How to restore an excel file that was not saved​？

Losing an Excel file that was not saved can be a frustrating experience, especially if it contains important data. Fortunately, there are several methods available to recover unsaved Excel files, whether due to accidental closure, a system crash, or unexpected shutdowns.

Microsoft Excel has built-in features designed to help users recover unsaved files: AutoRecover and AutoSave. These features periodically save copies of open workbooks to prevent data loss.

AutoRecover: This feature saves versions of your file at regular intervals. If Excel crashes or closes unexpectedly, it allows you to restore the last autosaved version.

AutoSave: Available in Microsoft 365 and later versions, AutoSave continuously saves your work to OneDrive or SharePoint, preventing data loss.

1. Recover an Unsaved Excel File Using the Document Recovery Pane

If Excel crashes or closes unexpectedly, the next time you open it, a Document Recovery pane may appear with a list of autosaved files.

Steps to Recover an Unsaved Excel File:

Open Microsoft Excel.

If the Document Recovery pane appears, look for your unsaved file.

Click on the file to open it.

Save it to a desired location by clicking File > Save As.

2. Recover an Unsaved File from Excel’s AutoRecover Folder

If the Document Recovery pane does not appear, you can manually access AutoRecover files from Excel’s settings.

Steps to Manually Access AutoRecover Files:

Open Microsoft Excel.

Click File > Options.

Go to the Save tab.

Look for the AutoRecover file location and copy it.

Open File Explorer and paste the copied path in the address bar.

Locate the most recent file with an .xlsb or .xlsx extension.

Open the file and save it to a secure location.

3. Recover an Unsaved Excel File from Temporary Files

Excel stores temporary versions of files, which may allow you to restore unsaved work.

Steps to Find Temporary Excel Files:

Open File Explorer.

Navigate to the following directory:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles

Look for Excel files with .tmp or .xlsb extensions.

Open the file and save it.

4. Restore an Unsaved Excel File from OneDrive or SharePoint

If you are using OneDrive or SharePoint, Excel may have saved a backup version.

Steps to Restore from OneDrive or SharePoint:

Open OneDrive or SharePoint.

Navigate to the folder where your Excel file was stored.

Click on Version History (Right-click on the file in OneDrive > Version History).

Select the most recent version and restore it.

5. Use File Recovery Software

Panda Assistant

Panda Assistant can help restore an Excel file that was not saved by scanning for temporary backup files or unsaved versions. When Excel crashes or if you accidentally close a file without saving, Panda Assistant searches for the temporary files or autosave versions, allowing you to recover unsaved data. It works by restoring lost or unsaved documents, ensuring your valuable work isn’t permanently lost. Simply run Panda Assistant, select the location where the file was last saved, and follow the recovery process to retrieve your Excel file.

6. Check for Previous Versions Using File History

Windows provides a File History feature that can restore previous versions of a file.

Steps to Restore an Excel File from File History:

Right-click on the folder where your Excel file was saved.

Click Restore Previous Versions.

Select an older version and restore it.

7. Enable and Configure AutoRecover for Future Protection

To avoid losing Excel files in the future, ensure that AutoRecover is enabled.

Steps to Enable AutoRecover:

Open Excel and go to File > Options.

Click on Save.

Ensure Save AutoRecover information every X minutes is checked.

Set the time interval to 1 or 2 minutes for frequent backups.

Click OK.

Best Practices to Prevent Data Loss in Excel

Enable AutoSave if using OneDrive or SharePoint.

Save your work frequently by using Ctrl + S.

Create backup copies by enabling Always Create Backup in File > Save As > Tools > General Options.

Use cloud storage for automatic file syncing and version history.

Install updates to ensure Excel runs smoothly and prevents crashes.