How to Recover an Unsaved Excel Document [Quick & Easy Guide]

Recover an Unsaved Excel File in Windows

You’re in the middle of working on a crucial Excel file. Then, suddenly, your computer crashes before you can hit save. Now you’re staring at your screen, wondering if all that work just disappeared, and whether can you recover an Excel file that was not saved?

You might also have heard about Excel’s secret place for unsaved work, and if yes, where to find that unsaved Excel file spot? Don’t worry, as in this guide, we’ll clear all your doubts, answer all your queries, alongside share solutions for your trouble. So, keep reading till the end!

Part 1: Can You Recover an Excel File That Was Not Saved?

When you are asking yourself, “Can you recover an Excel file that was not saved?” the answer is yes. But under some circumstances. You may use the embedded tools in Excel to recover unsaved Excel file. They can restore your work after a crash or an unexpected close, and they also keep temporary versions of files in special folders

In case the unsaved Excel file is overwritten, services such as File History, OneDrive, or SharePoint may allow you to retrieve an older version of the file. But if you haven’t activated any of these services and your unsaved files were not overwritten, employ an Excel unsaved file recovery tool to retrieve files.

Part 2: How to Recover an Unsaved Excel Document With Software?

If you have accidentally closed Excel without saving, with no Excel built-in tools or recovery services activated, employ a specialized Excel unsaved file recovery tool. 4DDiG Data Recovery can retrieve unsaved, deleted, and formatted files with high success. Here’s more to know about this tool:

The tool supports 2000+ file formats ranging from documents to audio, videos, images, and RAW files etc.
It offers both quick and deep scanning to dig deeper for unsaved files.
The tool supports all MS Office files, including those from the old and latest Excel versions.
It offers a preview feature to examine recovered files.
Windows users can retrieve files of up to 2GB with the app.
The software is compatible with countless external/external storage media.
It supports both Windows and macOS systems.

Follow the instructions beneath to use this tool to retrieve unsaved Excel file:

Step 1: Install and execute the Excel unsaved file recovery tool on your computer. Select the location where you were working on the Excel file, like the C disk. Hit “Scan.”

tenorshare.com

Step 2: To narrow down the search, go to the “Type tab” and then pick “Unsaved Documents.” Preview the found file to confirm it’s the right one.

tenorshare.com

Step 3: After previewing, select the files you need and hit “Recover.” This will save the recovered Excel file to a secure location on your computer or cloud drive.

tenorshare.com

Part 3: How to Recover an Unsaved Excel Document Without Software?

In case you’ve activated a recovery feature or service, here’s how to recover an unsaved Excel document without software:

Option A: Restore From Document Recovery

Excel has an embedded Document Recovery feature that automatically creates temporary duplicates of your open files at set intervals of time. In most cases, it’s about every 10 minutes. This aids in securing your workbook in the event that Excel or your computer crashes.

If Document Recovery is activated, when you reopen Excel, the recovery pane will show all available versions, from which you can recover unsaved Excel file you want. Here’s how to recover an unsaved Excel document with Document Recovery:

Step 1: Open Excel again after a crash. Look for the Document Recovery pane with any recovered files.
Step 2: Pick the file you want. Tap “Open.”

Option B: Use the AutoRecover Feature

In case you were working on an Excel workbook that closed suddenly, you can get it back with the AutoRecover Unsaved Workbook feature for recent workbooks. However, you must’ve activated it before. Here’s how to recover an unsaved Excel document with AutoRecover:

Step 1: Head to “File.” Then, choose “Open. Tap “Recent Workbooks.”

Head to “File.” Then, choose “Open. Tap “Recent Workbooks.”

Step 2: Move down. Click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.” When the folder opens, choose the file you want. Hit “Open.”

Move down. Click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.” When the folder opens, choose the file you want. Hit “Open.”

Step 3: Excel will load your unsaved file, and will prompt you to save. Tap “Save As.” Choose where to store it.

Option C: Utilize the Previous Versions Feature

When you have lost your unsaved Excel file to an overwritten version, you can recover its previous version. But you must have activated the Previous Version feature before loss. Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Open “Control Panel.” Then, click “File History.”

Step 2: Select “Restore personal files.” Browse the backups.

Step 3: Choose your unsaved Excel file. Hit “Restore” to bring it back.

Option D: Recover Unsaved Excel File via Temp Files

Excel saves temporary backup files when you work on a workbook. So, if your file is unsaved, you can get it back from its temporary backup. But the question is, “Where to find unsaved Excel file?” The answer is simple: from the Temp folder. Follow the instructions beneath to recover unsaved Excel file from the Temp folder:

Step 1: Open “File Explorer.” Then, go to “C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles.”

Step 2: Look for temporary Excel files. The names will start with $ and end with “.tmp.”
Step 3: Double-tap the file that matches your unsaved workbook. This will open it.

Step 4: Head to “File.” Next, choose “Save As.” Pick a location, name it, and save the file.

Option E: Check OneDrive

OneDrive can automatically back up and sync your Excel files when it’s activated. So, even if you’ve accidentally closed Excel without saving, you can get it back from OneDrive. Here’s how:

Step 1: Make certain you’re signed in with your Microsoft account credentials in both OneDrive and Excel. Execute the Excel file stored in OneDrive.
Step 2: Click the “Version history” icon (clock with a backward arrow). Choose the version you want. Hit “Restore.”

FAQ About Excel Unsaved File Recovery

Q1: Where does Excel store unsaved workbooks?

If the AutoRecovery feature is activated, Excel stashes unsaved workbooks in the AutoRecover folder on your computer.

Q2: Does Excel save files automatically?

Yes. But you’ll have to activate the AutoRecover feature for Excel to save files automatically.

Q3: How do I find AutoRecover in Excel?

Here’s where you can find the AutoRecovery feature in Excel:

Step 1: Open Excel. Head to “File.” Then, choose “Options.” Tap “Save.”

Step 2: There, you can see and adjust the AutoRecover settings, including how often Excel saves your work and where the autosaved files are stored.

Bottom Line

We’ve answered your queries regarding, “Where to find unsaved Excel file and whether can you recover an Excel file that was not saved. When you have accidentally closed Excel without saving, it is possible to recover the unsaved Excel file. Embedded features in Excel, such as Document Recovery and AutoRecover, can restore unsaved workbooks.

While Previous Versions, temp files, and OneDrive history aid in restoring overwritten or unsaved Excel workbooks. If these aren’t available, a recovery tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery can safely retrieve unsaved, deleted, or corrupted Excel files from any version.