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Smithchow's avatar
Smithchow
Copper Contributor
Mar 14, 2024

How to Recover Deleted Word Document on Windows 10

I recently deleted a crucial Microsoft Word document by mistake on my Windows 10 PC and urgently need to recover it. After deleting, I emptied my Recycle Bin, realizing too late that the document was gone. I've attempted basic recovery steps like using the "Undo" feature without success and am wary of downloading recovery tools without recommendations.

 

Could anyone suggest reliable data recovery software compatible with Windows 10, or if there's a built-in feature I might have missed that could help? The document was last located in my "Documents" folder and is a .docx file.

 

I greatly appreciate any advice or tips you can share to help recover my document. Your expertise and suggestions will be invaluable to me during this stressful time. Thank you in advance for your help.

  • Princellcp's avatar
    Princellcp
    Copper Contributor

    Sorry to hear you're having this problem! From what you've described, since you've already tried the "undo" function without success and the Recycle Bin has been emptied, using a dedicated data recovery tool might be your best option.

     

    I've used a software called D.Back for PC before and it was pretty good. This tool supports Windows 10, has a user-friendly interface, and is relatively easy to use. It can effectively recover all types of files, including accidentally deleted .docx documents. You can download a trial version from their official website to see if you can find your document first.

     

    I hope this advice helps you, and I wish you good luck!

  • Jakariou's avatar
    Jakariou
    Copper Contributor
    Okay, before recovering deleted word document on Windows 10. You have to resist the urge to create a new document or edit an existing one on the same drive where the deleted file was located. This can overwrite the deleted file's fragments, making it impossible to recover. Don't format the drive, as format the drive can erase any remaining file system data, including deleted files. Only use recovery software to scan the drive, and never format it until you've tried to recover your file.

    If you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, it's likely that the file has been permanently deleted. However, if you still have access to the Recycle Bin, don't delete anything else, as this can overwrite the deleted file. If you're in the middle of recovering a file, don't shut down your computer or restart it until you've saved the recovered file to a safe location.
  • Creediin's avatar
    Creediin
    Copper Contributor

    In my experience, I've found that AutoRecover is most effective when used in conjunction with other recovery tools or methods. While it's a great safety net for unsaved documents, it's not a reliable solution for recovering deleted Word document from Windows 10 computer. AutoRecover only saves versions of your document within the same session. If you've closed and reopened Word, or if you've deleted the file and then reopened Word, AutoRecover won't be able to recover it.

    Since AutoRecover files are stored in a specific location, they can be overwritten by other files or programs. If you've already deleted other files in the same location, you might accidentally overwrite the AutoRecover file. AutoRecover files are in a proprietary format (.asd), which can be difficult to work with if you're not familiar with Word's internal workings. You might need to convert the file to a more readable format before you can recover it. 

     

    As i know, some recovery software may create temporary files during the recovery process. Don't delete these files, as they might contain valuable data. If one tool fails to recover your file, try another one. This increases your chances of recovering the file.

  • LLLegend's avatar
    LLLegend
    Copper Contributor

    Smithchow  Word often creates temporary files while you're working on a document. These files may still be available even if the original document is deleted.

     

    How to recover deleted Word document from temporary files:

    1. Open Word and go to "File" > "Open."
    2. Click on "Recover Unsaved Documents" at the bottom of the window.
    3. If any temporary files related to your document exist, they will be displayed here.
    4. Select the file and open it. Save the document to a new location to avoid losing it again.
  • Jiuan's avatar
    Jiuan
    Copper Contributor

    File History is a built-in feature in Windows that automatically backs up files stored in libraries, desktop, favorites, and contacts. If File History is enabled, you can restore previous versions of your documents.

     

    To recover word document not saved with File history, navigate to the folder where the Word document was originally saved. Right-click on the folder and select "Restore previous versions." Browse through the available versions to find the one that contains your document. Select the version and click "Restore" to recover the deleted Word document on Windows PC.

  • daisylyly1495's avatar
    daisylyly1495
    Copper Contributor

    For data recovery after emptying the recycle bin, the only way you can apply is to get a data recovery application.

    The most important thing is to stop using your computer until you get the lost documents back.

    You can follow this deleted files recovery tutorial from LinkedIn. It explains why data has been emptied from the recycle bin still has a chance to be restored and introduces a reliable way on how to make data recovery possibleļ¼š
    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-recover-permanently-deleted-files-from-pc-without-ada-scott-nvvvc/

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