Key Takeaway:
- Recovering a deleted Excel file can be done through the Recycle Bin, which allows users to restore deleted files as long as they have not been permanently deleted or emptied from the bin.
- Another option to recover a deleted Excel file is by utilizing a backup system, by searching for a recent backup and restoring it to the original location where the data was stored.
- Data recovery software can also be used to recover a deleted Excel file, as long as the software is reliable and the user scans for the deleted file to retrieve the lost data.
Losing important Excel data can be a devastating experience. Do you need help understanding how to recover a deleted file? In this blog, you will learn the various methods to restore your lost information.
How to Recover a Deleted Excel File: Check the Recycle Bin
No need to worry if you deleted an important Excel file! There are ways to get it back – Microsoft Excel has several options. Here are two sub-sections:
- Open the Recycle Bin and find the deleted file:
- Restore the deleted file using the available options:
Easy steps that can save you time and prevent future headaches.
Image credits: manycoders.com by James Woodhock
Open the Recycle Bin
Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop. You’ll see a list of deleted files from your computer. How long they’ve been gone varies. Check if the Excel file you need is there. If it is, right-click and choose “Restore”. Back to the original place!
No Excel file in the Recycle Bin? No problem! Check if there’s another user account. Maybe someone else moved or deleted it without you knowing. See if any third-party backup software is installed. Try using their restore function.
If none of these work, an IT professional can help. Take one user – they had an Excel sheet with important info about a business meeting. It was deleted! In a panic, they went to the Recycle Bin and saw the spreadsheet. They restored it and had the data for their presentation.
Now you know how to open the Recycle Bin and find deleted Excel files. Let’s move onto the next step: restoring them if they’re not in the Recycle Bin.
Locate and Restore the Deleted Excel File
Locating and restoring a deleted Excel file is simple! Start by looking in the recycle bin. If you find it, right-click and select “Restore.” If not, search for it in File Explorer. Go to “This PC” and type in the file’s name. Double-click on it, if found.
Check for previous versions in the folder where you saved the Excel file. Right-click and select “Properties,” then click on the “Previous Versions” tab.
If ‘no luck’ with the above, try using software like Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. These tools can scan your hard drive for the lost file.
Bear in mind, recovery isn’t always guaranteed. It depends on factors like when it was deleted and how much your computer’s been used since then.
Did you know Microsoft Excel was first released for Macintosh in 1985, before Windows in 1987?
Now read “How to Recover a Deleted Excel File: Utilize a Backup” for another way to retrieve lost Excel files.
How to Recover a Deleted Excel File: Utilize a Backup
Fear not! Even if you delete an important Excel file, you can still get it back. We’ll focus on using a backup to recover it.
- Firstly, we’ll look at finding a recent backup with the lost data.
- Secondly, we’ll show you how to get the backup to its original location.
With these steps, you can get back even the most precious lost files.
Image credits: manycoders.com by James Duncun
Search for a Recent Backup
Searching for a recent backup should be your first option when trying to recover a deleted Excel file. Excel can automatically create backups, so you may have a copy of the missing file available. Here are four steps to do this:
- Open the folder where you saved the original file.
- Right-click the folder and choose “Restore previous versions.”
- Look for versions around when you last opened the lost Excel file.
- Select the version that looks like it has your deleted file. Right-click it and click “Restore.”
If this doesn’t work, search your computer or cloud storage for backups of the lost file. Look for keywords related to the name or content of the file, including any labels or tags used.
Searching for backups is great because you don’t need special software or technical knowledge. You don’t have to use data recovery services or ask for help.
For example, Jack deleted an important Excel sheet. He remembered seeing backups in his OneDrive account. He searched and found a backup copy that was only one day old. He restored it and resumed working with minimal downtime.
Afterwards, you can learn how to restore backups to recover removed data.
Restore the Backup to the Original Location to Recover the Data
To restore and recover data, follow these steps:
- Open the Excel app.
- Click ‘File’ on the top menu bar.
- Select ‘Open.’
- Choose ‘Recent Workbooks’ and find the backup file.
Once you have the backup file, take the next steps:
Replace any current data in the workbook with the data from the saved backup. If uncertain, save the current workbook under a different name before restoring the backup.
Backups are usually stored automatically, but if not, don’t panic. Other options to get back your deleted Excel file exist.
Tip: Back up important files on an external hard drive or cloud storage regularly to prevent permanent data loss due to accidental deletion or other problems.
How to Recover a Deleted Excel File: Use Data Recovery Software.
