AutoRecover In Excel

AutoRecover In Excel is a feature that saves unsaved files when the system shuts down abnormally or when it is not responding, and we close it forcefully. It is a very useful feature of Excel to avoid losing important data. The files are saved at certain intervals the user can define.

Excel AutoRecover automatically recovers the last saved and opens the file with two options.

• The first is if we want to keep the changes that the files have.
• The second is that it can discard them if we have already saved the data.

For example, suppose an instant digital disaster strikes, and the program that contains important information closes unexpectedly. Microsoft Excel addresses the problem through an AutoRecover feature that allows Excel to capture the snapshots of your workbook while you work. These work-related snapshots contain workbook data and status, making it possible for Excel to reopen your workbook later after a crash takes place, as shown in the image below.

In the above image, we can see that the unsaved file that automatically closed is found in the “Document Recovery” window for us to use it once again.

• AutoRecover In Excel helps users recover a previously saved version of any document if the system hangs or/and closes abruptly.
• With this feature and a backup option, we can protect our system from losing important data, and the original file is secured. As a result, the current saved information will be saved in the original workbook, and the previously saved information will be found in the backup copy.
• Excel provides useful features like Auto Save and Auto Recover to restore and recover unsaved files.

In Excel, we have two important features. One is “Autosave”, and the other is “Auto Recovery”.

• AutoSave in Excel: The AutoSave in Excel option automatically saves the file or workbook. It keeps every specific minute according to the settings we make.
• Auto Recovery: It is slightly different than the previous one. Unlike autosave, we cannot save anything. Instead, retrieves the unsaved data if closed due to a sudden computer crash, power loss, Excel not responding, etc.

There is a condition to Auto Recovery in Excel. It only recovers saved files only. One should save the workbook at least once in the system or computer. If we have a saved and crashed file, when you open the new or existing workbook, it will show you the  Document Recovery Pane in Excel on the left-hand side of the newly opened Excel sheet. It will list out all the crashed Excel workbooks, as shown below.

You can select which one to recover and which ones to ignore by clicking on that workbook.

• Save the file in this format: We need to choose the file format here. But, again, we have a wide variety of file-saving options.
• Save every AutoRecover information: We must set the Auto Recover time interval in Excel. By default, Excel will take 10 minutes. We have put this to 1 minute. So, every minute, the Excel file will be auto-saved.
• Keep the last AutoRecover: This is to create a backup file if it is closed without saving it.

By default, these options are enabled based on the duration length. In addition, it will automatically save the workbooks.

Suppose you have worked on a file for some time and forgot to save it in the first go, but closed down the workbook by accident. Do not worry. We can recover unsaved workbooks in Excel.

The below steps to recover unsaved workbooks are as follows:

• Step 1: First, we must click the “File” tab.

• Step 2: Next, we must select the “Open” option. Under this, choose “Recent Workbooks.”

• Step 3: We could see all the recently opened workbooks’ names on the right-hand side. We could see about 25 to 30 recently opened workbooks in chronological order.

• Step 4: We will scroll down and select “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.”

• Step 5: Now, we can see the unsaved workbook lists. We will select the required workbook.

• Step 6: When we click on the file, it will show the prompt as “Recovered Unsaved File” just above the formula bar. Then we will click the “Save As” option to save it.

Assume that you are working from 5.00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. And you realized that you had made some mistakes in the report. However, you are not aware of where the real error is. In these cases, if the Excel Auto Recovery is at every 1 minute, this will help us.

The steps to recover older versions of the Excel workbook are as follows:

• Step 1: First, we will open the workbook we wish to recover. Then, go to “File”. Under this, we will go to “Info”.

• Step 2: Under “Info,” we could see “Manage Versions.” We would see all the recent auto-saved versions with time next to it.

Assume you have worked for 2 minutes in Excel but forgot to save it and closed the workbook. Then, instead of redoing or reworking, we can also recover that.

• Step 1: Open the unsaved workbook. Then, we will go to “File.” Under this, we will go to “Info.”

• Step 2: Under “Info,” we can see “Manage Versions.” Under this, we can see the last version with special remarks called (when you closed without saving).

Note: Assume Excel Auto Recovery is 4 minutes. You started working at 4:00 p.m. and closed the workbook at 4:07 p.m. without saving it. By this time, Auto Recovery would have happened at 4:04 p.m. So, if you are closing the workbook at 4:07 p.m., you will get the information or data only till 4:04 p.m., which is the latest Auto Recovery time. So, you will not get the data post 4:04 p.m. till 4:07 p.m.

• Give less time duration to get more versions of backup.
• In the case of large data, it will take some time to recover information every 1 minute.
• Manage a 5-minutes time interval for Auto Recovery for large workbooks. For small workbooks, maintain 1 minute.

This article has been a guide to AutoRecover in Excel. Here we enable AutoRecover, recover unsaved files, older versions, examples and a downloadable Excel template. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles: -

• Excel Data Match
• Share an Excel Workbook
• How to Track Changes in Excel?
• Format Painter Excel