Level 1

2 points

How to find a lost file in Microsoft Office Autorecovery

Hi - This isn't really a question, though it would have been a couple of hours ago.

After saving all his files, closing them and closing all apps, my husband rebooted his Mac Pro (Lion). When it restarted, his key Excel file wasn't there. There was no trace of it in Finder, and no trace in Time Machine. A search by Date Modified or File Name didn't show the file anywhere, either. It was like it had been sucked out of the computer and the Time Machine hard drive completely.

Cheering as that thought is, there is another answer.

Microsoft Office has an Autorecovery function that saves files when, for example, there's a power failure. These files are located on the home drive, in the Library (press Option when you click "GO" in the Finder command line at the top of the screen, otherwise Library is invisible). In Library, there is a folder called Application Support. In that folder are folders for a number of applications, one of which is Microsoft. In the Microsoft folder, there is a folder called Office. In that folder are a number of folders, one of which is Office 2011 AutoRecovery. Click that, and any files saved by the autorecovery function will appear.

Hierarchically:

Finder

Library

Application Support

Microsoft

Office

Office 2011 AutoRecovery

The key thing to realize here is that a file which gets saved in Autorecovery DOES NOT appear in any searches by date modified, name of file, etc. It's as if it is hidden completely after being saved. When you turn the computer back on after a power failure, the file pops up and does say something about recovery, but if you're not looking for it, it's easy to miss. As long as you have the file open and keep saving, there's no problem - it's just that when you close it, it seems to have disappeared completely!

I found this information on the Microsoft help pages under a slightly different heading:

http://http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2650066#Method3

So for what it's worth, that's the story, and I hope it saves someone the sheer panic of not being able to find a file in Office.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Sep 8, 2012 5:35 PM

Top-ranking reply

Sierra Mike Kilo

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Jul 21, 2017 4:30 PM

Hi Folks,

I had this issue last night and I could find your path - I was stuck after 'Go'! Could not find 'Library' anywhere.

Called the lovely Apple Support Folk and the extra little trick is to search for the folder instead via Spotlight. Although a normal search won't bring it up, therefore try:

Hit Command + Space bar,
Type: ~/Library,
Hit Return

Then follow the prompts:

Application Support

Microsoft

Office

Office 2011 AutoRecovery

Happy Searching! :-)

View in context

202 replies

imlizyap

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2013 10:05 AM in response to margb

I had finished writing my Personal Statement for uni application which took a very long time. However when I couldn't find the file later I was terrified I lost it all. Thank you so much, this really saved my life.

Oct 25, 2013 1:12 AM in response to margb

Margb:

The library folder dosen´t appear when i puch "GO"

What i need to do?

Oct 25, 2013 1:17 AM in response to margb

I think an image could help

when i found the folder library, happen this

Trabbbb

Level 1

9 points

Nov 1, 2013 12:15 PM in response to margb

This helped so much at work, thanks very much!

pwm6819

Level 1

0 points

Nov 10, 2013 6:39 PM in response to margb

Thank you for your helpful information,You saved my files.

Nov 16, 2013 8:59 PM in response to margb

Really really useful. Apart from saying thank you, I'll also add that it took me a while how to complete your first 2 instructions of locating 'go' on the command bar. I kept thinking I had to hold option while clicking on the finder app. What I missed was needing to click on Finder, then click Go at the top command bar. It goes to show I am a visual person

thank you!!

rafael

Nov 19, 2013 9:46 PM in response to margb

Holy heck! Thank you so much, you saved me a world of headache. I found that Word (for some strange reason, or maybe it was just user error) saved my paper in the AutoRecovery folder which, as you stated, caused it to go "missing". Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you again for all your help!

Nov 24, 2013 2:11 AM in response to margb

Saved me from having to re-do a lot of work!

Cheers buddy!

Nov 26, 2013 2:31 PM in response to margb

thank you thank you thank you

Purbs

Level 1

0 points

Dec 12, 2013 4:13 AM in response to margb

I wonder if you could help me. I've been working on an Excel workbook and had finished what I needed to do.

I'd created a new sheet which added more detail and wanted to send this particular sheet to a colleague so I 'move/copy' the sheet to a new workbook. However, this messed up the date format for some reason so I closed the new file intending to just send them the original workbook with the new sheet.

However, having clicked 'no' to saving the unwanted new workbook I noticed that the sheet was no longer in the original workbook, i.e. it had been moved and not copied.

I can find one autorecovery file, which looks to be in Excel format but I cannot open it. Interestingly, it doesn't show up in the AutoRecovery folder unless I type something (seemingly anything) into the search bar once I'm the aforementioned library folder.

Any suggestions?!! Excel won't let me undo, which would have been the nice quick solution.

margb Author

Level 1

2 points

Dec 12, 2013 7:32 AM in response to Purbs

Hi, Purbs,

I'm far from an Excel expert, but it sounds to me like the sheet may be gone. If I'm reading this correctly, the sheet was moved into a new workbook, which was then closed without being saved. That would be like opening a workbook, making entries, then closing it without saving - but I hope I'm wrong! Did you save your original workbook before moving the more detailed sheet?

Here's a link to more Excel-specific support, where I think you would get (much) more knowledgeable help:

http://support.microsoft.com/ph/12853#tab0

I very much hope you're able to locate the sheet. Nothing bites worse than having to do something twice.

Best,

Marg

dmzidek1

Level 1

0 points

Dec 13, 2013 3:07 PM in response to margb

Add immediate medical assistance to your resume, because you just saved me having a heart attack. Thank you so much for this!! Found my file after much hyperventaling.

- Diane

Jan 9, 2014 3:51 AM in response to margb

YOU ARE MY HERO! Completely lost my current budget, which I refer to almost daily. When I opened it today, it showed the last time I logged on was a month ago! Absolute shock! I tried hunting everywhere, then my daughter suggested I google the problem. Yours was the 2nd answer that came up, and after following your PERFECT instructions, I immediately found my missing file and everything is A-OK! I've made duplicate copies and will add to an online file for fear of a more serious loss in the future, but your directions are bookmarked, screenshot and hard-copied! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU A ZILLION TIMES OVER! THANK YOU!

ps - MAJOR DITTOS on the comment above mine about heart attack and hyperventilating! I had to immediately start praying to avoid anything too serious! Seriously...!

Message was edited by: lotsaJCaloha

rose3fa

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2014 6:11 PM in response to margb

For me, the file path given is for a 'Library' under 'Macintosh HD' which does not contain the 'Office 2011 AutoRecovery' folder.

Try this other 'Library' folder instead:

/Users/[your user directory name]/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/Office 2011 AutoRecovery

Thanks for this advice--it saved me too!

rose3fa

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2014 6:18 PM in response to Sam's__dad

The tip to show invisible files didn't work for me.

Apparently in Mavericks, Finder becomes finder and the case matters. The 1 is the same as the YES or TRUE. Likewise, 0 for NO or FALSE. Also, the && killall Finder part relaunches the Finder for you.

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1 && killall Finder

Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5589544?answerId=23880741022#23880741022

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How to find a lost file in Microsoft Office Autorecovery