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4 Proven Ways to Recover Unsaved Excel Files in 2025
Posted by Aira Lesly Escoto to Data Recovery Oct 31, 2025
Since working on an Excel spreadsheet needs hours of effort, and nothing feels more frustrating than losing your progress due to a crash, accidental closure, or saving. You may think your data is gone for good, but don't panic! How to recover unsaved Excel file, then? Whether you're on Windows or Mac, the following methods can bring your lost files back without needing complex tools. Dive in now to recover an earlier version of an unsaved Excel file and get back to working in no time.
Guide List
Recover Unsaved Excel Files Using Document Recovery Search and Recover Unsaved Excel Files Manually Recover Unsaved Excel Files from Mac Temporary Folder Use Effective tool to Recover Unsaved Excel Files in one clickRecover Unsaved Excel Files Using Document Recovery
When Excel crashes or you accidentally close a workbook, you may think your hard work is gone forever. Luckily, Microsoft Excel offers a built-in feature called Document Recovery, which restores a missing Excel file within seconds. This method is usually the first one to try when facing unsaved Excel issues.
Step 1Run Microsoft Excel again after it crashes or closes unexpectedly. Navigate to the left-hand side, and you will see the "Document Recovery" panel appear.
Step 2Next, browse through the available versions from there. Determine the file you want to recover and click "Open". Click the "File" and then "Save As" buttons to save the recovered file.
Search and Recover Unsaved Excel Files Manually
If the built-in feature does not appear in Excel, you can manually search for those unsaved files. Excel stores temporary files automatically in specific folders on your computer so that you can recover an Excel file with unsaved changes. This method requires minimal navigation, but it is a reliable method for restoring files when the built-in feature is not working.
Step 1Open Excel and click on "File", then select "Open" and click "Recent". Scroll down and click "Recover Unsaved Workbooks".
Step 2Once the folder window shows up with any unsaved Excel files stored temporarily, select the file and click "Open". To save it permanently, select "File" then "Save As" and pick a secure location.
Recover Unsaved Excel Files from Mac Temporary Folder
Mac users also offer a way to recover deleted Excel documents to previous versions by checking the temporary folder. This folder saves auto-saved and cached files by Excel during use. While it requires navigating through hidden files, it can be a robust way to find lost spreadsheets. This method is handy if you forgot to save before shutting down your Mac or if Excel crashed suddenly. It also works when you recover unsaved Word documents. But it does not work to recover overwritten Excel files.
Step 1Launch Finder on your Mac. Then, press the "Command + Shift + G" keys to access the "Go to Folder" window.
Step 2Here, type in tmp and press the "Enter" key. Then, search through the subfolders for some temporary Excel files. Later, open the selected file and save it to a safe location.
Use Effectively Tool to Recover Unsaved Excel Files in One-click
Sometimes, built-in recovery options and manual searches are not enough to recover unsaved and deleted Excel workbooks. In cases where your files are corrupted or completely missing, 4Easysoft Data Recovery is what you need. With just a simple click, the data recovery software automatically scans the system, previews recoverable files, and restores your unsaved Excel files instantly.
Can recover unsaved, deleted, or lost Excel files in just one click.
Allows file preview before recovery to ensure accurate restoration.
Offers deep scan and quick scan modes for efficient searching of your choice.
It recovers data safely without compromising your existing files.
100% Secure
100% Secure
Step 1Upon starting 4Easysoft Data Recovery, select the desired location to recover unsaved Excel files, such as the Desktop, USB drive, recycle bin, etc.
Step 2After that scan, you can see all the data in this window. You can now start recovering all Excel files and other lost data by clicking the "Recover" button below for a quick and deep scan.
Step 3Next, from the left pane, you can select the file types and click their boxes to pick the desired data accurately. You can also use the "Filter" tool to enter information about the date, extension, etc, and click the "Apply" button.
Step 4Going to the top-right corner, you can change the way to preview all data. You can see the thumbnail-like preview or click the content directly to view it on a large screen and check the metadata information.
Step 5Once done, click the "Recover" button and determine your desired folder where to save the recovered unsaved Excel file. Later, the data will automatically appear with the file folder.
Conclusion
Losing an unsaved Excel file can be stressful. As you've seen here, there are many ways to bring your data back. You can use Document Recovery, search for unsaved workbooks, or check the temporary folders on Mac; these solutions can help you recover unsaved Excel workbooks, saving the day. However, for a more effective solution, especially if the file has been deleted or corrupted, use 4Easysoft Data Recovery. Its powerful scanning capabilities and one-click recovery allow you to quickly restore not only lost Excel files but also other vital data. Use powerful data recovery software and get your valuable files back without stress now!
100% Secure
100% Secure
