Have you ever accidentally deleted an important Excel file or saved over a document with the wrong information? Don’t worry, there are solutions to recover your lost data. In this article, we will discuss tips and tricks on how to recover deleted or unsaved Excel files.
Recovering deleted Excel files
There are several methods that you can use to recover a deleted Excel file. Here are some of them:
1. Check the Recycle Bin
The first thing you should do is to check the Recycle Bin. If you are lucky, the deleted Excel file might still be located in the Recycle Bin. Here’s how to check:
- Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
- Look for the deleted Excel file. If you find it, right-click on the file and select “Restore”.
The Excel file will be restored to its original location before it was deleted.
2. Use File History in Windows 10
If you are running Windows 10, you can use File History to recover deleted Excel files. Here’s how:
- Type “File History” in the Windows search bar and select “Restore your files with File History”.
- Select the folder where the Excel file was located before it was deleted.
- Look for the deleted Excel file and select it.
- Click on the “Restore” button to recover the file.
Note that this method only works if you have enabled File History in your system settings before the file was deleted.
3. Use a data recovery software
If both of the above methods fail, you can try using a data recovery software. There are many data recovery software programs available online that can help you recover deleted Excel files. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Recuva
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
- Stellar Data Recovery
- Wondershare RecoverIt
Simply download and install the software on your computer, follow the instructions, and let the software scan your computer for deleted files. Keep in mind that some data recovery software programs require a fee to access all of their features.
Recovering unsaved Excel files
If you forgot to save your Excel file or if it crashed before you could save it, don’t worry. There are ways to recover unsaved Excel files. Here’s how:
1. Check the Document Recovery pane in Excel
Excel has a built-in feature called Document Recovery that can help you recover unsaved Excel files. Here’s how to access it:
- Open Excel.
- Look for the “Document Recovery” pane on the left side of your screen.
- Select the file you want to recover.
- Click on the “Save As” button and save the file to a new location.
The unsaved Excel file will be recovered and saved to your desired location.
2. Use the AutoRecover feature in Excel
Excel also has a feature called AutoRecover that can help you recover unsaved Excel files. Here’s how to use it:
- Open Excel.
- Click on the “File” tab and select “Options”.
- Click on “Save” in the left-hand menu.
- Check the box next to “Save AutoRecover information every X minutes” and set the time interval to your liking.
- If Excel crashes or closes before you save your work, simply reopen Excel. A Document Recovery pane should appear on the left-hand side of your screen.
- Select the unsaved Excel file you want to recover and click on the “Save As” button.
The unsaved Excel file will be recovered and saved to your desired location.
FAQ
1. Can I recover a deleted Excel file on a Mac?
Yes, you can recover a deleted Excel file on a Mac using the same methods as on a Windows computer. Check the Trash folder, use Time Machine (a built-in backup feature), or use data recovery software.
2. Do I need to pay for data recovery software?
Some data recovery software programs require a fee to access all of their features. However, there are also free versions available that can help you recover deleted or unsaved Excel files. Keep in mind that the free versions may have limited features and may not be as effective as the paid versions.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted or unsaved Excel files can be a stressful experience, but there are solutions to help you retrieve your lost data. Always remember to check the Recycle Bin or use built-in features such as File History and Document Recovery first before resorting to data recovery software. Don’t forget to save your work regularly to avoid losing data in the future.
For more tips and tutorials on Excel, check out our YouTube video below:
