Quick Answers
If you accidentally deleted an important Excel file that had been previously saved, don’t panic! There are several methods you can try to recover the deleted file:
- Check the Recycle Bin – Recently deleted files often get sent to the Recycle Bin, so this should be your first stop.
- Use AutoRecover – If you had AutoRecover enabled in Excel, you may be able to restore a previous version of the file.
- Try file recovery software – Specialized software like Disk Drill can scan your hard drive and recover deleted files.
- Restore from a backup – If you routinely back up your files, you may be able to restore the Excel file from a recent backup.
Check the Recycle Bin for Your Deleted Excel File
When you delete a file in Windows, it often gets sent to the Recycle Bin instead of being permanently erased. Unless you regularly empty out the Recycle Bin, there’s a good chance your missing Excel file is still in there.
To check the Recycle Bin in Windows 10 or 11:
- Open the Recycle Bin – Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, or open it from the Start menu.
- Look for your file – Scroll through the contents of the Recycle Bin to see if your Excel file is there.
- Restore the file – Right click on the file and select Restore.
This will restore the Excel file to the original location it was deleted from. If you can’t find your file in the Recycle Bin, don’t worry yet – there are still more options to try.
Use Excel’s AutoRecover Files
If you had AutoRecover enabled in Excel before deleting your file, you may be able to retrieve a previous auto-saved version.
Excel’s AutoRecover feature periodically saves versions of a file you have open in the background. When Excel crashes or a file is closed without saving, you can try to restore the most recently auto-saved version.
To restore an Excel file from AutoRecover:
- Open Excel and go to File > Options > Save.
- Under “Save workbooks”, select “Restore unsaved workbooks on startup” and “Save AutoRecover info every: X minutes”.
- Click OK to enable AutoRecover.
- Close and re-open Excel. Go to File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
- Select your missing file. Click Open to restore the last auto-saved version.
Depending on your AutoRecover settings, you may get back the entire unsaved file, or just your most recent changes. But AutoRecover can often salvage at least part of accidentally deleted workbooks.
Use File Recovery Software
If your missing Excel file isn’t in the Recycle Bin or available via AutoRecover, don’t give up yet. Specialized file recovery software can scan your hard drive and often find deleted files.
File recovery programs like Disk Drill work by scanning your entire hard drive sector-by-sector, looking for traces of files that have been deleted. Even if you emptied the Recycle Bin, the actual file contents often still exist on your drive until they get overwritten with new data.
File recovery software can help rescue these deleted files before they get permanently overwritten. Follow these general steps:
- Download and install a file recovery program like Disk Drill.
- Scan your hard drive for all recoverable deleted files.
- Preview and select the Excel files you want to recover.
- Save the recovered files to another location.
Advanced file recovery software like Disk Drill offer several powerful recovery tools:
| Recovery Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Quick Scan | Fast initial scan to find recently deleted files. |
| Deep Scan | More thorough scan for older deleted files. |
| Lost Partition Recovery | Recovers files after partition loss or boot problems. |
The Deep Scan and Lost Partition Recovery features can help rescue files even if they were deleted a while ago or your drive is corrupted. But file recovery does have limitations – overwritten files may be unrecoverable.
Restore From a Backup
One of the most reliable ways to recover lost or deleted files is to restore them from a backup. If you regularly back up important files, you can retrieve missing files from your most recent backup.
Here are some common ways to back up files that can help you restore a deleted Excel workbook:
- File History – Windows’ built-in File History tool backs up files to an external drive.
- Cloud storage – Services like Dropbox or Google Drive provide off-site backups.
- External drive – Manually backing up files to an external USB drive or network storage.
- Backup software – Programs like Apple Time Machine create automatic file backups.
To restore a deleted file from a backup:
- Connect or open your backup source (external drive, cloud storage, etc).
- Navigate to the storage location that contains your backup files.
- Find the deleted Excel file in your backup files.
- Copy the file back to your local hard drive.
