Microsoft Office Unsaved File Recovery Checklist

Word, Excel or PowerPoint closed before you saved? Use this checklist before recreating the work or deleting temporary recovery information.

Step 1 — Reopen

• □ Reopen the same Office application
• □ Look for the Document Recovery pane on the left
• □ Do not immediately close or dismiss the recovery panel
• □ Check every version listed

Step 2 — Identify

• □ Review filenames in the recovery pane
• □ Review the dates and times shown for each version
• □ Open the most recent likely copy
• □ Compare other recovered versions before discarding them

Step 3 — Save

• □ Select Save As immediately
• □ Use a clear, identifiable filename
• □ Choose an approved location (OneDrive, SharePoint or a confirmed business folder)
• □ Confirm the file has saved successfully

Step 4 — Verify

• □ Check that the required content is present
• □ Check formatting
• □ Check formulas and calculation results (Excel)
• □ Check images, embedded media and links
• □ Check recent edits and any content added since the last manual save

Step 5 — Manual Recovery

• □ If no recovery pane appeared, open Recover Unsaved Documents, Workbooks or Presentations (File → Info → Manage Document or Manage Workbook)
• □ Check the configured AutoRecover file location in the application settings
• □ Confirm you are on the correct device and signed into the correct user profile
• □ Preserve any likely recovery files until the required content is safely saved

Step 6 — Cloud Recovery

• □ Check whether the file was stored in OneDrive or SharePoint
• □ Check AutoSave status and whether continuous saving was active
• □ Review version history where a saved cloud version existed
• □ Review recycle-bin options where the file itself is missing

Step 7 — Escalate

• □ Seek technical assistance before resetting the device or rebuilding the profile
• □ Do not delete temporary folders or recovery data
• □ Do not remove the user profile
• □ Record the affected filename, location and what recovery steps were taken

Step 8 — Prevent

• □ Confirm AutoRecover is enabled (File → Options → Save on Windows)
• □ Review the AutoRecover interval and consider 5 or 10 minutes for ordinary documents
• □ Save new files early with a meaningful name before significant work is done
• □ Store business files in approved OneDrive or SharePoint locations
• □ Confirm version history is available for cloud-stored files
• □ Confirm backup is in place and has been tested

Last checked: 30 July 2026. Covers Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows and macOS. Settings and menu wording vary by version.