How to Recover Excel File Not Saved

Have you ever worked on an important Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and forgot to save it? Losing hours of work in a blink of an eye can be disheartening. Fortunately, Microsoft Excel has a few built-in features to help you recover unsaved workbooks. In this blog post, we will guide you on how to recover Excel files not saved, so you don’t have to worry about losing important data in the future.

Retrieve an Unsaved Workbook in Excel

The first option to recover an Excel file not saved is to check if there are any unsaved workbooks in Excel. Follow the steps below to retrieve your unsaved workbook:

1. Open Excel and navigate to the File menu.
2. Select “Open,” followed by “Recent Workbooks.”
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.”
4. Select the file that matches your spreadsheet’s name and click “Open.”
5. Excel will recover your unsaved workbook.

Use the AutoRecover Function in Excel

If Excel crashes or closes before you save your spreadsheet, you can use the AutoRecover function to recover the unsaved workbook. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Open Excel and navigate to the “File” menu.
2. Select “Open,” followed by “Recent Workbooks.”
3. Click the “Manage Workbooks” button and select “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.”
4. Excel will open the “Unsaved” folder, where you can find the unsaved workbook.
5. Double-click on the file to open it. Excel will recover the unsaved workbook.
6. Save the recovered workbook as a new file to avoid losing any progress made after the last save.

Check User-Folder for Excel Temp Files

If the above two methods don’t work, you can recover your unsaved Excel file by diving into your user folder. Follow the steps below to recover your unsaved workbook:

1. Open the “Start” menu and type “%temp%” in the search bar.
2. Press “Enter.” Windows Explorer will open, displaying a folder destination with your temporary files.
3. Look for files beginning with “Excel” and ending with “.TMP.”
4. Select the file that matches your workbook’s name and extension.
5. Copy the file, paste it where you want to save it, and rename it with a “.xls” or “.xlsx” extension, depending on the original file’s version.
6. Open the recovered workbook in Excel. Remember to save the recovered file rightaway to prevent data loss in the future.

Use OneDrive to Recover Excel Files Not Saved

If your Excel file was saved on OneDrive, the cloud storage service provided by Microsoft, you can recover it easily. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Go to the OneDrive website and sign in if prompted.
2. Click on “Recycle bin” in the left-hand navigation menu.
3. Look for the deleted Excel file, and click on it to select it.
4. Click on the “Restore” button located at the top of the page.
5. OneDrive will recover the deleted Excel file and restore it to its original location.

Prevent Future Data Loss

Now that you have recovered your unsaved Excel file, it is essential to take precautions to prevent data loss in the future. Here are some tips:

• Save your Excel file frequently. A general rule of thumb is to save your file at least every 10 to 15 minutes.
• Use the “Save As” function to create a new file version every time you make significant changes to the spreadsheet.
• Enable the AutoRecover function to automatically save changes to your workbook at regular intervals.
• Consider using cloud storage services like OneDrive or Google Drive to save your files automatically and safely in the cloud.

Recovering unsaved Excel files is possible with Microsoft Excel’s built-in features. The steps mentioned above can help you retrieve your unsaved workbook quickly and efficiently. Remember to save your Excel files frequently and use cloud storage services as an added layer of protection to prevent data loss in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are common questions related to recovering Excel files that are not saved:

Can I recover an Excel file if I didn’t save it?

Yes, you can retrieve an unsaved Excel file by using Excel’s built-in features like the AutoRecover function or checking for unsaved workbooks in Excel. You can also dive into your user folder or OneDrive cloud storage if the Excel file was saved there.

How can I prevent losing my Excel files in the future?

To prevent losing your Excel files in the future, make sure to save your file frequently, at least every 10 to 15 minutes, use the “Save As” function to create a new file version, use cloud storage services for automatic and safe file savings, and enable the AutoRecover function.

Does Excel have a Recent Files list to retrieve unsaved work?

Yes, Excel has a Recent Workbooks list that displays all the recently opened files. You can find unsaved workbooks there by clicking the “Recover Unsaved Workbooks” option at the bottom of the screen.

How to recover an Excel file on Mac if not saved?

The process to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac is similar to that of a Windows PC. You can retrieve unsaved workbooks by checking Recent Workbooks, using AutoRecover, looking into user folders, or OneDrive cloud storage.

What should I do if none of the recovery methods work?

If none of the recovery methods work, consider using a third-party data recovery tool, though they may not guarantee full recovery. Be sure to test it out before relying on it heavily for important spreadsheets.