How to Recover Unsaved Excel Files?

Are you a victim of a computer crash that left you without your unsaved Excel file? Are you concerned that you’ll never recover your work? If so, don’t worry. There are methods to recover your unsaved Excel file and this article will show you how. Keep reading to find out the easiest way to recover an unsaved Excel file and prevent future data loss.

How to Retrieve Unsaved Excel Files?

Excel is one of the most widely used computer applications and it is used for a variety of purposes. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that we accidentally delete or lose our Excel files and it becomes a challenge to recover them. In this article, we take a look at how to recover unsaved Excel files.

The first step is to locate the folder where the file was saved. If you know the exact location, you can easily recover the file by going to that folder. If not, then you can use the search function to look for the file. You can also check the Recycle Bin or the Temp folder for the file.

The next step is to check if there is a backup copy of the file. If you have enabled auto-save, then there is a chance that the file has been saved to the backup folder. You can also try to open the file in a different application, such as a text editor, to see if it can be recovered.

Using File History to Recover Unsaved Excel Files

If you have enabled File History in Windows, then you can use it to recover unsaved Excel files. To do this, open File History and click the Restore button. You will then be able to browse through the list of files that have been backed up and restore the one you need.

If you have an online backup service, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, then you can also try to recover the file from there. Just log into the service and look for the file in the list of backups.

Using Third-Party Software to Recover Unsaved Excel Files

If none of the above methods work, then you can try using a third-party recovery software. These programs are designed to scan your computer for deleted or lost files and then allow you to recover them. There are many such programs available, so make sure to do some research before downloading and installing one.

Using the AutoRecover Feature

If you have enabled the AutoRecover feature in Excel, then you may be able to recover your unsaved file. To do this, open Excel and go to the File > Info tab. Click on the Manage Versions button and then select the file that you want to recover.

Using the Previous Versions Feature

If you have enabled the Previous Versions feature in Windows, then you may be able to recover your unsaved file. To do this, open the folder where the file was saved and then click the Properties button. Under the Previous Versions tab, you will see a list of versions of the file that have been backed up. You can choose the one you want to recover and then click the Restore button.

Using the Command Prompt

If you have enabled File History in Windows, then you can use the Command Prompt to recover your unsaved Excel file. To do this, open the Command Prompt and type in the following command:

wmic.exe /output:C:\Temp\unsaved_excel.txt /node:”localhost” os get FileName

This command will generate a text file that contains the list of files that have been backed up by File History. You can then search the list for the file you want to recover and then copy it to the original folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I recover an unsaved Excel file?

The best way to recover an unsaved Excel file is to use the AutoRecover feature that is built into Microsoft Excel. AutoRecover will automatically save a copy of your workbook at specific intervals while you work. To access AutoRecover, go to the File tab, select Options, and then click the Save tab. Make sure the “Save AutoRecover information every X minutes” is checked and click OK. When Excel crashes or if you forget to save the file, you can go back to the File tab, select Open and then click the Recover Unsaved Workbooks option. Excel should display any unsaved files that you can recover.

2. What if I can’t find my unsaved Excel file?

If you cannot find your unsaved Excel file using the AutoRecover feature, you may still be able to recover it from the temporary files that are stored on your computer. To access the temporary files, open File Explorer, go to the C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles folder and look for the .xlk files (the .xlk files are the temporary files created by Excel when you open a file). You can then open these files in Excel and recover your work.

3. How do I recover an Excel file I accidentally deleted?

If you have accidentally deleted an Excel file, you may be able to recover it from the Recycle Bin. To do this, open the Recycle Bin and look for the file. If it is present, right-click the file and select Restore. The file will then be restored to its original location. If the file is not in the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover it using a data recovery program such as Recuva or Undelete 360.

4. What if I don’t have a backup of my Excel file?

If you do not have a backup of your Excel file, you may still be able to recover it using a data recovery program. Data recovery programs such as Recuva or Undelete 360 can scan your hard drive for deleted files and attempt to recover them. However, these programs are not always successful, so you may not be able to recover the file.

5. How do I prevent losing my Excel file in the future?

To prevent losing your Excel file in the future, you should make sure to save your work frequently. You should also enable the AutoRecover feature in Microsoft Excel so that it will automatically save a copy of your work every few minutes. Additionally, you should also make sure to back up your Excel files to an external drive or cloud storage service so that you will always have a copy of your work.

6. What should I do if Excel crashes while I’m working?

If Excel crashes while you are working, the first thing you should do is try to recover your work using the AutoRecover feature. To do this, go to the File tab, select Open and then click the Recover Unsaved Workbooks option. Excel should display any unsaved files that you can recover. If this does not work, you can try to recover the file from the temporary files stored on your computer. To access the temporary files, open File Explorer, go to the C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles folder and look for the .xlk files. You can then open these files in Excel and recover your work.

The ability to recover unsaved Excel files is an invaluable asset to anyone who works on them. It can be the difference between having to start over and being able to continue with the work that has already been put in. Fortunately, there are several ways to recover unsaved Excel files, depending on the situation. Whether it’s through using the AutoRecover feature, using the “Open and Repair” command, or using third-party software, there’s always a way to get your work back. So don’t worry if you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having an unsaved Excel file – you can always find a way to get it back.