How to Recover Lost Data in CSV File [4 Ways]

What is a CSV file?

A CSV file, short for Comma-Separated Values, is a simple text format for storing tabular data. Each line in a CSV file represents a row, with individual values separated by commas.

Here are some common uses of CSV files:

◆ Data exchange: CSV files are often used to exchange data between different applications, especially those that do not natively support more complex file formats.

◆ Import/export: Many applications allow users to import and export data in CSV format, making it easy to move data between different systems.

◆ Data analysis: CSV files are commonly used in data analysis for importing data into software like Excel, Google Sheets, or programming languages like Python.

What causes your CSV files deleted or lost?

CSV files, like any digital data, can be lost or deleted due to various reasons, including:

» Accidental deletion: You may delete your CSV files by accident while managing or clearing them.

» Human error: Overwriting a file without backup or closing it without saving can lead to data loss.

» System crashes: If the system crashes or fails suddenly when running a CSV file, it may result in unsaved changes or file corruption.

» Hardware failure: Issues like hard drive failure or power outages can result in data loss.

» Virus or malware attacks: Files, including CSV files can be deleted or corrupted by malicious software.

» File system errors: Errors within the file system structure can cause data loss or corruption.

» Network issues: Saving or accessing files over a network can lead to loss if connectivity is interrupted.

» Insufficient permissions: Lack of proper access permissions can prevent you from modifying or accessing files.

As so many factors can cause CSV file data loss, many users are curious about “Is it possible to recover a CSV file?”. The answer is absolutely positive. The following content aims to tell you how to recover lost data in CSV file.

How to recover lost data in CSV file

In this part, we'll provide 4 useful approaches to how to recover CSV file. Please scroll down to look through it and choose the one that is most convenient for you.

Way 1. Recover CVS files from TMP files

One effective way to recover lost CSV files is by using the AutoRecover feature in Microsoft Office, which saves Excel files as temporary files in a specified location on your local disk C drive.

Step 1. Navigate to the appropriate folder based on your Windows version.

For Windows 7: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel

For Windows 8 and later: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\Unsaved Files

Step 2. Locate the temp files, save them to a different location, and change their file extensions for safety.

Way 2. Recover CVS files from File History

If you haven't enabled AutoRecover, File History is another option, provided you’ve activated this feature. File History allows you to restore deleted, lost, or damaged files from backup versions.

Step 1. Open the "Control Panel" by entering it in the search bar. Then click the "System and Security" button.

Step 2. After clicking File History, select the "Restore your files with File History" option.

Step 3. Click the "Restore personal files" button.

Step 4. Select your needed CVS file and click "Restore" to get it to its original location.

If you want to change its saved path, right-click on "Restore" and select the "Restore to" option.

Way 3. Recover CSV files from Windows Files Recovery

Windows File Recovery, a command-line tool by Microsoft, is useful for recovering files that can't be restored from the Recycle Bin. But please remember that it can only be executed under the command lines, which need to be typed carefully.

Step 1. First, please get Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store and run it as administrator.

Step 2. Type in the command: winfr source-drive:destination-drive:[/mode][/switches]. For example, winfr E: D:/regular /n*.csv restores a CSV file from E Drive to D Drive.

Step 3. In the end, type y to continue the recovery process. After a few minutes, the file will be restored at the restoring location on your PC.

Way 4. Recover lost CVS/Excel files via data recovery software

If you the methods above fail to restore your lost data in CSV files or you find it difficult to run the command line, you can resort to a third-party data recovery tool. Here we highly recommend AOMEI FastRecovery, a trusted and reliable file recovery utility designed to draw various lost data back.

Follow the steps below to see how to recover lost data in CSV file on Windows computers:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Bonus tip: How to Recover Unsaved CSV Files?

If you unsaved a CSV file, you can use the AutoRecover feature which automatically saves the changes you make in a CSV file to recover it. However, as we mentioned before, it can only work when you enable this feature on your computer before you use CSV files.

You can follow the steps below to check the unsaved version in Excel:

Step 1. Open your Microsoft Excel program and click the "File" button.

Step 2. Click "Info" on the left, then select "Recover Unsaved Workbooks" under the Manage Workbook.

Step 3. The window will display all the unsaved Excel files. Please choose the one you want and click the "Open" button.

After that, you’re supposed to click "File" > "Save as" to save these changes.

Conclusion

That’s all about how to recover lost data in CSV files. The four methods outlined above can help you recover it. After careful consideration, using AOMEI FastRecovery is a time-saving and labor-saving method. If you lost the data by deleting the whole partition, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, a well-known Windows partition manager, can easily help you recover the lost/deleted partition with all the data on it.