How to recover a lost excel file​?

I. Losing an Excel file

Losing an Excel file can be a frustrating experience, especially when it contains important data and work. Fortunately, there are several methods available to recover lost Excel files, depending on the circumstances of the loss.

II. Check the Recycle Bin

The first and simplest step is to check the Recycle Bin on your computer. If you accidentally deleted the Excel file, it may have been moved to the Recycle Bin.

Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

Double – click on it to open the Recycle Bin.

Look for the deleted Excel file in the list of items. You can sort the files by name, date, or size to make it easier to find.

Once you’ve found the file, right – click on it and select “Restore.” This will move the file back to its original location.

III. Use the Auto – Recover Feature in Excel

Excel has an Auto – Recover feature that can save your work at regular intervals and help you recover unsaved or lost files. Here’s how to use it:

Open Excel. If the file was open when it was lost, Excel may automatically display a list of recovered files in the “Document Recovery” pane. Select the file you want to recover and click “Open.”

If the file doesn’t appear automatically, go to the “File” tab and click “Info.”

In the “Manage Workbook” section, click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks” (if you’re using Excel 2013 or later). For earlier versions, look for a similar option like “Open Recovered Files.”

A dialog box will appear showing a list of unsaved Excel files. Select the file you want to recover and click “Open.”

Save the recovered file to a new location to avoid overwriting any existing data.

IV. Restore from a Backup

If you have a backup of your files, either on an external hard drive, a network drive, or through a cloud – based backup service, you can restore the lost Excel file from the backup.

Determine the location of your backup. This could be an external hard drive connected to your computer, a network – attached storage (NAS) device, or a cloud storage account.

Access the backup location. If it’s an external hard drive, connect it to your computer and navigate to the appropriate folder. For cloud storage, log in to your cloud storage account through a web browser or a dedicated app.

Locate the backup of the lost Excel file. This may involve searching through folders or using the search function provided by the backup service.

Restore the file to its original location or a new location of your choice. Follow the specific instructions provided by the backup service or device to complete the restoration process.

V. Use System Restore Points

Windows and macOS have built – in system restore features that can be used to recover lost files. These restore points are created automatically by the operating system at regular intervals or when certain events occur.

For Windows:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type “rstrui.exe” and press Enter.

The System Restore window will appear. Click “Next.”

Select a restore point that was created before the Excel file was lost. You can view the details of each restore point by clicking “Show more restore points.”

Click “Next” and then “Finish” to start the system restore process. This may take some time, and your computer will restart. After the restoration is complete, check if the Excel file has been recovered.

For macOS:

If you’re using Time Machine to back up your Mac, connect the external drive or network location where your Time Machine backups are stored.

Open the folder where the lost Excel file was located.

Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select “Enter Time Machine.”

Use the timeline on the right side of the screen to navigate back to a point in time before the file was lost.

Locate the Excel file in the folder and click the “Restore” button to bring it back to its original location.

VI. Recover from a Previous Version

Some file systems and operating systems offer the ability to access previous versions of files. This can be useful if the file has been modified or deleted and you want to restore an earlier version.

For Windows:

Right – click on the folder where the Excel file was located.

Select “Properties” from the context menu.

In the Properties dialog box, go to the “Previous Versions” tab.

Look for the Excel file in the list of previous versions. If it’s available, select it and click “Restore” or “Open” to access the previous version.

For macOS:

Right – click on the file or folder and select “Show Package Contents” (if it’s a package) or “Get Info.”

In the Info window, look for the “Versions” section. If there are previous versions available, you can click on the arrow to view and restore them.

VII. Use Data Recovery Software

Losing an important Excel file can be stressful, but Panda Assistant makes recovery quick and hassle-free. Whether your file was accidentally deleted, lost due to a system crash, or disappeared after a software update, Panda Assistant can help retrieve it efficiently.

To begin, launch Panda Assistant and select the drive where the Excel file was last saved. The software performs a deep scan, detecting lost, deleted, or even corrupted Excel files. Use the file type filter (.xlsx, .xls) or search by name to speed up the process.

After scanning, Panda Assistant displays a list of recoverable files, allowing you to preview their contents before recovery. Simply select your lost file and click Restore to save it back to a secure location. To prevent overwriting, recover the file to a different drive.

VIII. Consider Professional Data Recovery Services

If all else fails, and the lost Excel file contains extremely important data, you may want to consider hiring a professional data recovery service. These services have specialized equipment and expertise to recover data from damaged or failed storage devices.

Research and choose a reputable data recovery company. Look for companies with a good track record, positive customer reviews, and appropriate certifications.

Contact the company and describe the situation of your lost Excel file. They will provide you with an estimate of the cost and the recovery process.

If you agree to the terms, send your storage device (such as a hard drive or a memory card) to the data recovery service. They will perform a detailed analysis and attempt to recover the lost data.

Once the recovery is complete, they will return your storage device and provide you with the recovered data, usually on a new storage medium.

IX. Preventing Future Data Loss

To avoid losing Excel files in the future, it’s important to implement some preventive measures:

Regularly save your work. Use the shortcut keys Ctrl + S (Windows) or Command + S (Mac) frequently while working on an Excel file.

Enable the Auto – Recover feature in Excel and set it to save your work at short intervals.

Use a reliable backup solution, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a network – attached storage device, to regularly back up your important files.

Be cautious when deleting files and double – check before permanently deleting anything.

Keep your computer and storage devices in good condition. Update your operating system and antivirus software regularly to prevent system failures and malware attacks.