file from within each one and checking the Recycle Bin in each one.

Does the file that you are trying to open have a file name extension of .tax2025? That's the only kind of file you can open with TurboTax 2025.

I'm not sure what "main screen" you are getting to. If it has a link that says "Find a Tax File," click that link browse to the .tax2025 file, and click Open.

Otherwise click File on the menu bar at the top of the TurboTax screen, then click Open Tax Return, browse to the .tax2025 file, and click Open.