How to Recover a Deleted FL Studio Project (.flp)

Updated on Oct 20, 2026 | by Qiling

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Check FL Studio Backups and Samples
Protect the Original Drive
Recover With Qiling Deep Data Recovery
Verify the Recovered Project
Frequently Asked Questions

An FLP project records the song arrangement and settings, but samples may be stored separately. A file that opens with missing samples is not necessarily an unsuccessful project recovery.

Check FL Studio Backups and Samples

In FL Studio, check Browser > Backup and the configured user-data folder for autosaved FLP versions. Copy any suitable backup to a different disk before opening it. Also look for a zipped project copy if one was previously saved.

Record the original project path and the folders holding recordings, samples and presets. A local project file and an online or external sample library may require separate recovery.

FL Studio's autosave frequency depends on its settings, so an absent or older backup does not prove the deleted FLP is still recoverable. A zipped project package can include many used samples, while an ordinary FLP may still depend on external audio and presets.

When comparing candidates, note the FL Studio version and third-party plugins used by the song. A project may open but sound different because a plugin or sample is unavailable; that is a dependency issue to check separately from file damage.

Protect the Original Drive

Stop recording, rendering and saving projects to the affected disk. Do not create a new song using the deleted FLP's filename there.

Prepare another physical drive for recovery output and collect surviving project backups first. If the disk reports read errors, protect it before attempting a long scan.

Recover With Qiling Deep Data Recovery

Qiling Deep Data Recovery provides a visual scan of storage that Windows can detect. In this case, scan the stable local disk that held the FLP; a scan of the project file does not automatically restore external samples. A listed file is only a candidate until you open and verify its recovered copy.

Step 1. Check the Backup Folder

Compare recent FLP copies in Browser > Backup and any manually saved versions. If a complete backup opens, save a separate working copy.

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Step 2. Choose a Deletion Scan

Use Fast Scan for a recent deleted project or Recycle Bin Scan after the bin was emptied. Use Disk Scan only if the project partition vanished.

Step 3. Select the Project Disk

Match the physical drive by model and capacity, not just the letter assigned to it today. Avoid selecting the disk containing only sample libraries.

Step 4. Compare FLP Candidates

Filter by .flp and compare size, path and save date. Keep several versions because the newest candidate may be partial.

Step 5. Recover and Open a Copy

Save to another drive, then open the duplicate in FL Studio. Check patterns, mixer routing, plugins and the locations of required samples.

Verify the Recovered Project

If samples are missing, locate their separate folders or a zipped project package before deciding the FLP is unusable.

Keep both the recovered project and the best autosave until you confirm which contains the latest complete work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an FLP include all samples?

Not necessarily. Keep project files and external audio or plugin assets together.

Where should I check for FL Studio autosaves?

Check Browser > Backup and the user-data location configured in FL Studio.

Can a scan restore unsaved changes?

Only work already written to the disk, including any autosave, can be found.