How to recover unsaved microsoft project file​?

1. Microsoft Project file

Losing an unsaved Microsoft Project file can be a frustrating experience, especially when it contains important project data and schedules. Fortunately, there are several methods that can be tried to recover such files, depending on the specific circumstances and the settings of your system.

2. Check the Auto – Recover Feature in Microsoft Project

How Auto – Recover Works: Microsoft Project has an auto – recover feature that periodically saves temporary copies of your project files. By default, it saves these copies at regular intervals, usually every 10 minutes. These temporary files are stored in a specific location on your computer.

Accessing Auto – Recovered Files: To check for auto – recovered files, open Microsoft Project. If there were any unsaved files that were auto – recovered, you should see a list of them in the “Recent Projects” section. Look for files with a name similar to your original project, followed by a phrase like “Auto – Recovered” or “Backup”. If you find the file you want, simply click on it to open and save it with a new name to avoid overwriting the auto – recovered version.

Configuring Auto – Recover Settings: You can also check and adjust the auto – recover settings in Microsoft Project. Go to the “File” tab, click on “Options”, and then select “Save” in the left – hand menu. Here, you can see the option for “Save AutoRecover information every [X] minutes”. You can change the interval according to your needs. Additionally, note the location where auto – recovered files are stored, which is displayed under the save interval option.

3. Use the Temporary Files Folder

Locating the Temporary Files Folder: If the auto – recover feature doesn’t work or you can’t find the file in the “Recent Projects” list, you can directly access the temporary files folder. The location of this folder varies depending on your operating system. For Windows 10. the default location is usually “C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\MSProject”. In Windows 11. it may be in a similar location under the “AppData” folder. For Mac, the temporary files are typically stored in the “Library/Containers/com.microsoft.ProjectOSX/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MSProject/” folder. However, the “Library” folder on Mac is hidden by default. To access it, you can hold down the “Option” key while clicking on the “Go” menu in the Finder and then select “Library”.

Searching for Unsaved Files: Once you’ve located the temporary files folder, look for files with a “.tmp” extension or files that have a name similar to your project file. Microsoft Project often saves unsaved changes as temporary files in this folder. You can sort the files by date modified to find the most recent ones. Open the files using Microsoft Project to see if they contain the data you need. If you find the correct file, save it with a proper name and move it to a more permanent location.

4. Recover from System Restore Points (Windows Only)

Understanding System Restore Points: Windows creates system restore points at regular intervals, which include backups of important system files and settings. These restore points can also contain copies of your Microsoft Project files, especially if the files were open and being edited when the restore point was created.

Accessing System Restore: To use system restore, first, open the Control Panel on your Windows computer. Then, search for “System Restore” and click on the relevant option. In the System Restore window, click on “Choose a different restore point” and click “Next”. You will see a list of available restore points. Select a restore point that was created around the time when you lost your unsaved Microsoft Project file. Click “Next” and then “Finish” to start the restoration process. After the restoration is complete, check if your Microsoft Project file has been recovered. Note that this method may affect other system settings and files, so it’s advisable to back up any important data before proceeding.

5. Utilize File History (Windows Only)

Enabling and Using File History: File History is a feature in Windows that continuously backs up your files to an external drive or a dedicated network location. If you have enabled File History on your computer and your Microsoft Project file was in a folder that is being backed up, you can use it to recover the unsaved file. To access File History, go to the Control Panel and click on “File History”. Then, click on “Restore personal files” in the left – hand menu. In the File History window, you can browse through different versions of your files. Look for the version of your Microsoft Project file that you want to recover. You can preview the file by clicking on the “Preview” button. Once you’ve found the correct version, click on the “Restore” button to save the file to its original location or a different location of your choice.

6. Check for Backups on OneDrive (if applicable)

Syncing with OneDrive: If you are using OneDrive to store your Microsoft Project files and have enabled the sync feature, there’s a chance that an earlier version of your file may be available on OneDrive. When you work on a file that is synced with OneDrive, it keeps track of different versions of the file.

Accessing OneDrive Versions: To check for previous versions of your file on OneDrive, go to the OneDrive website and log in to your account. Navigate to the folder where your Microsoft Project file is stored. Right – click on the file and select “Version history” from the context menu. You will see a list of available versions of the file. Look for a version that contains the data you need and click on the “Restore” button to download and replace the current file with the selected version.

7. Use Third – Party Data Recovery Software

Losing an unsaved Microsoft Project file can be frustrating, but recovery is possible with the right steps. Microsoft Project includes an AutoRecover feature that periodically saves work in the background. To check for an unsaved file, open Microsoft Project and navigate to File > Info > Manage Versions to see if a recent autosaved version is available.

For a more thorough recovery, Panda Assistant can help retrieve lost files from temporary locations or disk sectors where remnants may still exist. This powerful data recovery tool scans your system to locate unsaved or accidentally deleted Microsoft Project files, providing a quick and efficient way to restore critical data.

8. Precautions and Best Practices to Avoid Data Loss

Regularly Save Your Files: The simplest and most effective way to avoid losing data is to save your Microsoft Project files regularly. Use the “Save” or “Save As” option in the “File” menu to save your work at frequent intervals. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + S (Windows) or Command + S (Mac) to quickly save your file.

Enable Auto – Save and Backup Features: As mentioned earlier, make sure the auto – save feature in Microsoft Project is enabled and set to a reasonable interval. Additionally, consider enabling any backup features provided by your operating system or cloud storage services. This way, even if something goes wrong, you have multiple copies of your files available for recovery.

Keep Your System and Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system and Microsoft Project software to the latest versions. Software updates often include bug fixes and improvements to the auto – recovery and data – saving features, which can help prevent data loss in the first place.

Avoid Unsafe Computer Practices: Be careful when performing tasks such as shutting down your computer, unplugging external drives, or using untrusted software. Improper shutdowns or the use of untrusted software can corrupt your files and make them difficult or impossible to recover. Always follow proper procedures when shutting down your computer and only use software from reliable sources.