3 Easy ways to recover unsaved excel file

It’s happened to all of us: we’re working on an important Excel file, and then something happens – our computer crashes, we lose power, or we accidentally close the file without saving. In a panic, we start searching for ways to recover our lost work.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to recover unsaved Excel files. In this article, we’ll show you how to do it.

Use AutoRecover

Excel has a built-in feature called AutoRecover that automatically saves your work at regular intervals. By default, AutoRecover saves your work every 10 minutes.

To enable AutoRecover, follow these steps:

1. Open Excel.
2. Click the File tab.
3. Click Options.
4. In the Save category, select the Save AutoRecover information in every check box and enter a time interval in minutes.
5. Click OK.

Please view the image below for quick reference

Now, if you ever lose unsaved work, you can recover unsaved excel file work by following these steps:

1. Open Excel.
2. Click the File tab.
3. Click Open.
4. In the Open window, click the Recover Unsaved Workbooks button.
5. Select the file you want to recover and click Open.
6. Use File History

If you’re using a Windows computer, you can also use File History to recover unsaved Excel files. File History automatically creates copies of your files at regular intervals, so you can go back in time and restore a previous version of a file.

To enable File History, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click This PC.
3. Right-click the drive that contains your Excel files and select Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click the Previous Versions tab.
5. Select the Turn on File History check box.
6. Select the folders you want to include in File History and click OK.

Now, if you ever lose unsaved work, you can recover it by following these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click the folder that contains the unsaved Excel file and select Restore previous versions.
3. In the Restore previous versions dialog box, select the version of the file you want to restore and click Restore.
4. Use a Data Recovery Tool

If you’ve tried the above methods and you still can’t find your unsaved Excel file, you can try using a data recovery tool. Data recovery tools are designed to scan your computer for deleted or lost files.

There are many different data recovery tools available, so it’s important to choose one that has a good reputation and that is compatible with your computer’s operating system.

Once you’ve chosen a data recovery tool, follow the instructions that come with the software to scan your computer for your unsaved Excel file. If the tool finds the file, you can then save it to a safe location.

Preventing Unsaved Excel Files

The best way to avoid losing unsaved Excel files is to take steps to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here are a few tips:

1. Save your work frequently. It’s a good habit to save your work every few minutes, especially if you’re working on something important.
2. Enable AutoRecover. As mentioned earlier, AutoRecover automatically saves your work at regular intervals. This way, even if you lose power or your computer crashes, you won’t lose all of your work.
3. Use a cloud storage service. Cloud storage services like OneDrive and Google Drive allow you to store your files online. This way, you can access your files from any computer, and you don’t have to worry about losing them if your computer crashes.

Additional Tips on Recover Unsaved Excel File

• If you’re working on an important Excel file, consider backing it up to a USB drive or external hard drive. This way, you’ll have a copy of the file that’s not stored on your computer.
• If you’re using a laptop, make sure you have a battery backup. This way, if your computer loses power, you’ll have enough time to save your work.
• If you’re working on a file that you’re not sure you’ll be able to finish, consider saving it as a temporary file with a different name. This way, if you lose the file, you can always start over.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you can help protect your unsaved Excel files and avoid losing important work.

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