Recover a Lost Word Document: Help Needed

Microsoft 365 and Office
1

I lost all my work in Word unexpectedly, and it's happened to me twice now. Is there a way to recover my files?

I'm really upset about this, so a quick response would be greatly appreciated.

2

Hey there, sorry to hear that you lost your Word document. Losing work is frustrating, especially if it happens multiple times. Don’t worry, I’m here to help you figure out how to recover your file. Here are a few things you can try:

Check Your AutoSave Folder
Microsoft Word has an AutoSave feature that regularly saves your document while you work on it. You might find a version of your document in the AutoSave folder. Here’s where to look:

  1. Open Microsoft Word.
  2. Go to the ‘File’ menu.
  3. Select ‘Options.’
  4. Click on ‘Save’ in the left-side menu.
  5. Look under ‘AutoSave’ for the location of your AutoSave files.

Check this folder for your latest document. You might find a recent version that you can use.

Look for Temporary Files
Sometimes, temporary files can help you recover lost work. Here’s how to find them:

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
  2. Type %temp% and hit Enter.
  3. Look for files starting with ~WRD* or ending with .tmp.

If you find any files that match your document, open them to see if they contain your work. These might not be the latest version, but they can help.

Reopen Recent Documents
If you recently worked on your document and closed it, Microsoft Word sometimes holds onto it in memory for a short period. Here’s how to see if your document is there:

  1. Open Microsoft Word.
  2. Go to the ‘File’ menu.
  3. Click on ‘Open.’
  4. Look for the ‘Recent Documents’ list on the right side.
  5. Check if your document is listed.

If you see your document in the list, you might be able to reopen it and recover your work.

Check Your Recycle Bin
If you accidentally deleted your document, it might be in the Recycle Bin. Here’s how to check:

  1. Go to your computer’s desktop.
  2. Open the ‘Recycle Bin.’
  3. Look for your document’s name.

If you see your document there, right-click on it and select ‘Restore’ to recover it.

I hope these steps help you recover your lost document. If you’re still having trouble, let us know and we’ll explore more options together.