Backups tend to be the most failsafe way to recover lost files. The only catch is that your backup has to be relatively recent in order to have caught the deleted file before it was lost. So regular backups are key!
Send Recovered Files to a New Location
When you manage to recover your deleted Excel file through any method, there is one important step. Always save the restored file to a new location – don’t overwrite the original file (if it still exists).
This helps ensure that:
- You don’t lose the recovered file again.
- You can still attempt other recovery methods if the first one doesn’t work.
- You preserve as many earlier versions of the file as possible.
So when saving a recovered Excel file, choose a new folder location, and give it a new name like “MyFile_recovered.xlsx”. Don’t immediately overwrite the original file or location.
Enable AutoSave and AutoRecover
To avoid dealing with deleted files in the future, make sure to enable AutoSave and AutoRecover in Excel.
Excel’s AutoSave automatically saves your open workbooks at set intervals. The AutoRecover feature stores periodic recovery versions as you work.
Having these protections in place can prevent future hassles if a file gets accidentally deleted or lost due to a program crash.
To turn on AutoSave and AutoRecover in Excel for Windows:
- Go to File > Options > Save.
- Check the boxes for “Save AutoRecover info every X minutes” and “Keep last AutoRecovered files”.
- Set the auto-save frequency to every 5-10 minutes or less.
For Excel for Mac, go to Preferences > Save and set auto-save for every 5-10 minutes.
With regular automatic file saves enabled, you’ll have peace of mind and plenty of recovery options if a file ever gets deleted accidentally!
Contact a Data Recovery Service
In severe cases where a very important Excel file was lost and you’ve exhausted all other options, you may need to turn to a professional. Data recovery services specialize in retrieving critical files and documents that individuals can’t recover on their own.
Here are some scenarios where you may need to contact a data recovery service:
- The file was lost due to external drive failure or hardware damage.
- The deleted file was partially or fully overwritten with new data.
- The file was lost due to formatting or corruption of the storage device.
Data recovery services use specialized techniques and tools to rescue data from failed or damaged drives and devices. For example:
- Disassembling the drive in a dust-free clean room to safely access the platters.
- Using forensic recovery methods to reconstruct corrupted or overwritten files.
- Repairing drives that won’t power on or have electrical issues.
These methods can recover files that even the best consumer-grade software can’t. However, data recovery services tend to be very expensive, often starting at several hundred dollars. The cost varies based on the complexity and type of recovery required.
Before sending your device to a recovery service, be sure to weigh the importance of the lost data vs the potentially high costs. But for critical Excel workbooks that absolutely need to be restored, professional data recovery may be your last resort.
Prevent File Loss by Practicing Safe Computer Habits
The best protection against losing important Excel files is prevention. Practicing safe computing habits can help you avoid accidental deletions and data loss in the first place:
- Make regular backups – Back up your critical files often to external drives, cloud storage and other media.
- Enable AutoSave/AutoRecover – Use Excel’s built-in auto-save options for automatic recovery points.
- Save early, save often – Get into the habit of manually saving your workbooks frequently as you work.
- Double-check before deleting – When deleting files or clearing the Recycle Bin, be extra careful.
- Watch for drive errors – Replace aging external drives, and address any warning signs of drive failure.
- Use version control – Use Git or other version control tools to preserve file history and changes.
Making diligent backups should be your #1 defense against ever losing work. But if disaster does strike, use the recovery steps outlined in this article to get deleted files back quickly and safely.
Conclusion
Recovering a deleted Excel file is often possible if you act quickly and use the right methods. First look in the Recycle Bin, and try AutoRecover if available. If that fails, turn to data recovery software or backups. Avoid overwriting the original file location as you restore it elsewhere. And going forward, make it a priority to implement regular file backups as well as AutoSave and AutoRecover settings.
With persistence and the right tools, you can likely rescue that lost Excel file and get your important data back. Just don’t give up hope – deleted files are rarely gone for good as long as you use recovery best practices.