Recover a File with the Recover Unsaved Documents Button

Here’s the fastest way: Open up Word — or any other Office program — then click on the “Open” tab. Click the “Recover Unused Documents” button near the bottom right of the Window.

Then all you need to do is select the unsaved file you want.

Recover a File with the Manage Document Button

You can also use the Manage Document button. Start by opening whatever Office application you were working in where your file didn’t get saved. Click the File menu.

Click “Info” in the File menu.

Note: You might have to hit “New” or “Open” to make the “Info” button clickable.

On the Info page, click “Manage Document” and then, from the drop-down menu, choose “Recover Unsaved Documents.” Note also that you have an option for deleting all unsaved documents should you want to do that.

The UnsavedFiles folder contains all unsaved files Office has created temporary backups for. Select the file you need and then click Open.

Office applications automatically save temporary backups of files at periodic intervals (every 10 minutes, by default), so your file should contain most of the work you lost.