How to Recover Unsaved Word Data on a Windows PC: A Comprehensive Guide

Recovering unsaved Word data can be a common yet frustrating experience. Fortunately, Microsoft has made it easier for users to recover their lost documents. In this guide, we will discuss the steps to recover unsaved Word documents on a Windows PC, and also mention alternative methods if the built-in recovery options fail to work.

Method 1: Microsoft Word Built-in Recovery Options

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word and click the File tab in the upper left corner.
Step 2: Click Info and then choose Manage Document from the drop-down list.
Step 3: Select Recover Unsaved Documents.
Step 4: Check for your missing file in the dialog box. If it was a recent loss, it should appear here.
Step 5: Open the recovered Word document and click the Save As button in the top banner to save it.

Method 2: Navigate to AutoSave Folder

Step 1: Open a blank Microsoft Word document and click the File tab.
Step 2: Click the Options link at the bottom and choose the Save option from the left.
Step 3: Look for a file path to see where your autosaved documents go. In this example, it appears here: C:usersBryanAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWord.
Step 4: Open File Explorer and paste in the copied file path. Hit enter to navigate to it.
Step 5: Here you will see the last save of the document you were working on, which starts with the name “RESUME”. Click it to open the file.
Step 6: Right-click the ASD File and select Open with.
Step 7: Choose Word and click Ok.

Alternative Recovery Method

If you find that the above methods do not work, there is an alternative solution: using a third-party data recovery tool. One such tool is Recoverit, which can efficiently recover lost or deleted Word documents. However, it's important to ensure that you have followed all the steps correctly, as this can significantly improve the chances of recovery.

Note: Always follow the steps carefully to increase the likelihood of successful recovery.

For more detailed guidance on this issue, you can refer to the following video:

By following these methods, you can recover lost or unsaved documents with relative ease. Regularly saving your work or using auto-save features can prevent substantial data loss in the future.