Ms project recover unsaved file

​Microsoft Project is a powerful project management tool that enables users to plan, schedule, and manage projects effectively. However, there are times when unexpected events such as system crashes, power outages, or accidental closures can cause users to lose unsaved work in Microsoft Project. Losing hours of work can be frustrating and time-consuming, but there are several methods that can be used to recover unsaved files in Microsoft Project.

The AutoSave feature in Microsoft Project automatically saves your project file at regular intervals. The default interval is set to 10 minutes, but you can change this setting to suit your preferences. To change the AutoSave interval, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Project.

Click on the “File” tab.

Select “Options” from the menu.

In the “Project Options” dialog box, click on the “Save” category.

Under “Save documents,” adjust the “Autosave every” setting to the desired interval.

Click “OK” to save the changes.

When the AutoSave feature is enabled, Microsoft Project creates a temporary backup file of your project at the specified interval. This backup file is stored in a location on your computer’s hard drive and can be used to recover your work in the event of a system crash or other unexpected event.

AutoRecover

The AutoRecover feature in Microsoft Project is designed to automatically recover your project file in the event of a system crash or other unexpected event. When you open Microsoft Project after a crash or unexpected closure, the AutoRecover feature will display a list of available recovery files. You can then select the file you want to recover and open it to restore your work.

To enable or disable the AutoRecover feature in Microsoft Project, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Project.

Click on the “File” tab.

Select “Options” from the menu.

In the “Project Options” dialog box, click on the “Save” category.

Under “Save documents,” check or uncheck the “Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving” option to enable or disable the AutoRecover feature.

Click “OK” to save the changes.

Methods for Recovering Unsaved Files in Microsoft Project

Method 1: Using the AutoRecover Feature

If you have enabled the AutoRecover feature in Microsoft Project, the first step in recovering an unsaved file is to check for available recovery files. To do this, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Project.

If there were any unsaved changes to your project at the time of the crash or unexpected closure, a “Document Recovery” pane will appear on the left side of the screen.

In the “Document Recovery” pane, you will see a list of available recovery files. The files are labeled with the name of the project and the date and time of the last autosave.

Select the recovery file that you want to open. You can preview the contents of the file by clicking on the “Preview” button.

Once you have selected the file, click on the “Open” button to restore your work.

If the “Document Recovery” pane does not appear when you open Microsoft Project, you can still access the AutoRecover files by following these steps:

Click on the “File” tab.

Select “Open” from the menu.

In the “Open” dialog box, click on the “Recent” tab.

At the bottom of the “Recent” tab, click on the “Recover Unsaved Documents” button.

A list of available recovery files will appear. Select the file you want to open and click “Open.”

Method 2: Checking the Temporary File Location

When Microsoft Project creates a temporary backup file using the AutoSave feature, it stores the file in a specific location on your computer’s hard drive. You can check this location to see if there are any unsaved files that can be recovered. The location of the temporary files may vary depending on your operating system and version of Microsoft Project. Here are the general steps to check the temporary file location:

On Windows:

Press the “Windows + R” keys to open the “Run” dialog box.

Type “%temp%” (without the quotes) and press “Enter.” This will open the temporary files folder.

Look for files with names that start with “~$” followed by the name of your Microsoft Project file. These are the temporary backup files created by Microsoft Project.

Right-click on the file and select “Rename” to remove the “~$” prefix. Change the file extension to “.mpp” (the default file extension for Microsoft Project files).

Double-click on the file to open it in Microsoft Project.

On Mac:

Open the “Finder” application.

Click on “Go” in the menu bar and select “Go to Folder.”

Type “~/Library/Caches” (without the quotes) and press “Enter.”

Look for a folder named “Microsoft” and then navigate to the “Office” folder within it.

In the “Office” folder, look for files with names that start with “~$” followed by the name of your Microsoft Project file. These are the temporary backup files.

Rename the file to remove the “~$” prefix and change the file extension to “.mpp.”

Double-click on the file to open it in Microsoft Project.

Method 3: Using File Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is a powerful data recovery tool designed to help users retrieve lost or unsaved files quickly and efficiently. Whether your document was accidentally closed without saving, lost due to a system crash, or disrupted by a power outage, Panda Assistant can scan your system for temporary or autosaved versions. It supports recovery from various applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Notepad, ensuring that crucial data is not permanently lost. With an intuitive interface and advanced algorithms, Panda Assistant simplifies the recovery process, making it accessible for both beginners and professionals.

Here are the general steps to use file recovery software to recover an unsaved Microsoft Project file:

Download and install the file recovery software of your choice.

Launch the software and select the drive or partition where your Microsoft Project file was located.

Start the scan. The software will search for deleted or lost files on the selected drive.

Once the scan is complete, look for files with the “.mpp” file extension. You may need to use the software’s filtering or search options to narrow down the results.

Select the file you want to recover and click on the “Recover” button. Choose a location on your computer to save the recovered file.

Open the recovered file in Microsoft Project to see if it contains your unsaved work.

Tips for Preventing Data Loss in Microsoft Project

While the methods outlined above can help you recover unsaved files in Microsoft Project, it is always better to take preventive measures to minimize the risk of data loss. Here are some tips to help you prevent data loss in Microsoft Project:

Save your work regularly: In addition to relying on the AutoSave and AutoRecover features, make it a habit to save your work frequently by clicking on the “Save” button or using the “Ctrl + S” (Windows) or “Command + S” (Mac) keyboard shortcut.

Use a reliable power source: To avoid power outages that can cause data loss, use a reliable power source such as a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to protect your computer from sudden power interruptions.

Keep your software up to date: Install the latest updates and patches for Microsoft Project and your operating system to ensure that you have the latest bug fixes and security enhancements that can help prevent data loss.

Create backups: Regularly create backups of your Microsoft Project files by saving them to an external hard drive, cloud storage service, or other backup location. This will provide an additional layer of protection in case of data loss.

Close Microsoft Project properly: Always close Microsoft Project using the “File” > “Close” or “File” > “Exit” options to ensure that all changes are saved and the program shuts down properly. Avoid force-closing the application or shutting down your computer without saving your work.