Excel Crashed, How to Recover File?

Microsoft Excel is an essential tool for professionals, students, and individuals managing data. However, the dreaded moment when Excel crashes can bring anxiety, especially if your work wasn’t saved. Understanding how to recover files in such situations can save you time and effort.

Why does Excel crash?

Excel crashes can occur for various reasons, from minor glitches to significant system conflicts. Often, these crashes stem from software bugs or incompatibility issues with add-ins. Overloading Excel with large datasets, running outdated software, or operating on a device with insufficient resources are other common causes.

Sometimes, crashes are caused by external factors, like abrupt power outages or virus attacks, which disrupt Excel’s processes. Regardless of the cause, these crashes can disrupt your workflow and risk data loss. Learning how to recover files after a crash is essential for minimizing potential damages.

How to recover unsaved Excel files after crash?

When Excel crashes, you don’t always need specialized software to recover your files. Microsoft offers several built-in features that can help you restore your work.

1. Use Excel AutoRecover Feature

AutoRecover is an inbuilt tool designed to save your Excel file at set intervals automatically. If Excel crashes, it attempts to restore your file the next time you open the program.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel, and click File > Open > Recent in turn.

Step 2. Select Recover Unsaved Workbooks at the interface bottom.

Step 3. Find the Excel file you lost, open it, and save it to the specified location.

2. Retrieve Temporary Excel Files

The operating system or applications create temporary files in Windows to store short-term data. They are frequently employed to increase system efficiency or store data. The Temp folder on the C drive is the typical location for these files.

Step 1. Navigate to the temporary file location using this path: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Temp

Step 2. Find the desired Excel file here and change its extension from .tmp to .xls or .xlsx as you like.

Step 3. Open and save this file properly to the specified location.

Further Reading: How to Recovering Lost or Deleted Excel Files

Until now, we have previously discussed the process of recovering unsaved Excel files. However, what happens if your Excel files are deleted? On occasion, system failures or operational errors may result in the direct loss of certain critical files. Is it feasible to recover Excel files that have been deleted on Windows? The answer is you still have a chance to recover deleted Excel files.

Way 1. Recover Deleted Excel Files via Recycle Bin

In the majority of cases, it is feasible to retrieve expunged files from the Recycle Bin. In general, deleted files are temporarily stored in this location and can be readily restored with a few straightforward steps. Therefore, in the event that your files are inadvertently deleted from your computer, it is recommended that you examine the Recycle Bin.

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin at the desktop.

Step 2. Select the Excel files you want to recover.

Step 3. Right-click on the files and click the Restore option. Just wait until they are restored to their original locations.

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Way 2. Recover deleted Excel files from File History

In addition to the methods previously mentioned, it is also possible to retrieve deleted Excel files through File History. This feature can assist in the regular backup of files and provide recovery services in the event of an abrupt deletion or damage.

It enables the storage of multiple versions of files and provides a versatile recovery option in the event of a need. If you have previously enabled File History, attempt to retrieve your deleted Excel files using it.

Step 1. Go to the Control Panel, and select System and Security > File History in turn.

Step 2. Click Restore personal files.

Step 3. Choose the files you want to recover, and then click the Recover button.

Way 3. Recover deleted Excel files with professional data recovery software

The most straightforward solution for recovering deleted Excel files is to use dependable third-party recovery software if you discover that your files are lost or absent. This approach also enhances the likelihood of recovering lost data and simplifies recovery procedures.

Although there are numerous recovery products available, we strongly endorse AOMEI FastRecovery. This professional recovery utility enables the effortless retrieval of a variety of deleted or corrupted files from a variety of storage devices on Windows PCs and servers. To simplify your recovery experience, simply adhere to its user-friendly instructions.

Step 1. Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery, and then choose the exact partition or disk where your files are located.

Step 2. Scan your disk thoroughly to find the deleted Excel files. 

Step 3. After scanning, all missing files will be displayed. Kindly choose the specific files and then click Recover.

Step 4: Specify a path for the file and wait for the process to complete.

Conclusion

Experiencing a crash in Excel can be frustrating, but with the right strategies, you can recover your files effectively. Built-in tools like AutoRecover and temporary files provide quick solutions for unsaved work. For more advanced issues, solutions like AOMEI FastRecovery offer reliability and ease of use, surpassing traditional methods.

Next time you face the challenge of Excel crashed how to recover file, refer to these methods to restore your data efficiently and keep your work safe.