How To Recover A Deleted Vmdk File From A Datastore Jun 2026

For a VMware administrator, few errors induce as much immediate panic as the accidental deletion of a Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) file. Whether caused by a misinterpreted CLI command, a storage migration failure, or simple human error, losing a VMDK can feel catastrophic.

You will need to clone the recovered disk to a new file (to give it a proper name) or attach it to a VM. However, because the files in .lost+found lack descriptors, you may need to manually create a descriptor file pointing to the flat file—a process that requires careful hex editing or cloning via vmkfstools . how to recover a deleted vmdk file from a datastore

Before attempting recovery, adhere to these critical precautions: For a VMware administrator, few errors induce as

Recovery methods differ by datastore technology: However, because the files in

Use solutions like Veeam or VMware Data Protection to locate the VM and perform a "Restore" or "Instant VM Recovery".

Recovering a deleted VMDK file from a VMware datastore can be a high-stakes task, especially if the file contains critical business data. While VMware’s VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) does not have a built-in "Recycle Bin," recovery is often possible depending on how quickly you act and whether you have backups or snapshots available.

Note: This relies on specific VMFS block allocation behaviors and is not guaranteed.