I just lost several days of work in Excel following a Microsoft excel

Question

My file was saved in OneDrive with autosave on. A yellow strip across the top saying Microsoft has updates and the next time I saved the file it said "merging error" or something and "cannot display merged content" and half of the worksheets I had created in my spreadsheet were missing. How can I recover this file from before the update- the file is Working Spreadsheet.xlsx. I cannot find the old version in version history or any else. is it possible i cannot recover the old version with the specific date.

Answer 1

Dear @Aisyah,

I completely understand how upsetting it is to lose several days of work, especially when the file was saved in OneDrive with AutoSave enabled.

Based on what you described, this appears to be a known Excel + OneDrive sync/merge issue that can occur when an Office update is applied while a workbook is open. In these cases, Excel may encounter a merge error and save an incomplete version of the file, which can result in missing worksheets.

To better understand what happened and check whether any recovery options are still available, could you please help confirm a few details?

• Was AutoSave turned on at the time, and were you working directly in the desktop app or in Excel on the web
• Was the file stored in personal OneDrive or OneDrive for work/school? Are you using a personal Microsoft account (@outlook.com/hotmail.com) or a work account (@company.com)?
• Do you recall whether Excel prompted you to update or restart while the file was still open?
• Has this file ever been opened or edited on another device or by another user around the same time?

In the meantime, here are some steps I recommend you try:

Step 1: Check Version History in OneDrive

To recover the file, the only supported method is to restore a version saved before the merge error occurred:

Please sign in to OneDrive on the web > Locate Working Spreadsheet.xlsx > Right‑click the file and select Version history > Look for a version dated prior to the update and restore it. For reference: Restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive

Step 2: Excel “Manage Workbook / Versions” (desktop)

Sometimes OneDrive shows fewer versions than Excel itself > Open Excel > File > Info > Look for Versions History > Check for a version with a timestamp before the merge error

Step 3: Temporary / AutoRecover files

Check File > Open > Recent > Recover Unsaved Workbooks > local AutoRecover folders or You can also check within Excel by opening the file and going to File > Info > Manage workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks

For more information, please refer to View previous versions of Office files + Restore a previous version of an Excel file + Restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive + Recover your Microsoft 365 files

Note: Please understand that as a forum moderator, my role is to provide general guidance and troubleshooting support. I don’t have access to internal systems or backend tools, and I appreciate your understanding of these limits.

I hope the information shared helps point you in the right direction. Please try the steps above and let me know if they work. If not, we can continue working together to narrow this down.

The first response may not always resolve the issue right away, but with your help and more details, we can work toward a solution.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I'm looking forward for your reply.

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Answer 2

The previous version is only recoverable if OneDrive/SharePoint actually created and retained a version from before the problem occurred. Recovery options are limited to what exists in Version History and the service recycle bins; if no suitable version exists there, recovery is not possible.

Try these steps in order:

1. Check Version History from Excel
   1. Open Working Spreadsheet.xlsx.
   2. At the top of the window, click the file name and then select Version history.
   3. In the Version History pane, review all listed dates and times and open each candidate version with Open version.
   4. If a version from before the update contains the missing sheets, click Restore to make that version the current file.
   On macOS: File > Browse Version History also opens the Version History pane. On Windows, Version History is accessed from the filename at the top of the window.
2. Check OneDrive Version History in File Explorer
   1. In Windows File Explorer, navigate to the OneDrive folder that contains Working Spreadsheet.xlsx.
   2. Right‑click Working Spreadsheet.xlsx and select Version history.
   3. In the list that appears, select the ellipsis (…) next to older versions and choose Restore if you find one with all sheets intact.
3. Check Version History in OneDrive/SharePoint (web) If Working Spreadsheet.xlsx is in a OneDrive or SharePoint library:
   1. Go to the document library in the browser.
   2. Locate Working Spreadsheet.xlsx, open its Version History.
   3. Open older versions and restore one that predates the issue.
4. If no suitable version exists Version History in Microsoft 365 only works for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, and it only lists versions that were actually saved or AutoSaved. If:
   • Version History shows no entries from the dates when the missing work was done, or
   • The only available versions already have the missing sheets,
   then there is no supported way to recover that specific earlier state. The service cannot generate versions that were never saved or that have been permanently removed by retention limits.

For future protection:

• Keep AutoSave on with files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint.
• Use File > Save a Copy before major edits if a separate backup is needed.
• Use Version History regularly to confirm that versions are being created.

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References:

• View previous versions of Office files
• What is AutoSave?
• Restore a previous version of an Excel file
• Restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive
• Recover your Microsoft 365 files