“Help! I can’t find my document in Word!” Do you also confront this problem on your computer? In this post, you will learn how to save lost or missing document in Word.
“The problem is I can't find a word document. I produced a word document and have been saving it several times over several days. However, when I tried to access it today, the title that surfaced on top of the word document was "~#W*&". Please, I really need some help!”
--User from MSoffice forum
As we all know, the simplest technique to find files is to determine your word document's location. Does it seem too simple? However, many users can’t remember where they saved their data or when they did so. And you might have saved data to a path you don't use very often, or documents to a path that's too long to remember. Fortunately, there are techniques to find your file's location.
If you recall the filename you just saved, you can find your data using the search box.
Step 1. Enter the file name in the search box. (If you don't know the complete name of the file, enter a keyword first and then narrow down your search depending on the results.)
Step 2. Determine the best match result.
You can also use Windows File Explorer to search your files.
Step 1. Launch Windows File Explorer.
Step 2. Type the file name or keywords into the search box.
Step 3. Wait for the search results to complete.
Stop going from page to page to find out how I can recover a word document that was not saved! Microsoft Word offers some built-in functions for restoring an unsaved document. In this section, we'll offer the two simplest methods.
Step 1. Open Microsoft Word, click the File tab on the upper left corner.
Step 2. Click Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Document.
Step 3. Check your files from dialog box > Open recovered unsaved file and click Save As button.
If you've previously set AutoRecover, you can use this function to restore your data.
Step 1. Open Microsoft Word > Click File tab > Choose Options > Click Save > Copy the AutoRecover file location.
Step 2. Navigate to File Explorer > Paste AutoRecover file path > Copy the .asd file.
Step 3. Open Microsoft Word > Click File tab > Choose Open > Select Recover Unsaved Documents > Paste the copied .asd file in the File name search box.
When you cannot locate your Word files within the recycle bin, the unfortunate reality is that you have lost your stored Word document due to accidental deletion, a computer crash, or the formatting of your hard drive. In this case, please ensure that you do not overwrite the files, and remember that any lost files can be recovered. To retrieve the data that was lost, it is now time to restore using the powerful data recovery software known as AOMEI FastRecovery.
Deleted files can be recovered from your Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012 on various devices with the help of this dependable file recovery tool.
✦ Available for multiple storage devices: This software is optimized for HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and other 1000+ types of storage devices. It supports a wide range of drive manufacturers and models, assuring consistent compatibility regardless of drive specs.
✦ Powerful algorithms: AOMEI FastRecovery uses powerful algorithms to find and recover lost files from USB flash devices, even in demanding situations. It thoroughly scans for recoverable data fragments and expertly stitches them together for effective file recovery.
✦ Data Safety: The software works in read-only mode to protect recovered files and reduce the chance of additional loss or corruption. It rigorously safeguards the USB flash drive's integrity, preventing any changes during the recovery procedure.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data 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.
Except for accidental deletions, some other reasons may cause you can't find a document in Word.
Wrong Location: It might have been saved in a different folder than expected. Use the search function in File Explorer to look for the file name.
Unsaved Changes: If Word crashes or is closed without saving, any unsaved changes could be lost.
Version Conflicts: If multiple versions of Word are installed or if the document was edited on different devices, conflicts may arise.
File Extensions: Ensure the file is saved with the correct .doc or .docx extension. Sometimes, the file may be saved in an unsupported format.
Corrupted File: If the document becomes corrupted, it may not open or be recognizable by Word.
Losing a Word document is one of the most aggravating things that may happen when working on a project, especially if you have already saved it. AOMEI FastRecovery can recover Word documents that have been destroyed, encrypted by virus, or corrupted due to being saved on a bad partition. With regular backups, your documents may be retrieved quickly and effortlessly, ensuring that you never lose a Word document or any other file again.