Recover a Deleted Clip Studio Paint CLIP File on Windows

Updated on Oct 21, 2026 | by Qiling

Quick Navigation:

Understand the Missing .clip File
Check Copies and Protect the Source
Recover with Qiling Deep Data Recovery
Verify the Recovered File
Frequently Asked Questions

A .clip file is an editable Clip Studio Paint document. A PNG or JPEG export may show the artwork but does not preserve the same editable layers, pages or timeline data.

Understand the Missing .clip File

Clip Studio Paint can create local backups when a document is saved. Check the application backup area and any cloud sync copy before running a disk scan. Distinguish a deleted saved .clip from an unsaved session after a crash.

There are three different situations: the file was deleted, its folder or storage location changed, or the file still exists but does not open. Find out which happened before running a scan. A disk scan can find some deleted local files; it cannot create content that was never saved or repair every damaged file.

Check Copies and Protect the Source

Search the original art folder, Recycle Bin and Clip Studio Paint's backup location for recent copies.
Check the application's cloud sync or version history if the work was synchronized.
Compare exported images only as references; do not overwrite the remaining editable backup.

Stop painting to the affected disk. Copy any surviving backups to a separate drive before opening and saving them.

If the disk disconnects repeatedly, clicks, or shows severe read errors, avoid repeated scans and seek a stable copy or professional help. Results also depend on whether the deleted blocks have been overwritten, especially on SSDs.

Recover with Qiling Deep Data Recovery

Qiling Deep Data Recovery can scan storage visible to Windows for deleted local files. Start only after checking existing copies. A result in the file list is a candidate, not proof that the file is complete.

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Step 1. Check the Best Available Copy

Open the likely backup or version-history location first. Copy any surviving .clip and related files to a safe destination. If no complete copy is available, close applications that write to the source and launch Qiling Deep Data Recovery.

Step 2. Choose the Scan Mode

Use Recycle Bin Scan after permanent deletion, otherwise Fast Scan on the local source disk. If the first pass misses the file and the device remains stable, use the deeper scan option in the results rather than repeatedly writing to the source.

Choose Qiling recovery scan mode for .clip

Step 3. Select the Source Location

Select the volume where the .clip document was saved, not the destination used for exported PNGs. Confirm the disk model, capacity and drive letter before starting the scan. Never select the recovery destination as the source by mistake.

Select original storage location for .clip recovery

Step 4. Review Matching Files

Compare filenames, timestamps and size. Retain both the latest candidate and older backup versions. If the original folder is not shown, also search by file type and date. Do not discard earlier versions solely because one preview looks promising.

Review matching .clip recovery candidates

Step 5. Recover to Another Drive

Select the best candidates, click Recover, and save them to a different physical drive. Keep the recovered originals unchanged; test copies so a failed open or import cannot damage your only result.

Save recovered .clip files to another drive

Verify the Recovered File

Open a copied file in Clip Studio Paint and inspect layers, page count, frame timeline and linked materials.

If a recovered file is incomplete, compare older backups and alternate scan results. Do not rename an unrelated file to .clip and assume its contents have been restored. Once you have a verified copy, include both the native file and any required companion files in a separate backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a PNG restore a CLIP document?

No. It can help reconstruct the image but does not restore editable layers.

Should I scan before checking Clip Studio backups?

No. Check application and cloud copies first; they may be more complete.

Why does a recovered file show a blank canvas?

The file may be incomplete or damaged; test another candidate or backup.