How to Recover an Unsaved or Lost Excel File
You clicked Don't Save by mistake. Excel crashed. The power went off. Before you start retyping everything, there's a good chance Excel kept a copy. Try these methods in order.
Act quickly. Excel only keeps unsaved files for a few days, and some methods only work if you haven't reopened and closed Excel several times since.
1. Document Recovery (after a crash)
If Excel crashed or your computer shut down unexpectedly:
1. Open Excel again.
2. Look for the Document Recovery pane on the left, or a Recovered banner at the top.
3. Click each file listed to open it and see which version has your latest work.
4. Save it straight away with File > Save As.
2. Look for the Document Recovery pane on the left, or a Recovered banner at the top.
3. Click each file listed to open it and see which version has your latest work.
4. Save it straight away with File > Save As.
If the pane doesn't appear, try method 2.
2. Recover Unsaved Workbooks (closed without saving)
For a file that was never saved, or a new workbook you closed without saving:
1. Open Excel.
2. Go to File > Open.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the recent files list and click Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
4. A folder of unsaved files opens. Look at the dates and pick the right one.
5. Click Open, then click Save As in the yellow bar and save it somewhere safe.
2. Go to File > Open.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the recent files list and click Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
4. A folder of unsaved files opens. Look at the dates and pick the right one.
5. Click Open, then click Save As in the yellow bar and save it somewhere safe.
You can also get there through File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
3. Version History (OneDrive or SharePoint)
If the file is saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, Excel keeps previous versions automatically:
1. Open the file.
2. Go to File > Info > Version History (or click the file name at the top of the window and choose Version History).
3. Pick an earlier version from the list. It opens in a separate window.
4. Click Restore to go back to it, or copy what you need into the current version.
2. Go to File > Info > Version History (or click the file name at the top of the window and choose Version History).
3. Pick an earlier version from the list. It opens in a separate window.
4. Click Restore to go back to it, or copy what you need into the current version.
This is the best way to undo changes you saved by mistake.
4. Previous Versions (files saved on your PC)
If the file is on your computer and File History or a backup is turned on:
1. Open File Explorer and find the file.
2. Right-click it and choose Properties.
3. Click the Previous Versions tab.
4. Pick a version and click Restore or Open.
2. Right-click it and choose Properties.
3. Click the Previous Versions tab.
4. Pick a version and click Restore or Open.
If the list is empty, Windows backups aren't turned on.
5. Search for temporary files
As a last resort, Excel's temporary and backup files sometimes survive:
1. Open File Explorer.
2. In the search box, search your computer for *.xlsb (AutoRecover files) or *.tmp files from around the time you were working.
3. Copy any likely files somewhere safe, open them in Excel and check.
2. In the search box, search your computer for *.xlsb (AutoRecover files) or *.tmp files from around the time you were working.
3. Copy any likely files somewhere safe, open them in Excel and check.
Stop it happening again
Save to OneDrive and turn on AutoSave. The AutoSave switch in the top-left corner of Excel saves every change as you work, and gives you Version History. This is the single best fix.
Make AutoRecover save more often:
1. Go to File > Options > Save.
2. Make sure Save AutoRecover information every is ticked, and change it to 5 minutes (the default is 10).
3. Tick Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving.
4. Click OK.
2. Make sure Save AutoRecover information every is ticked, and change it to 5 minutes (the default is 10).
3. Tick Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving.
4. Click OK.
Press Ctrl + S often. Make it a habit after every few changes.
Troubleshooting
Recover Unsaved Workbooks is empty. The Keep the last AutoRecovered version option was off, or more than a few days have passed. Try Version History or Previous Versions.
The recovered file is missing my last changes. AutoRecover only saves every few minutes, so the last few changes may be lost. Set it to save more often.
The recovered file won't open. Open Excel, go to File > Open, select the file, click the arrow next to Open and choose Open and Repair.
Wrapping up
Check Document Recovery after a crash, File > Open > Recover Unsaved Workbooks after closing without saving, and Version History for files on OneDrive. Then turn on AutoSave so you never need this guide again.
