The right recovery method depends on what “unsaved” means. After a crash, start with Excel’s Document Recovery pane; for a workbook that was never saved, use File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks; for a previously saved cloud file, check OneDrive or SharePoint Version History. Save any recovered copy immediately under a new name.
Which Excel recovery method should you use?
| What happened? | Best first method |
|---|---|
| Excel or Windows crashed, restarted, or closed unexpectedly | Reopen Excel and check the Document Recovery pane |
| The workbook was created but never saved | Use File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks |
| A saved OneDrive or SharePoint workbook lost recent edits | Use Version History |
| You clicked Don’t Save | Check recovery immediately, but recovery is not guaranteed |
| The file exists but will not open | Use Open and Repair |
| The file was deleted | Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin or your backup system |
A workbook that was never saved and a previously saved workbook with unsaved changes are different cases. Excel can recover only data for which it created a recovery copy or cloud version.
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1. Recover the workbook from Excel’s Document Recovery pane
Use this method after an Excel crash, power failure, forced restart, or unexpected shutdown.
- Reopen Excel.
- Look for the Document Recovery pane.
- Open the recovered workbook with the latest plausible date and time.
- Immediately choose Save As or Save a Copy.
- Give the file a new name and save it to a known local or cloud folder.
- Check several worksheets, formulas, charts, and your most recent edits.
If multiple copies appear, compare their timestamps, file sizes, and contents. Save each plausible candidate under a different name before comparing them.
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The pane does not always appear. Excel needs to have created a usable recovery file, and that file may be unavailable if AutoRecover was disabled, the failure occurred before the first recovery save, or the recovery data was discarded. Microsoft describes Document Recovery and AutoSave behavior in its AutoSave documentation.
2. Recover a workbook that was never saved
If you created a new workbook and never gave it a filename, use Excel’s built-in recovery list:
- Open Excel.
- Select File.
- Select Info.
- Select Manage Workbook.
- Select Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
- Choose the workbook from the list and select Open.
- Immediately select Save As and save it under a new filename.
Some Microsoft Office documentation uses the label Manage Document rather than Manage Workbook. The relevant control is under File > Info, and the wording can vary by Excel edition and version.
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The recovered copy may be older than the moment Excel failed. AutoRecover is periodic rather than a continuous recording of every keystroke. Microsoft’s Windows Excel recovery instructions identify 10 minutes as the documented default interval, although settings and versions can differ.
If the recovery list is empty
- AutoRecover may have been turned off.
- Excel may not have created a recovery copy yet.
- The recovery copy may have been deleted after a normal close.
- You may have selected Don’t Save.
- The failure may have happened before Excel wrote recoverable data.
Use Excel’s recovery interface first rather than randomly renaming temporary files. If no copy appears, recovery may not be possible.
3. Restore an earlier OneDrive or SharePoint version
This method applies only when the workbook had already been saved to OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online. Version History cannot recover a workbook that was never saved anywhere.
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From Excel or Microsoft 365
- Open the workbook or locate it in its cloud folder.
- Select the filename or open its context menu.
- Choose Version History.
- Review versions by date and time.
- Open the version containing the missing changes.
- Choose Restore only after confirming it is the correct version.
From OneDrive
- Sign in to OneDrive.
- Locate the Excel file.
- Right-click it.
- Choose Version history.
- Select the desired version.
- Choose Restore.
Restoring makes the selected version current, so later edits can be displaced. If the current file contains anything useful, first download or copy the desired historical version instead of immediately selecting Restore. Microsoft explains these options in its guides to Office Version History and OneDrive Version History.
Version availability depends on the service, account, retention settings, and—in a work or school account—administrator policy. Microsoft’s OneDrive documentation describes 30-day retention in the relevant experience, but that should not be treated as a universal guarantee.
Excel recovery on a Mac
After an unexpected shutdown, reopen Excel and save any offered recovered workbook immediately. If necessary, use Finder to inspect the hidden AutoRecovery folder:
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- In Finder, select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter
/Users/<username>/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft. - Look for an AutoRecovered Excel file.
- Open a copy and save it immediately under a new name.
Do not assume the Windows AutoRecover settings apply to Mac. Microsoft’s current Mac documentation says Excel does not expose a user-set recovery interval in the same way as Word or PowerPoint; Excel optimizes the interval. Selecting Don’t Save can also remove the AutoRecover file because Office assumes it is no longer needed. See Microsoft’s Mac recovery instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If none of the three methods works
The workbook exists but is corrupted
This is different from an unsaved-file problem. Try Excel’s repair tool:
- Select File > Open.
- Select the workbook.
- Select the arrow beside Open.
- Choose Open and Repair.
- Choose Repair. If that fails, choose Extract Data.
Repair is not guaranteed and may recover only some formulas, values, or formatting. If a disk or network error is involved, copy the workbook to a local disk or another drive before trying again. Microsoft documents this process in Repair a corrupted workbook.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
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The file was deleted
Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin for a deleted cloud file. For a local workbook, check Windows File History, backup software, or your organization’s backup system. OneDrive also provides a broader restore feature in supported Microsoft 365 circumstances; availability depends on the account and service.
The workbook was on a network drive or removable device
Copy it to a local drive if access or disk errors are involved. Continuing to edit a damaged network copy can make recovery more difficult.
Consider third-party recovery tools cautiously
Third-party utilities are a last resort, not a guaranteed way to recover an unsaved Excel workbook. They may target deleted files or damaged disks rather than AutoRecover data, and confidential financial spreadsheets may create privacy risks. Do not pay for one unless you understand what it actually recovers and how it handles your data.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHow AutoSave and AutoRecover differ
AutoSave continuously saves supported files stored in OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online, generally in a Microsoft 365 setup. AutoRecover periodically creates recovery information intended mainly for crashes and unexpected shutdowns. A local workbook may have AutoRecover protection without having cloud AutoSave.
On Windows, check AutoRecover under File > Options > Save. Keep Save AutoRecover information every enabled and leave Disable AutoRecover for this workbook only unchecked when you want recovery information created.
Prevent future Excel data loss
- Save a new workbook early with a meaningful filename.
- For important workbooks, use OneDrive or SharePoint when appropriate so supported Microsoft 365 features such as AutoSave and Version History are available.
- Keep AutoRecover enabled and review its settings.
- Use Save a Copy when working from an original cloud document if you do not want AutoSave changes applied to that original.
- Maintain an independent backup for critical financial, tax, business, and household records.
- After recovering a workbook, preserve the original and save the recovered version under a new name before editing it.
A Microsoft 365 or OneDrive subscription is optional and cannot guarantee recovery of an already-lost file. Its value is future protection: supported cloud storage can provide AutoSave and Version History. If you are considering a plan, verify current features, pricing, region, and retention terms on Microsoft’s official plans page.
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