Microsoft Office files can get corrupted and damaged due to various software incompatibilities, power outages, viruses, disk errors, network connectivity problems, etc. No matter how carefully you manage and store your Microsoft Office files, there's no guarantee your files won't get lost or corrupted.
When your MS Office gets corrupted, you'll need a Microsoft recovery tool to get them back. Luckily, we've researched the best Office recovery software and created a list of top options.
In this article
How to Pick the Right Microsoft Recovery Tool
Even though all the Microsoft Office file recovery tools on our list are great options, it doesn't mean you can pick any. In other words, you need to assess your needs and understand what the tool excels at to make the right choice.
Here's a quick table that can help you understand how we reviewed and ranked these tools:
| Things to consider when picking right Microsoft Office recovery tools |
Important factors |
| Supported data loss scenario | Corrupted files, deleted files, accidentally deleted files, RAW drive; |
| Supported OS | Windows, Mac, Linux; |
| Supported recovery formats | Doc, CSV, PDF, PPT, PTTX, Dot, DOCM, DOTX, BMP, etc. |
| Office version compatibility | Office 365, Office 2019, Office 2016, etc. |
| Recovery capabilities | Level of corruption, data integrity, and preview capabilities. |
| Recovery performance | Resource usage and recovery speed. |
| Overall features | Batch recovery, automated backups, deep scanning, integrations, file preview, selecting specific files to recover, etc. |
Best Microsoft Office Recovery Tools
Wondershare Recoverit
Wondershare Recoverit is the company's flagship data recovery software for businesses and individuals. It combines a user-friendly design and ease of use with advanced data recovery features. It's a versatile tool that can recover all types of Word, Excel, PPT, and PDF files. Not only can it recover all office files, but it can also preview them.
The company has over 20+ years of developing data recovery technologies and algorithms. Their knowledge and experience have been invested in developing and upgrading the app. The advanced recovery feature lets you quickly locate and return all your files.
Recoverit has a proven 99.5% success rate in recovering files, and it's a completely secure platform with no risk of data breach or malware. Wondershare doesn't collect or share your personal data, and the software is updated regularly to ensure security and safety.
Key features:
- Basic recovery.
- Advanced file recovery.
- Can recover DOC, DOCX, RTF, DOT, DOTX, DOTM, ODT, OTT, WordML, XLS, XLSX, XLSB, XLT, XLTX, XLTM, XLSM, XML, CSV, TSV, PPT, PPTX, PPS, POT, PPSX, PPTM, PPSM, POTX, POTM, ODT, PDF, PDF/A, XPS, ASD, TMP, and XLSB.
- Can recover files from hard drives, SSD drives, external drives, RAW drives, partitions, USB drives, NAS drives, crashed computers, formatted drives, SD cards, memory cards, and cameras.
- Can preview DOC, DOCX, RTF, DOT, DOTX, DOTM, ODT, OTT, WordML, XLS, XLSX, XLSB, XLT, XLTX, XLTM, XLSM, XML, CSV, TSV, PPT, PPTX, PPS, POT, PPSX, PPTM, PPSM, POTX, POTM, PDF, PDF/A, XPS, EPUB, MPP, MPT, MPX, VSDX, VSX, VTX, VDX, VSSX, VSTX, VSDM, VSSM, VSTM, VDW, VSD, VSS, VST, TEX, CGM, XSLFO, XML, PCL, SVG, etc.]
- Can filter files based on their type.
- It has a search function to locate files.
- It lets you pause or stop scanning.
Pricing:
- Free trial.
- Essential Plan: $69.99 per year.
- Standard Plan: $79.99 per year.
- Premium: $89.99 per year.
User ratings:
- G2: 4.3/5 (56 ratings)
- Trustpilot: 3.7/5 (2,6K ratings)
- TrustRadius: 8/10 (5 ratings)
Supported OS:
TestDisk
If you're tech-savvy and like to use tools with a command-line interface, you should consider TestDisk. However, there are other things about TestDisk. Let's face it: command line tools are outdated, but in this case, TestDisk has proven itself time and time again to be an effective data recovery solution.
It's an open-source data recovery software that can be used on Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, to use TestDisk, you need to have a certain level of computer knowledge. In other words, casual users can't just install and use it immediately.
Key features:
- Recover files from NTFS, JFS, HFS, EXT2, EXT3, EXT4, FAT, and exFAT file systems.
- Can recover most Open Office and Microsoft Office files.
- Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ARM-based platforms.
- Supports multiple languages.
- Open-source solution.
- Recover RAW and unmounted disks.
- Can repair damaged storage devices.
Pricing:
- Free.
