One way to eliminate frustrating manual searches is to use the dates stored as part of every file's metadata to narrow the search and consolidate results from multiple subfolders. docx as the file type.When you have thousands of files, created and edited over many years, it can sometimes be hard to track down the exact one you need.Ī good filing system helps, but having files scattered across multiple folders also means lots of clicking as you try to find which folder a particular file is stored in. If you find it, click the document to open it and immediately "Save As," choosing. On the left side of the screen, you'll see a tab called "Document Recovery" - look for your missing document in there. On a Mac, click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your desktop, and go to "Force Quit." Select Microsoft Word and then click "Force Quit." When you see Microsoft Word or Winword.exe in the list, click on that process and then click "End Task." Do this until you've removed all Word and Winword.exe processes from the list.
On a PC, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and click "Task Manager" to open the Task Manager. Use the Task Manager to trigger auto-recovery
Double-click on it to open it and check the contents for your missing document. You can find the Recycle Bin on your desktop on a PC, or on your dock on a Mac. The Recycle Bin is where deleted files go before they are removed from your computer's memory. This is the file type associated with Word backup files. Open the folder in which your document was most recently saved and look for a file ending in. Sometimes, Microsoft Word will save a backup version of a file without your prompting. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider Check for Word backup files Search in your computer's file list for your missing document. If your document appears in the File list, you can open it by double-clicking it. On a Mac, click the spotlight icon in the upper right corner of your desktop.
On a PC, Open the Search bar by pressing the Windows key and type the name of your document. While you may not be able to recover your most recent additions, you might still be able to access the original version of your document. Search for the original document in your computer's file list We recommend testing one method, then moving on to the next method in the list if the first one doesn't work.
How to recover an unsaved Word documentĪs computers and software are complex, there are various ways to recover an unsaved Word document, though not all methods will work in all situations. Here's how to recover an unsaved Word document, as well as enable Word's AutoSave feature to ensure it doesn't happen again. The process isn't guaranteed, and you'll likely have to try multiple methods before you find success, but it's better than just giving up. Nowadays, if you lose an unsaved Word document, there might still be a way to recover it. If you've ever lost all of your work because you didn't save your Microsoft Word document, you understand how palpable the pain can be.įortunately, Word has come a long way since the dark ages of backing up files on floppy disks.