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Excel Temp Files: How to Recover Unsaved Spreadsheets from Excel Temporary Files

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Jan 27, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

Nowadays, it is a common problem to lost data accidentally due to several reasons. But what if you had been working on an important Workbook and the system crashes? MS Excel has an AutoRecovery option which recovers the files by default. However, there are other effective methods that we have compiled to recover the unsaved Excel files, with a bonus tip. 

Part 1. Issues Responsible for MS Excel Content Loss

MS Excel is a powerful tool used by many professionals, including marketing managers, business analysts, and teachers. It lets you organize and interpret more precisely. But sometimes, there occur certain situations when you can't access your Excel file that has a lot of your crucial data. 

Moreover, Excel is highly vulnerable and gets corrupted easily, which results in the loss of entire data. It is highly unpredictable that tends to crash, especially when you are on the verge of your work. Besides this, many other issues are responsible for Excel content loss. Here are a few of them.

Power Failure

If you are using a desktop without any UPS supply, then you will be more likely to lose data. A sudden power failure in the middle of work can cause content loss when you start the Windows next time.

System Crash

Another common issue is the system crash when you are about to complete your work on Excel. All of your unsaved work will be lost. 

Excel Files Corruption

Having a failed hard disk or bad sectors where Excel files are stored will have high chances of files corruption. 

Human errors

Human errors such as not saving work, merging cells with data in them, or saving workbooks in the wrong format can lead you towards data deletion.

Part 2. What is the Excel Temp Files Location in Windows?

What if your Excel file crashes, or you forget to save it before leaving? Not a big deal, as this part explains where does, Excel saves temp files

First of all, you need to know what kind of file is this. A sudden loss of Excel may lead to a serious problem. So in all such cases, temporary files are very useful. There is always a destination folder present where the Excel file is reserved. As soon as the file is saved in the folder, a temporary file is created. 

On installing the MS Office package on your computer, by default, it will save the temporary files of your work. All you need to turn on the AutoRecover feature in the Excel app. Access the most recent Excel temp files in the AutoRecover menu. 

However, you can also manually access the temp files if this does not appear. The temporary save folder has a different version for each Windows, which is:

Windows 10: C:\Users\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles

Windows 8/7/Vista: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles

The AutoSave feature works every 10 minutes and updates or creates the temp Excel feature. It is a convenient tool that has the best part to customize the time too. You can set it to 5 minutes or even less. 

Part 3. Recovering Unsaved Excel Temp Files

Using the AutoRecover feature to recover the Excel files in Office 2010 or higher has become a much easier task. Following are two methods to recover unsaved Excel files.

Method 1: Using Manage Workbooks

The recovery of the lost content can also be possible from Excel temp files. However, the user can also utilize the manage workbooks option, which is really helpful and easily available in the latest versions of Excel.

Step 1: Open MS Excel, click 'File' then, go for 'Info' and 'Manage Workbook' options.

Step 2: From the drop-down menu, click 'Recover Unsaved Workbooks. '

tap on recover unsaved workbooks

Step 3: Choose the unsaved file and click the 'Open' option. Then click 'Save As' on the pop-up window to recover the unsaved Excel temp file.

open your temp file

Method 2: Using Recover Unsaved Workbooks Feature

MS Office 2010 or higher version offers an additional built-in feature to the product, named Recover Unsaved Workbooks. You can use this feature by following the below steps.

Step 1: From the upper left corner, click on the 'File' tab.

Step 2: Select 'Recent' from the bottom left corner. Then you will see the 'Recover Unsaved Workbooks' option; click it to proceed with the process.

access your temp files

Step 3: Choose and open an unsaved Excel file, then click the 'Save As' option for the recovery. 

import your temp files in excel

Following the above two methods will surely generate the best and advanced outcomes. 

Bonus Tip: Recover Lost Data from Fast and Secure Data Recovery Software

Nowadays, losing data is a common issue that happened to all of us. Power loss, system crashes, or human errors are the main reasons for data loss. This part will guide you on how you can recover the data using Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery software.

This software helps to recover data from various storage devices, including a hard drive, recycle bin, or a crashed computer. It offers dedicated features to bring your crucial data and files back. In addition, the tool is 100% secure with a virus-free guarantee, which is an ideal tool for recovering data. 

Wondershare Recoverit will back up your data and large files within no time. It has a simple and interactive interface with high recovery rates among all the tools. Besides its data recovery facility, the user can also scan hard drives, memory cards, and camcorders. It has 3 pricing plans with different price ranges, depending on the features available in them. 

Features of Wondershare Recoverit 

Recoverit is an ultimate expert that provides assistance to recover the lost or deleted data with advanced features. Below are some of the prominent features of Wondershare Recoverit. 

If you are wondering how to recover the data from Windows using Recoverit, then here is a step-by-step guide that you need to follow.

Step 1: Choose Data Loss Location

Firstly, you need to launch the software on your computer. Then select a location where you have lost data. From the main interface of the tool, select any of the hard disk, drive, or desktop from the given locations. Now click the 'Start' option.

select the location

Step 2: Begin the Scanning Process

This step involves the scanning of the files, which takes few minutes. Some files may take few hours, depending on the file size. Here all of your files appear in a list with the name, size, and date created. 

scanning your selected location

Step 3: Preview and Recover data files

Once Recoverit has finished the scanning process, the users can preview the recoverable files. On the left side, mark the files that you wish to recover. Then click the 'Recover' option to retrieve the files back. 

recover your data

To avoid overwriting the files, it is important to choose a different location other than the location of the retrieved files to save the recovered files. 

Conclusion

The above discussion has ended on the Excel temporary files recovery. It has explained two methods through which you can recover your Excel files that contain crucial data. Also, we have given a bonus tip which is a Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery software. It allows its users to recover data from a variety of devices. With its advanced and handy features, this software is recommended to all.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What is the location where temporary files are stored?

Usually, the path of the Temp folder will be C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp where temp files are present. 

Alternatively, you can press 'Windows + R' keys. A Run window will be launched, where you need to input '%Temp%.' By following this, a complete path of the actual folder will be displayed, from where you can locate unsaved Word or Excel files. 

  1. What is the issue if TMP files are appearing after saving Excel files?

If the TMP files are appearing after saving Excel files, then you need to look over Excel safe mode. Press the ' Windows Key + R, ' type the "excel /safe," and Click 'OK.' Your Excel will be opened in safe mode. To check if the temp file is still there, open and save an Excel sheet. 

  1. I find my Excel temp file location but cannot open the file. Then how can I view the Excel temp file?

The temp Excel file that you can use in order to recover an Excel file before you save it for some cases. You are unable to open the temp files directly as this works only if your Excel file is opened, which is closed irregularly.

Recoverit author

Theo Lucia

chief Editor

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