How to Recover a Deleted Krita .kra File

Updated on Oct 20, 2026 | by Qiling

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Check Krita Project Copies
Protect the Original Drive
Recover With Qiling Deep Data Recovery
Verify the Recovered Project
Frequently Asked Questions

A .kra file is a layered Krita document. A PNG preview or exported image may not preserve painting layers or animation frames.

Check Krita Project Copies

Search the painting folder, Recycle Bin and any backup or version history. Record the expected canvas dimensions, layer count and last work date.

Keep exported images for comparison, but identify where the native .kra was saved. If a cloud folder was involved, check its version history.

Krita's KRA is its native layered format and includes a rendered preview image; that preview alone is not the editable painting. A normal backup may have a trailing ~, while an autosave is a separate temporary recovery mechanism.

Check the nearby backup and Krita's crash-recovery prompt before scanning. A normal close without saving can remove the autosave, so distinguish a deleted saved KRA from work that was never saved to disk.

Protect the Original Drive

Avoid painting or exporting new large images to the affected source disk. Do not create a fresh KRA with the lost filename.

Prepare another physical disk for recovery output and keep all candidate versions until one is verified.

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 stored the KRA; cloud-only copies require cloud restore options. A listed file is only a candidate until you open and verify its recovered copy.

Step 1. Check Saved Versions

Look for native project copies and cloud history. Copy the best backup to another drive before opening it.

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Step 2. Choose a File Scan

Use Fast Scan for recent deletion or Recycle Bin Scan after an emptied bin. Use USB/SD Scan if the painting was on removable media.

Step 3. Select the Painting Drive

Match the physical disk by model and capacity; do not use the export destination as the source unless the KRA lived there.

Step 4. Compare KRA Candidates

Filter by .kra and compare dates, sizes and likely project names. Keep older versions for fallback.

Step 5. Recover and Test a Copy

Save elsewhere, open the file in Krita, and inspect canvas, layers, animation frames and color settings.

Verify the Recovered Project

If an export looks complete but the KRA lacks layers, use the export as a reference while testing older backups.

Back up native layered projects and final exports independently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a PNG contain Krita layers?

No. It is usually a flattened output rather than the editable project.

Can a KRA open but still be incomplete?

Yes. Check important layers, frames and canvas content.

Should I discard older project copies?

Keep them until you confirm the newest recovered file is complete.