Are you tired of losing your precious Excel files? Have you accidentally deleted an important file and can’t seem to find a way to get it back? Fear not, we have compiled a list of methods on how to recover lost or deleted Excel files. Read on to find out how you can recover your lost files and save yourself from the hassle and frustration of recreating them from scratch.
Method 1 – Restore from Recycle Bin
The first method to recover lost or deleted files is to restore it from the Recycle Bin. If you have accidentally deleted your Excel file, it might still be present in the Recycle Bin. To check if it is there, go to the Recycle Bin and look for the file. If you find it, right-click on it and select “Restore”. The file will be moved back to its original location on your computer.
However, if you have already emptied the Recycle Bin, this method will not work. In that case, you can move on to the next method.
Method 2 – Use Windows File History
Windows File History can be a lifesaver if you have enabled it on your computer. This feature automatically saves a backup copy of your files and folders at a regular interval. To check if you have Windows File History enabled, go to “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Backup” > “More options”. Here, you can turn on File History and change its settings.
If you have Windows File History enabled, you can easily recover your lost Excel files. Go to the folder where your file was saved and right-click on it. Select “Properties” and go to the “Previous Versions” tab. Here, you can see all the previous versions of the file that was saved by Windows File History. Select the version you want to restore and click on “Restore”. The file will be moved back to its original location on your computer.
Method 3 – Use Data Recovery Software
If the above methods did not work, you can try using data recovery software to recover your lost Excel files. There are many data recovery software available in the market, both free and paid. One of the most popular software is Recuva.
To use Recuva, download and install the software on your computer. Launch the software and select the type of file you want to recover (in this case, Excel files). Choose the location where the file was saved and click on “Scan”. The software will scan the selected location and show you a list of all the deleted files it has found. Select the Excel file you want to recover and click on “Recover”. The file will be restored to your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I recover a deleted Excel file if I emptied the Recycle Bin?
Unfortunately, once you have emptied the Recycle Bin, the file is permanently deleted from your computer and cannot be recovered using the normal methods. You will have to use a data recovery software to recover the file.
2. Is it possible to recover an unsaved Excel file?
Yes, it is possible to recover an unsaved Excel file. The file may have been saved in a temporary location on your computer. To recover the file, open a new instance of Excel and go to “File” > “Open”. Here, select “Recent” and look for the file under “Unsaved Files”. If the file is there, select it and click on “Open”. The file will be restored to your computer and you can save it to your desired location.
Video Tutorial
For a visual guide on how to recover lost or deleted Excel files, check out this video tutorial:
