How do i recover an excel file i deleted?

To recover a deleted Excel file, the process can vary depending on several factors, including whether you’ve recently deleted it, the environment in which the file was stored (local computer, cloud storage, or external drive), and the actions you’ve taken since the deletion. The good news is that there are several strategies you can employ to try to recover your lost Excel file.

1. File Deletion

When a file is deleted from your computer, it doesn’t immediately disappear. Instead, the operating system marks the space on the hard drive where the file was stored as available for new data. Until new data overwrites that space, the file still exists in its original form, though it may not be visible to you through normal means. This is why it’s possible to recover a deleted file, even if you don’t notice it’s gone right away.

2. Check the Recycle Bin

The first step in recovering a deleted Excel file is to check the Recycle Bin (on Windows) or the Trash (on Mac), as this is where deleted files are usually temporarily stored.

Windows:

Open the Recycle Bin from your desktop.

Browse through the files to locate your deleted Excel file. You can also use the search bar at the top to look for the file by name.

Right-click on the file and select Restore. This will return the file to its original location.

Mac:

Open the Trash by clicking on its icon in the dock.

Look for the deleted Excel file.

Right-click (or Control-click) on the file and choose Put Back to restore the file to its original location.

If your file is not in the Recycle Bin or Trash, don’t panic—there are other ways to recover it.

3. Search for Temporary Files

Excel automatically saves temporary versions of your work, and you may be able to find a temporary file that contains your lost data.

Windows:

Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your file was last stored.

In the search bar, type *.tmp to search for temporary files. You can also search for files with the prefix ~ (tilde), which is often used by Excel for temporary versions.

If you find any relevant temporary files, try opening them in Excel to see if they contain your deleted data.

Mac:

Open Finder and use the search bar to look for temporary files or Excel’s autosave files, which may have the prefix .xlsb, .xlsx, or .xls.

You can also look in the following directories for autosave versions:

/private/var/folders/

/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/

Open these files in Excel to check if they contain the lost content.

4. Use Excel’s AutoRecover Feature

Excel has an AutoRecover feature that periodically saves your work. If the program or your system crashes unexpectedly, you can recover the file using this feature.

To access AutoRecover files in Excel:

Open Excel and go to the File tab.

Click Info, and under the Manage Workbook section, you should see an option for Recover Unsaved Workbooks.

Click Recover Unsaved Workbooks and browse the list for your file.

If you find it, double-click to open it, and save it to a location on your computer.

If AutoRecover is disabled or if Excel was closed improperly, this method might not work. However, it’s always worth checking.

5. Restore Previous Versions (Windows)

Windows has a built-in feature called File History that might have saved previous versions of your file before it was deleted.

Navigate to the folder where your Excel file was stored.

Right-click the folder and select Restore previous versions.

If a previous version of the folder exists, it will be listed. Select the version you want and click Restore to retrieve the deleted file.

If you don’t have File History enabled, you might not see any previous versions. However, if you’re using Windows 10 or 11. and System Protection is enabled, there might be a backup you can restore from.

6. Check OneDrive, Google Drive, or Other Cloud Services

If you were saving your Excel files to a cloud storage service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, there may be a backup of your file that can be recovered.

OneDrive:

Go to the OneDrive website and log in to your account.

Navigate to the folder where the file was stored.

Right-click the file (or use the option in the top menu) and select Version History.

Browse through previous versions of the file and restore the one you need.

Google Drive:

Open Google Drive and log in.

Locate the folder where the Excel file was stored.

Right-click the file (or click the three vertical dots) and select Manage Versions.

You can download and restore older versions of the file from here.

Dropbox:

Open Dropbox and log in.

Navigate to the folder where the file was stored.

Right-click on the file and select Version History.

Browse through older versions and restore the one you need.

Cloud storage providers often keep multiple versions of files, allowing you to roll back to an earlier state if something gets lost or corrupted.

7. Use Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is also equipped with advanced algorithms that increase the chances of successful recovery by scanning the storage device thoroughly and identifying traces of lost data. It can handle both basic and more complex recovery situations, such as retrieving files from formatted or damaged drives.

Furthermore, the tool allows users to preview files before recovery, ensuring that they can recover exactly what they need. It also supports data recovery from both internal and external storage devices, including SD cards, USB drives, and external hard drives.

With Panda Assistant, data recovery becomes accessible to everyone, offering a reliable solution to safeguard against data loss. Whether you’re a home user, a business professional, or a tech enthusiast, Panda Assistant is an essential tool to help you recover your lost files effectively and efficiently.

8. Using a Backup (if available)

If you have a backup solution in place (such as Windows Backup, Time Machine for Mac, or a third-party backup service), you can restore the file from your backup.

For Windows:

Open Control Panel and go to System and Security > Backup and Restore.

Select Restore my files, and follow the prompts to recover your Excel file from a backup.

For Mac:

Open Time Machine by clicking the Time Machine icon in the menu bar.

Use the timeline or arrows to go back to a time when your file existed.

Select the file and click Restore.

9. Prevent Future File Loss

After recovering your file, consider implementing a more robust backup solution to prevent future data loss. Some recommendations include:

Enabling cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.) for automatic syncing of your files.

Setting up regular backups to external hard drives or cloud services using software like Time Machine (Mac) or File History (Windows).

Using Excel’s AutoSave and AutoRecover features.

Maintaining a system restore option and other protective measures to recover your data more easily in case of file corruption or deletion.