Have you ever lost an unsaved Word document, and then found yourself in a state of panic? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Losing unsaved work can be a frustrating experience, especially when you’ve put in a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, there are several ways to recover unsaved Word documents, whether you’re using a Windows PC or a Mac.
In this article, we will show you how to recover unsaved Word documents on both Windows and Mac, as well as provide tips on how to prevent future loss of work.
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How to Recover an Unsaved Word Document
Losing an unsaved Word document can be a nightmare, but thankfully, there are several ways to recover it. Here are some additional methods you can try:
- Look for the “AutoRecover” folder: When you’re working on a Word document, the program automatically saves a temporary copy of the document at regular intervals. To find these copies, open File Explorer and type “%appdata%\Microsoft\Word” (without the quotes) into the address bar. Look for a file that has the name of your unsaved document followed by “AutoRecover.” Double-click on this file to open it in Word.
- Use a recovery program: If the above methods don’t work, you can use a data recovery program to scan your hard drive and recover your unsaved Word document. Some popular recovery programs include EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, and Disk Drill.
- Check your email: If you’ve enabled the “Send to OneNote” feature in Word, you may be able to find a copy of your unsaved document in your email. Check your “Sent Items” folder or search for the document name in your email search bar.
- Use a third-party tool: There are several third-party tools available that can help you recover unsaved Word documents. One such tool is “Word Recovery,” which can scan your hard drive and recover any unsaved documents. Another tool is “UnsavedFilesFolder,” which searches your computer for any unsaved Word documents.
Remember to Save Your Work
While it’s great to know how to recover unsaved Word documents, prevention is always better than cure. To avoid losing your work in the future, make sure to save your document regularly by clicking on the “Save” button or using the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl+S” (Windows) or “Command+S” (Mac). You can also enable the “AutoSave” feature in Word, which automatically saves your document at regular intervals.
In conclusion, losing an unsaved Word document can be a frustrating experience, but with the methods outlined in this article, you should be able to recover your work. Remember to save your work regularly to avoid this situation in the future.
How to Recover an Unsaved Word Document on Mac
If you’re using a Mac and have lost an unsaved Word document, there are a few different methods you can try to recover it. Here are some of the most effective methods:
- Use the AutoRecover feature: Just like in Windows, Word for Mac also has an AutoRecover feature that automatically saves a temporary copy of your document at regular intervals. To access the AutoRecover folder on a Mac, follow these steps:
- Open Finder and click on “Go” in the menu bar.
- Click on “Go to Folder” and type “~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/” (without the quotes).
- Look for a file that has the name of your unsaved document followed by “AutoRecovery save of” and open it in Word.
- Check the trash folder: If you accidentally deleted the unsaved Word document, it may still be in the Trash folder on your Mac. Open the Trash folder and search for the document name. If you find it, right-click on it and select “Put Back” to restore it to its original location.
- Use a third-party recovery tool: There are several third-party recovery tools available for Mac that can help you recover unsaved Word documents. Some popular options include Disk Drill, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Data Rescue.
- Check email or cloud storage: If you’ve enabled the “Save to Cloud” or “Send to OneDrive” features in Word, you may be able to find a copy of your unsaved document in your cloud storage. Check your email or OneDrive folder for the document name.