BUSINESS TIP : Recovering Unsaved Microsoft Office Documents

When Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, or Word close unexpectedly, your work isn’t necessarily lost.

Here are a few pointers to help you recover your unsaved work:

1. AutoRecover

  1. Open the Office application
  2. Click File > Open
  3. Scroll down to “Recover Unsaved Documents” (Word), “Recover Unsaved Workbooks” (Excel), or “Recover Unsaved Presentations” (PowerPoint)
  4. Select your file from the folder that opens

2. Temporary Files

  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type %temp% and press Enter
  3. Look for files starting with ~$ or ending in .tmp
  4. Open files with appropriate Office application to check contents

3. Document Recovery Pane

  1. Reopen the Office application
  2. If available, the Document Recovery pane should appear automatically
  3. Select the most recent version of your file

4. AutoSave Location

Default locations for autosaved files:

  • Word: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\
  • Excel: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\
  • PowerPoint: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint\

Prevention Tips:

  • Make sure AutoSave is enabled
  • Set shorter AutoRecover intervals (File > Options > Save)
  • Save frequently (by selecting the Save button, or Ctrl + S)
  • Consider using cloud storage like OneDrive and DropBox

Finally, check the Recycle Bin, and if still no joy – contact your IT support for additional recovery options.