How do I find a file in Excel

Question

Had a crash. I have been able to restore all my word files; however, I still cannot retrieve an important Excel file. Where do I go to perhaps find it.

Answer 1

Do you remember the file name or approximate date it was last modified? Also, was it saved on your computer or in OneDrive or another cloud location?

First, open Excel and go to File > Open > Recover Unsaved Workbooks. Excel often saves temporary recovery versions after a crash. You can also check the AutoRecover folder directly, usually found at C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel. Another important place is the Temp folder at C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Temp, where Excel may leave temporary copies. If the file was stored in OneDrive, sign in at https://onedrive.live.com and check the Recycle Bin and Version History. If the file was recently deleted, it may also be in the Windows Recycle Bin.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/get-help-with-unsaved-changes-in-excel-8a47ba0c-b097-47fd-bfcc-3f5b43bc1aab.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/restore-a-previous-version-of-a-file-stored-in-onedrive-159cad6d-d76e-4981-88ef-de6e96c93893

Answer 2

To find a lost Excel file after a crash, you can try the following methods:

1. Check AutoRecover Files: If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, look for AutoRecover files in the following locations:
   • C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel
   • C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles Replace <UserName> with your actual username.
2. Search for Temporary Files: You can search for temporary files by selecting Start, entering *.tmp in the search box, and pressing Enter. This may help you locate any temporary versions of your Excel files.
3. Check the Recycle Bin: If you accidentally deleted the file, check the Recycle Bin to see if it is there. You can restore it if you find it.
4. Recover Unsaved Workbooks: Open Excel, go to File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks to see if any unsaved versions are available.

If these methods do not help, you may need to consider using file recovery software or checking if you have any backups available.