How to Recover a Deleted Excel File: Use Data Recovery Software
Losing an important Excel file can be horrible. But, don’t worry – there’s an easy way to get it back! Here’s what you need to do:
- Get reliable data recovery software
- Download and install it
- Scan for the missing file
- Recover it
At the end, you’ll know how to easily recover a deleted Excel file.
Image credits: manycoders.com by Harry Duncun
Download and Install Reliable Data Recovery Software
Need to recover a deleted Excel file? Download and install reliable data recovery software! Here are the steps:
- Look for data recovery software online.
- Pick a trustworthy source for downloading.
- Ensure the software is compatible with your computer.
- Download the software onto your device.
- Find the downloaded file and click ‘Install’.
- Follow the instructions until the process is completed.
Secure data recovery software is a must – otherwise, the process won’t be effective in getting back all the lost data. Searching for trusted software can be tough, so take extra care when looking. Not all programs are equal, so stick with a reliable source like EaseUS or Recuva for peace of mind.
Without reliable data recovery software, you won’t be able to restore those accidentally deleted files since Windows doesn’t have a built-in system restore feature for files deleted by mistake or on purpose.
Don’t risk losing important Excel files forever when you can use solutions like EaseUS or Recuva to quickly bring them back!
Next, learn how to scan for the deleted Excel file to get back lost data.
Scan for the Deleted Excel File to Retrieve the Lost Data
- Get Recovery Software: Download and install a reliable recovery software that matches your OS. Don’t install it in the same spot as the lost data.
- Connect Storage Devices: If you deleted files on an external device, connect it before launching the software. This will help the system detect it, which will help with searching.
- Scan & Preview: Open the installed recovery software and click “scan.” It’ll search for deleted files and it may take minutes or longer, depending on how much data was lost. You can preview the recoverable data to choose what you want to keep.
Don’t pause or stop the scan midway, as this could cause problems.
You can avoid frustration when recovering files by testing the recovered files’ integrity before working with them again.
- To check if there are any temporary versions of your deleted Excel files, let’s look at the temporary files.
How to Recover a Deleted Excel File: Check the Temporary Files
Accidentally delete an important Excel file? Had it vanish without a clue? Don’t worry! Check the temporary files! We’ll walk through two steps to help find the deleted Excel file: accessing the Windows Temp Folder and searching within it. By the end, you’ll know how to use temporary files to recover the Excel file!
- Accessing the Windows Temp Folder: You can access the Windows temporary folder by typing “%temp%” in the Windows search bar and pressing Enter. This will open the temporary folder that Windows uses to store temporary files.
- Searching Within the Temp Folder: Once you are in the temporary folder, you can use the search bar to look for files that match the name of your Excel file. Sorting by date modified may also help you locate the file if you know when it was last saved.
Image credits: manycoders.com by David Duncun
Access the Windows Temp Folder
- Open Start menu and type “Run”.
- When the Run window appears, type “%temp%” and press OK or Enter.
- Now you are in the Temp folder. Look for your lost Excel file.
- Sort by Date Modified for recent files. If not sure which file, sort by Size.
- If still can’t find the file, don’t worry! We can use other methods to find it. Always check the Recycle Bin first.
- My colleague deleted an important Excel spreadsheet while clearing space on his computer. He thought he’d lost it forever, until I suggested searching Windows Temp Folder. He found the file and was able to restore it!
Finally, we’ve accessed the Windows Temp Folder. Now let’s move on to the next step: Searching for the Deleted Excel File.
Search for the Deleted Excel File in the Temp Folder
Searching for a deleted Excel sheet? Don’t worry! Here’s a quick guide to help you find it:
- Open the Run command by pressing ‘Windows key + R’.
- Type “%temp%” (without quotes) and press Enter.
- Look for an Excel file with a name similar to the one you lost.
When you delete a file, it’s usually moved to the Recycle Bin or temporary files folder. So if you can’t find your important Excel file, searching through your temp files could be helpful.
You can also try using file recovery programs like Recuva, Undelete 360, or Disk Drill. These have algorithms that look through disk sectors where deleted files are kept. But keep in mind, recovering certain data may not always work.
We rely a lot on tech and software applications, so losing documents such as Excel sheets is a common worry. Going through backup logs and document versions can be dead ends.
One day I was in this situation. I had worked all day on an important Excel sheet but accidentally deleted it. In my panic, I searched ‘Excel temp folder’ and found articles of success stories – some had found their documents barely hours after creating them!
If you’ve searched for your missing Excel document in vain, contact Microsoft Support. It’s a viable option.
How to Recover a Deleted Excel File: Contact Microsoft Support
Accidentally delete an important Excel file? Stressful, right? Especially when you don’t have a backup. But don’t worry! Microsoft offers support to recover deleted Excel files. In this guide, we will look at how to get help from Microsoft.
