questions on finding lost Excel Files

Donald Costello 0 Reputation points
2026-01-19T01:59:34.47+00:00

how the heck do faculty members at the university of Nebraska - Lincoln open excel so as to find lost 2024 and 2025 excel files in time for 2026 classes. I have just spent three full days during vacation trying to do just that

[Moderator note: personal info removed]

Please do not take your time solving this problem

If solved i will help others here at unl where we have the best mens basketball team in the usa

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For education | Windows
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  1. AlexDN 10,025 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-01-19T02:58:15.4333333+00:00

    Dear @Donald Costello,

    Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I’m really sorry to hear how much time and effort you’ve spent trying to find your Excel files.

    To better assistance, could you please confirm following information:

    1. Which account were you signed into (university or personal)?
    2. Were the files saved to OneDrive or your computer?
    3. Do you remember any file names?
    4. Have you checked the OneDrive Recycle Bin?

    In the meantime, I suggest as below:

    • Sign in to OneDrive with your university account and search for .xlsx
    • Use Windows search and look for .xlsx
    • In Excel, select File > Open > Browse
    • Check the Recycle Bin

    Also, I want to be transparent that if the files were not saved, were permanently deleted, or were stored under an unavailable account or device, recovery may not be possible.

    Please note that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

    I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

    Thank you for your cooperation.


    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

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