User ratings:
- G2: 4.3/5 (12 ratings)
- CNET: 4.6/5 (83 ratings)
- SourceForge: 5/5 (2 ratings)
Supported OS:
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
Cisdem Data Recovery
Cisdem Data Recovery software is easy to use and compatible with the latest macOS and Windows versions. It can save recovered Microsoft Office files directly in the cloud and recover lost or deleted files. While this software can restore many files, including MS Office files, it has no specific recovery features designed for MS Office.
It works effectively with a variety of internal and external storage devices. Cisdem Data Recovery is straightforward to uninstall and use, but Mac users must disable their System Integrity Protection, which isn't always safe. It allows users to preview files after and during the scan.
Key features:
- Works with all Mac and Windows devices.
- Has a preview feature.
- Recover most MS Office files.
- Recover deleted files from internal and external storage.
- Recover files from formatted drives.
- Recover RAW drives.
- Recover partitions.
- Cloud recovery.
Pricing:
- Monthly Plan: $59.95 per month.
- Annual Plan: $99.95 per year.
- Lifetime Plan: $149.95 one-time purchase.
User ratings:
- CNET: 4/5 (8 ratings)
- Trustpilot: 1.9/5 (35 ratings)
Supported OS:
- Windows
- Mac
Wise Data Recovery
Wise Data Recovery is a solid, free Microsoft Office file recovery tool that can get back your deleted files. However, you can't rely on this option if your storage drive is damaged or has any issues. The free version offers solid functionalities, but there are additional features when you upgrade to the paid version.
There are Windows and Mac versions, but they aren't compatible with the latest Mach chips. Regarding the free version, Wise Data Recovery has a 2 GB recovery limit, which might seem small, but it's more generous than other free options.
Key features:
- Can recover Word documents with ease.
- Has automatic updates.
- Works with DOC, DOCX, PDF, EPS, INDD, HTML, PPT, PTTX, XLS, and XLSX files.
- Can recover from EXT2, EXT3, HFS, HFSX, HFS+, NTFS, and FAT file systems.
- Has a quick scan and a deep scan.
Pricing:
- Free version.
- Yearly Plan for 1 PC: $39.97 per year.
- Yearly Plan for 3 PCs: $49.99 per year.
User ratings:
- CNET: 3.5/5 (12 ratings)
- G2: 4/5 (1 rating)
- Techjockey: 4.8/5 (1 rating)
Supported OS:
- Windows
- Mac
Magic Office Recovery
Magic Office Recovery is a file recovery tool specifically designed for MS Office files. It can recover spreadsheets, documents, and other types of Microsoft Office files. It works with Word, Excel, OpenOffice, and Adobe files. It has a low-level disk scan engine, a smooth user interface, and a document analysis engine.
It offers excellent performance for recovering MS Office files but can't be used for other types of files. In other words, this might be a good option if you're looking for recovery software specifically for MS Office and don't need to recover other types of files.
Key features:
- Recover deleted MS Office files, including Word, Excel, OpenOffice, and Adobe.
- Supports Microsoft Office files from Office 6 to 2019.
- Recovers from damaged partitions and formatted drives.
- It works with internal hard disks, USB drives, memory cards, SSD drives, etc.
- Displays recoverable documents as thumbnails.
- Full-size preview.
Pricing:
- Home Edition: $22.95 one-time payment.
- Office Edition: $78.95 one-time payment.
- Commercial Edition: $118.95 one-time payment.
User ratings:
- Softpedia: 2.5/5 (4 ratings)
- Software Informer: 4/5 (1 rating)
- Download.it: 1.5/5 (3 ratings)
Supported OS:
- Windows
Tips for Office File Recovery
Here are some general tips to follow before using Microsoft Office file recovery tools:
- Check if the files are in the recycle bin.
- Avoid using storage media if it is damaged or corrupted.
- Look for any backup copies.
- Restore files using the previous version feature.
- Try recovering unsaved documents using MS Office tools.
- Update your software.
- Search for the files on your storage drive.
Conclusion
These are the best Office recovery tools you should consider. Take the time to try them out and evaluate your Office file recovery needs. All these options are great, but you should consider other factors like frequency of use, pricing, advanced recovery features, integrations, and other functionalities that might be useful.
We believe Wondershare Recoverit is the best choice because it combines performance, flexibility, and ease of use for various recovery applications.
FAQ
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What is Office recovery software?
Office recovery software is a data recovery tool that can successfully recover deleted, lost, or corrupted MS Office files. -
What is the best Office recovery tool?
Wondershare Recoverit is the best Office recovery tool because it can successfully recover files from various media and data loss scenarios. It supports all MS Office file types and allows you to preview them. -
Is office file recovery possible without a recovery tool?
Yes, you can recover Microsoft Office files using its native software. If backup and autosave are enabled, you can recover your files without a recovery tool.
