You have spent several hours on an Excel worksheet and you decide to prepare an intricate graph and suddenly, oops! Excel crashes or the light goes off or you simply close a file without saving it.
Well, it’s really bad, but calm down, you will be able to get back your unsaved document quite easily.
I recommend you don’t waste your hours working on a workbook, trying to make changes, or taking ‘history’ as an option; it’s better to go through this article where we have discussed how you do not lose your work again and how you can recover unsaved Excel files on Windows or any other document.
What Causes Deletion of Unsaved Excel Files?
Before you apply any free data recovery software or apply manual methods to restore not saved Excel files, it’s vital to understand why such instances actually occur.
Some of the main reasons for the loss are:
- Accidental Closure: If you close the Excel file without saving changes, either by mistake or due to a rush, it leads to sudden deletion.
- System Crashes: Sudden system crashes caused by hardware or software malfunctions can cause the deletion of unsaved work.
- Power Outages: Unexpected power failures can abruptly shut down the system, causing the deletion of data that are not saved.
- Software Errors: Bugs, glitches, or compatibility issues within Excel can sometimes prevent files from being saved properly.
- Manual Errors: Forgetting to save or mistakenly closing a file without saving is also one of the main reasons for data loss on Windows devices.
- Forced Shutdowns: Abruptly shutting down the computer or terminating the Excel process can result in unsaved changes being lost.
Quick Methods to Recover Unsaved Excel Files
Now that you are familiar with the reasons for the loss of unsaved Excel files on Windows, let’s get started with the recovery workarounds to restore them.
In this part of the blog, we will discuss some commonly used workarounds to restore those folders:
Method 01: Use the AutoRecover Recover
Excel provides an in-built AutoRecover feature which you can use to restore the files when they get deleted.
Here’s how to restore unsaved folders on Windows using the AutoRecover option:
- Launch the Excel file, and if it detects a file that is not saved, it might automatically display a Document Recovery pane.
- Now, from the pane that appears, click on the available file to open it.
- Go to File > Info, then click Manage Workbook and choose the “Recover Unsaved Workbooks” option.
- From the dialogue box displaying unsaved files, choose the desired file and click Open.
- Once the file opens, save it immediately to avoid future data loss.
Method 02: Use the Temp Folder
Excel also provides an in-built Temp folder which stores temporary folders created by applications and the operating system during their operation.
Follow the below steps to restore unsaved Excel files on Windows using the Temp folder:
- Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run prompt. Type %temp% and press Enter.
- Locate the files with a .tmp extension or file name starting with ~$ and ending with .xls or .xlsx. Also, sort the folders to find the most recent ones.
- Cope and save the desired file to a different location.
- Rename the file with.xls or .xlsx extension, open it, and save it properly.
Method 03: Recover Unsaved Excel Files from OneDrive or SharePoint
Another backup alternative that you can try to restore Excel files that are not saved is OneDrive or SharePoint.
If you use these options for saving your folders, follow the below steps to simply restore them:
- Log in to your OneDrive or SharePoint account.
- Go to the Recent Files section, right-click on the desired file, and select “Version History”.
- Now, select the version you need to restore and click “Restore”.
- Lastly, download and save the restored file locally on your Windows device.
Do you Know?
According to IT professionals, 29% of data loss is due to human error.
Method 04: Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software
In case when all the above-mentioned manual approaches to restoring unsaved Excel files on Windows fail, then you can try using free data recovery software.
Tools like Stellar Data Recovery Free allow you to restore your lost or deleted folders in a few simple clicks.
The software is known for several amazing features, such as:
- It supports the restoration of lost or deleted folders of many types, including photos, videos, documents, and many more.
- The software can easily restore folders from any internal or external storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, etc.
- Recovers up to 1 GB of files for free. There are several paid versions of software offering several amazing features.
- 100% safe and secure tool to easily restore lost folders.
- Supports retrieval of files from encrypted, formatted, or corrupted drives.
Here’s how to restore unsaved Excel files on Windows using this free data recovery tool:
- Step 1: Firstly, you need to download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Free software on your Windows device. Launch the software and from the homepage, select the type of file you need to restore and click Next.
- Step 2: Now, choose the folder location where your unsaved Excel file was earlier stored and click the Scan button to initiate scanning.
- Step 3: After completion of the scan process, preview the recoverable folders and choose the files that you need to restore. Click the Recover button to save selected files at the desired location.
Preventive Tips to Avoid Future Loss
Though the above methods to recover unsaved Excel files are easy, it’s vital to prevent such scenarios. Here are some tips that you can consider to avoid deletion of folders on your Windows devices:
- Enable AutoSave: Ensure AutoSave is enabled in Excel.
- Regular Backups: Regularly back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage.
- Save Frequently: Make a habit of saving your work frequently.
- Use Stable Power Supply: Use a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to avoid data loss due to power outages.
- Update Software: Keep your Excel and Windows OS updated to avoid bugs and glitches.
Wrapping Up
Hope, the above-mentioned methods help you to know how to restore unsaved Excel files on Windows devices.
By using built-in features like AutoRecover, Temp folders, and reliable free data restore software like Stellar Data Recovery Free, you can retrieve your lost data efficiently.
In addition, taking preventive measures ensures that you minimize the risk of losing your necessary Excel files in the future.
Remember to save your work regularly and maintain backups to avoid such situations altogether.
