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How to Recover Unsaved Excel Files on Mac?

If you’re a Mac user who has ever experienced the sinking feeling of an unsaved Excel file, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac. We’ll cover the different methods to find a lost file, how to prevent data loss, and the best practices for saving your work. With the right steps and a little bit of luck, you can recover unsaved Excel files on Mac and get your work back in no time.

How to Recover Unsaved Excel Files on Mac?

Recovering Unsaved Excel Files on Mac

Excel is a powerful tool that is used for organizing and analyzing data. Unsaved Excel files can be a huge problem, especially if you’ve been working on them for a long time. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac. In this article, we will discuss the different methods to help you get your work back.

Using the Auto Save Feature

The first method to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac is to use the Auto Save feature. This feature automatically saves your work in the background every few minutes, so if you forget to save your work, the Auto Save feature will have a copy of the file for you. To enable the Auto Save feature, open your Excel document and go to the “File” menu. Then select “Options”, and then “Save”. Check the box next to “Save AutoRecover Information Every” and set the number of minutes you want the Auto Save feature to save your work.

Once the Auto Save feature is enabled, open the “Recover Unsaved Workbooks” dialog box. You can find it by opening the “File” menu and selecting “Recent”. Then select “Recover Unsaved Workbooks”. This will open a list of the workbooks that have been saved in the background by the Auto Save feature. Select the workbook you want to recover, and then click “Open”.

Using the Auto Recovery Folder

The second method to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac is to use the Auto Recovery folder. This folder is located in the “Documents” folder, and it contains backup copies of your Excel files. To access the Auto Recovery folder, open the “Finder” window and go to the “Documents” folder. Then open the “Microsoft User Data” folder, and then open the “AutoRecovery” folder.

Once you’re in the Auto Recovery folder, you’ll see a list of your Excel files. Select the file you want to recover, and then click “Open”. This will open the file in Excel, and you can save it as a new file.

Using a Mac File Recovery Program

The third method to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac is to use a Mac file recovery program. There are several programs available, such as Data Rescue and Disk Drill, that are designed to help you recover lost or deleted files.

To use a Mac file recovery program, download and install the program on your Mac. Then launch the program and select the drive or folder that contains your Excel files. The program will then begin scanning the drive or folder for any lost or deleted files. Once the scan is complete, you’ll be able to view a list of the files that have been found. Select the Excel file you want to recover, and then click “Recover”. The file will then be saved to your computer.

Using a Mac Time Machine Backup

The fourth method to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac is to use a Mac Time Machine backup. Time Machine is an automated backup system for Macs that allows you to backup your files and restore them if needed. If you’ve enabled Time Machine on your Mac, you can use it to recover unsaved Excel files.

To use Time Machine to recover unsaved Excel files, open the Time Machine app and select the “Restore” tab. Then select the date and time you want to restore from. This will open a Finder window showing the files that were backed up at the selected time. Select the Excel file you want to recover, and then click “Restore”. The file will then be restored to your Mac.

Using a Third-Party Recovery Tool

The fifth method to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac is to use a third-party recovery tool. There are several programs available, such as Disk Drill and Data Rescue, that are designed to help you recover lost or deleted data.

To use a third-party recovery tool, download and install the program on your Mac. Then launch the program and select the drive or folder that contains your Excel files. The program will then begin scanning the drive or folder for any lost or deleted files. Once the scan is complete, you’ll be able to view a list of the files that have been found. Select the Excel file you want to recover, and then click “Recover”. The file will then be saved to your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are the steps to recover an unsaved Excel file on Mac?

A1: To recover an unsaved Excel file on a Mac, you will need to open the application and then click the “File” tab in the upper left corner. Next, click the “Recent” tab and then click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.” This will open a window that will list any recoverable files. Select the file you want to recover and click “Open.” Once the file is open, it will have a “Recovered” label in the title bar. Finally, you can save the recovered file to a desired location.

Q2: How do I know if an Excel file can be recovered on Mac?

A2: To know if an Excel file is recoverable on a Mac, you need to open the application and click the “File” tab in the upper left corner. Next, click the “Recent” tab and then click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.” This will open a window that will list any recoverable files. If the file you are looking for is listed, then it can be recovered.

Q3: How often do Excel files autosave on Mac?

A3: By default, Excel files on Mac are set to autosave every 10 minutes. However, this setting can be modified to save the file more or less frequently. To change the autosave settings, open the “Preferences” in Excel and navigate to the “Save” tab. Then, you can adjust the frequency of the autosave.

Q4: Where are autosaved Excel files stored on Mac?

A4: Autosaved Excel files on Mac are stored in the “User/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery” folder. This folder is hidden and can be accessed by using the “Go to Folder” command in Finder.

Q5: How do I recover an Excel file from a Time Machine backup?

A5: To recover an Excel file from a Time Machine backup, you will need to open the Time Machine application and select the backup where the file was last saved. Then, navigate to the “Documents” folder and locate the Excel file. Select the file and click “Restore.” The file will be restored to its original location.

Q6: What should I do if I cannot find my unsaved Excel file on Mac?

A6: If you cannot find your unsaved Excel file on Mac, you may need to search for it using a third-party data recovery tool. These tools can scan your hard drive for any recoverable files, including Excel files. Once the scan is complete, you can select the file you want to recover and save it to a desired location.

In conclusion, recovering an unsaved Excel file on Mac is not as complicated as it may seem. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily recover any unsaved Excel file on your Mac. Don’t let the loss of a valuable Excel file cause unnecessary stress. With Mac’s data recovery features, you can easily find and recover any lost Excel file.