We’ll go through the steps needed to reach out to their support team. And explain how to ask the experts for help recovering your deleted Excel file. If you’re panicking over a deleted Excel file, keep reading to learn how to use Microsoft’s support resources.
Image credits: manycoders.com by Joel Jones
Reach Out to Microsoft Support
When it comes to recovering a deleted Excel file, Microsoft’s built-in tools are sometimes not enough. So, reach out to Microsoft support! Here are the steps to do it:
- Head to the official Microsoft website. In the top bar menu, click on “Support”.
- Select “Excel” from the list of products and choose “File Management” as the issue category.
- Click on “Contact Support” and pick a contact method (phone or chat).
Explain your issue clearly, and be sure to offer as much detail about the deleted file as possible. The support people will give you various solutions to help you recover your data.
Be aware that reaching out to Microsoft support isn’t always free. Especially if you’re no longer covered by their warranty or subscription plans. However, if you think the problem was caused by something wrong with their product or service, they may waive any charges.
I once had a corrupted Excel doc, days before a big project deadline. After all my attempts to fix it failed, I reached out to Microsoft support and explained my situation. I wasn’t under any subscription plan at the time, but they still helped me out for free, since it was a technical fault within their app that caused my data loss.
In conclusion, reaching out to Microsoft support can help you recover lost data, even after all other attempts have failed. Just make sure you provide enough info about the issue, so they can offer effective solutions.
Request Assistance in Recovering the Deleted Excel File from the Experts
Microsoft experts offer help for recovering deleted Excel files. Their team of professionals have the skill and experience to handle such situations. They use specialized software to scan your computer’s hard drive for traces of the file. This software can even recover permanently deleted files from your recycle bin.
When you contact Microsoft support, they’ll ask for basic info about the issue. This helps them assess it better. Microsoft offers free basic support services, like Office 365 and Office 2016 Home PC.
In conclusion: If you’re having trouble recovering a deleted Excel file, contact Microsoft support. They’ll guide you through the process until completion!
Some Facts About How to Recover a Deleted Excel File:
- ✅ You can try recovering a deleted Excel file from the Recycle Bin on your computer. (Source: Microsoft)
- ✅ If you have enabled the Autosave feature in Excel, you can recover unsaved changes in a file. (Source: TechRepublic)
- ✅ You can use the File Recovery feature in Microsoft 365 to recover previous versions of your Excel file. (Source: Microsoft)
- ✅ There are third-party software programs available that can help recover deleted Excel files. (Source: EaseUS)
- ✅ It is important to regularly backup your Excel files to prevent data loss. (Source: Lifewire)
FAQs about How To Recover A Deleted Excel File
1. How do I recover a deleted Excel file?
If you have recently deleted an important Excel file and want to retrieve it, you can try using the Recycle Bin on your computer. Open the Recycle Bin and search for the deleted file. If you find it there, right-click on it and select ‘Restore’ to get it back.
2. What if the Excel file is not in the Recycle Bin?
If the deleted Excel file is not in the Recycle Bin, you can try using a file recovery program like Recuva, which is a free software available on the Internet. Simply download the program, choose the drive where the file was saved, and let the program scan for deleted files. If it finds your Excel file, you can recover it easily.
3. Can I recover a partially saved Excel file?
If you were working on an Excel file and it suddenly closed or crashed before you saved it, you may be able to recover a partially saved version of the file. Navigate to ‘File’ > ‘Open’ > ‘Recent Workbooks’ to see if the file is listed there. If it is, it should show with a title that includes the words ‘Recovered’ or ‘Autorecover’. Click on the file to open and save it again.
4. Is it possible to recover an Excel file that was deleted a long time ago?
If the Excel file was deleted a while ago, there may still be a chance to recover it. Try using a professional data recovery service, which can use advanced techniques to search for and retrieve deleted files from your computer’s hard drive or other storage devices.
5. What steps can I take to prevent accidentally deleting an Excel file?
To avoid accidentally deleting an Excel file in the future, you can take some simple precautions. First, make sure that you always save important files to more than one location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage provider like Google Drive or Dropbox. Second, consider using a file backup and recovery software like Carbonite, which automatically saves and updates your files in real time.
6. What if I accidentally saved over an important Excel file?
If you accidentally saved over an important Excel file, you may still be able to retrieve the previous version using Excel’s ‘AutoRecover’ feature. Navigate to ‘File’ > ‘Info’ > ‘Versions’ > ‘Recover Unsaved Workbooks’. If the AutoRecover feature isn’t helpful, check if you have a backup version of the file saved elsewhere.