Have you ever experienced accidentally deleting or losing an important Excel file that you have been working on for hours or even days? It can be frustrating and stressful, especially if you have a deadline to meet. Luckily, there are ways to recover your Excel files and prevent future mishaps.
How to recover Excel files that are lost, deleted, or corrupted
There are several methods that you can try to recover your lost, deleted, or corrupted Excel files:
1. Recover from the recycle bin
If you accidentally deleted your Excel file, it might still be in the recycle bin. Here’s how you can recover it:
- Open the recycle bin.
- Look for the Excel file that you deleted.
- Right-click on the file and select “Restore”.
You should be able to find the recovered file in its original location.
2. Recover from the temp folder
If Excel crashed or your computer shut down unexpectedly, there might be a temporary version of your Excel file in the temp folder. Here’s how you can find it:
- Open Windows Explorer and navigate to “C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles”.
- Look for the Excel file that you want to recover.
- After finding the file, copy it to a different location.
- Open the Excel file to check if it’s the one that you need.
3. Recover from previous versions
If you saved your Excel file before it got lost or corrupted, there might be a previous version of the file that you can recover. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the Excel file.
- Click on “File” and select “Info”.
- Look for “Previous Versions” and click on it.
- Select the version of the Excel file that you want to recover.
- Click on “Open” to access the selected version.
4. Use a file recovery tool
If none of the above methods work, you can try using a file recovery tool such as Recuva. Here’s how you can use it:
- Download and install Recuva.
- Open the program and select “All Files”.
- Select the location where your Excel file was saved.
- Click on “Scan” and wait for the program to finish scanning.
- Look for the Excel file that you want to recover.
- Select the file and click on “Recover”.
How to prevent Excel file loss or corruption
Prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips to prevent Excel file loss or corruption:
1. Save your Excel files regularly
Make it a habit to save your Excel files every few minutes or after making significant changes. You can also use the AutoSave feature in Excel to automatically save your file at specified intervals.
2. Use cloud storage
Storing your Excel files in cloud storage such as OneDrive or Google Drive can help prevent loss of data in case your device gets damaged or lost. It also allows you to access your files from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
3. Enable version history
Enabling version history in Excel allows you to access previous versions of your file and restore it if needed. To enable version history, click on “File” > “Info” > “Version History” > “Manage Versions” > “Keep Versions” and select the number of versions that you want to keep.
4. Install antivirus software
Viruses can corrupt your Excel files or even delete them. Install a reliable antivirus software and regularly scan your device to prevent virus attacks.
FAQs
1. What if my Excel file is still corrupted after recovery?
If your Excel file is still corrupted after recovery, you can try repairing it using the “Open and Repair” option in Excel. To do this, open Excel and click on “File” > “Open” > select the corrupted file > click on the arrow next to “Open” and select “Open and Repair”.
You can password protect your Excel files by clicking on “File” > “Info” > “Protect Workbook” > “Encrypt with Password”. You can also restrict editing or sharing of your file by clicking on “Review” > “Protect Sheet” > select the options that you want to apply.
Watch this video tutorial for more tips on how to recover Excel files:
