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ballerwaller1's avatar
ballerwaller1
Copper Contributor
Dec 31, 2024

Hide and Seak with unsaved excel edits

I created a workbook within microsoft excel approx a month and half ago. I opened it today to make some changes and didnt realize my auto save function was not turned on. Long story short I got side tracked and then started having issues with my printer as I was trying to print the new edited version. I utilized my task manager to cancel my current print jobs thinking it would kick it in to high gear. Only to realize I had closed the file and none of the changes had been saved. This took my some time is there anyway I can get that back or do I just have to suck it up and redo the changes? Thank you for your time and I hope someone can lead me towards the answer I am looking for.

 

  • insightsgeek's avatar
    insightsgeek
    Brass Contributor

    That’s frustrating ballerwaller1 ! There might be a way to recover your work, but it depends on a few factors. Here’s what I believe you can try:

    1️⃣ Check for AutoRecover Versions
    Even if AutoSave was off, Excel sometimes saves backup versions. Try this:

    Open Excel and go to File > Info.
    Look for "Manage Workbook" > "Recover Unsaved Workbooks".
    If there’s a version there, open it and save it immediately.


    2️⃣ Check Temporary Files
    Excel sometimes stores temporary backups:

    Open File Explorer and go to:
    C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles
    Look for a file with your workbook name and .xlsb or .xlsx.


    3️⃣ Search for Backup Files
    If you had "Always create a backup" enabled:

    Check the folder where the file is saved.
    Look for a file with the same name but a .xlk extension.


    4️⃣ Check OneDrive/SharePoint (If it is Stored There)
    If your file was in OneDrive or SharePoint, go to onedrive.live.com or SharePoint.
    Right-click the file > Version history.
    Restore an earlier version.


    5️⃣ Any Chance You Emailed or Saved a Copy Elsewhere?
    Check your email, USB drives, or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).


    If none of this work, unfortunately, Excel won’t recover it, and you’ll need to redo the changes. 😞 But checking these options might save you some time!

    Let me know if you find anything! 🚀

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