Recovering Unsaved Recently Closed Excel Documents- A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Open Recently Closed Excel Not Saved

Accidentally closing an unsaved Excel file can be a frustrating experience, especially when you have important data that you need to retrieve. However, there are several methods you can use to open recently closed Excel files that were not saved. In this article, we will discuss some of the most effective ways to recover your lost work.

1. Use the “Open Recent” feature

One of the simplest ways to open a recently closed Excel file is by using the “Open Recent” feature in Excel. This feature allows you to quickly access files that you have recently worked on. To use this feature:

1. Open Excel and click on the “File” tab at the top left corner of the screen.
2. Look for the “Open” option and click on it.
3. On the left side of the window, you will see a list of recently opened files. Scroll through the list and click on the file you want to open.

2. Check the Recycle Bin

When you delete a file, it is usually moved to the Recycle Bin instead of being permanently deleted. This gives you a chance to recover the file before it is permanently removed from your system. To check the Recycle Bin:

1. Open the Recycle Bin by clicking on its icon on the desktop or by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Scroll through the list of deleted files and find the Excel file you want to recover.
3. Right-click on the file and select “Restore” to move it back to its original location.

3. Use the “Previous Versions” feature

Windows has a built-in feature called “Previous Versions” that allows you to restore files to previous versions. This feature is particularly useful if you have recently saved the file and then accidentally closed it. To use “Previous Versions”:

1. Right-click on the folder where the Excel file was saved and select “Properties” from the context menu.
2. Go to the “Previous Versions” tab.
3. Check the box next to the version of the file you want to restore, and then click “Restore” to recover the file.

4. Use a file recovery tool

If the above methods do not work, you can try using a file recovery tool to recover your lost Excel file. There are many free and paid file recovery tools available online, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Disk Drill. To use a file recovery tool:

1. Download and install a file recovery tool of your choice.
2. Run the tool and select the location where the Excel file was saved.
3. Scan the selected location for deleted files.
4. Locate the Excel file you want to recover and select it.
5. Follow the instructions provided by the tool to recover the file.

In conclusion, there are several ways to open recently closed Excel files that were not saved. By using the “Open Recent” feature, checking the Recycle Bin, using the “Previous Versions” feature, or using a file recovery tool, you can recover your lost work and continue your work without any interruptions.