retrieving an accidental Excel file deleted

Question

I accidentally deleted an excel file, how do I get it back, What are thye keystrokes, I dont need a lecture on how stupid I am

Answer 1

Yes, the file was located in the "Recycle bin" (icon), I clicked on the file and it restored without incident.

Answer 2

Hi @Lindsay Allpress,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

If this was deleted by accident, there’s still a good chance you can get it back. The exact steps depend on where the file was stored.

Please try the option below that matches your situation:

1) If the Excel file was deleted from your PC

• Open Recycle Bin in your PC
• Look for the file
• Right-click it > Restore

2) If the file was stored in OneDrive

• Go to your OneDrive Recycle Bin
• Find the file
• Select Restore

Microsoft article: Restore deleted files or folders in OneDrive - Microsoft Support

3) If the file was in Teams or a SharePoint library

Deleted files are usually recoverable from the related SharePoint/ OneDrive recycle bin.

Microsoft article: Delete and recover files in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support

4) If the file was never saved and Excel just closed unexpectedly

Open Excel and check for recovered or unsaved files:

• Open Excel
• Go to File > Info
• Look for Manage Workbook / Recover Unsaved Workbooks

If the file was saved before and you need an earlier copy, you can also check Version History:

Microsoft article: Restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive - Microsoft Support

If you want, reply with where the file was originally stored (PC, OneDrive, Teams, or SharePoint), and I can point you to the fastest recovery path.