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! :-)

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202 replies

Oct 17, 2014 9:45 AM in response to margb

THANK YOU FOR THIS OMG I'VE BEEN TRYING EVERYTHING SINCE LAST NIGHT TO RECOVER A HUGE PAPER THAT JUST COMPLETELY VANISHED... THIS SAVED. MY. LIFE. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

Oct 23, 2014 9:37 AM in response to rhostetler13

This just saved me life. I KNEW there must be an autosave version but could for the life of me not find it.

THANK YOU.

jcmckinn

Level 1

5 points

Oct 29, 2014 1:27 PM in response to margb

I am a college student who just spent 2 days making an extremely in depth study guide for a final exam, and just like everyone else on this page, my word crashed making me lose everything! I looked everywhere online and have FINALLY found the answer to retrieving your lost document EVEN if AutoRecovery did not save it. This is free with no external software needed, you just need to follow these quick couple steps.

So If you did as everyone else said and found the folder "Office 2008/09/11 AutoRecovery" and your file is still NOT there, that means it is being stored in your computers Temporary or "-Tmp-" folder.

The "-Tmp-" folder is very hard to find, even if you have made hidden folders visible, so what you need to do is go to "Applications"- "Utilities"- "Terminal"

Once you are in the terminal copy this phrase: "open $TMPDIR" and press ENTER. That will open your Temporary files folder where you will see another folder named "Temporaryitems"

Open up the "Temporaryitems" folder and you will find your lost file, that even AutoRecovery could not find. However when you do find your file, make sure you open up the document with "TextEdit" because a .tmp file will not work with Word. An example name of your lost document will be "WordWorkfile D-57238.tmp"

I spent hours on the internet looking for a solution and this is the only way I have actually been able to find the lost or unsaved file. I hope this helps and I can save everyone some extra hours of time

Nov 10, 2014 4:09 PM in response to margb

I just wanted to share my experience as well. I got a crash in Power Point.

In my case, MacBook Air, 10.8.5, with Office 365, I tried every option suggested through these posts. Power Point works differently than Word, as recovery save files are not as evident and readily accessible as the Word ones ("AutoRecoveryXXX.docx" VS a temp file that doesn't even look indicative or open at first attempt). For this, I naturally tried the infamous Auto Recovery folder with hidden files, the TemporaryItems folder, and all searches possible through 3rd party applications. I made a very detailed scrutiny by looking at general modified files list in the exact hours I know I've been working and by comparing their sizes and other characteristics. Nothing to be found. Conclusion: Auto save, for practical purposes, DID NOT MAKE ITS INTENDED WORK.

Worth mentioning my data loss was only worth 1-2 hours, but I got really mad since I really had a very bright flash of inspiration and creativity to build the slides I was working on for an important executive presentation. For me, Office's Autosave feature is absolutely pointless if I cannot rely on it for securing me for such a short unattended time span.

My personal measure is just saving as I complete every single slide of my work or just as I momentarily remember I haven't done it so. It takes you just half of a second. Just get used to it.

I'm very disappointed.

VVASU

Level 1

14 points

Nov 26, 2014 7:42 AM in response to margb

Many thanks for your help! You saved 3 hours of my work today! :-)

Dec 1, 2014 6:13 AM in response to margb

Thanks so much!!

Dec 2, 2014 9:38 AM in response to margb

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!

ams76

Level 1

0 points

Dec 2, 2014 3:41 PM in response to margb

Thank you sooo much! This just restarted my heart.

Dec 5, 2014 4:08 AM in response to Archiiii

I was so happy to find my file back that I really needed to THANK YOU!!! I will keep your instructions in case I need to see the hidden folders again. 🙂

Ang 83

Level 1

4 points

Dec 8, 2014 4:19 PM in response to margb

You saved me, too.🙂

Wow, I can't believe this is so hidden.

But I am very angry at Microsoft/Apple 😠

Dec 15, 2014 6:27 PM in response to margb

thank you SO much!!!! 🙂

Dec 20, 2014 12:15 PM in response to margb

AWESOME!! I didnt save a whole lot of time, because I spent 2 hours searching for a post as precise as this. But I did get to recover the file and it was the exact file. Office 2011 Autorecovery is only viewed if you follow this string. I have Office 2008 installed and only 08 autorecovery is visible in the library if you search. Its the application support level of the hierarchy that gets you into the files you need. Holy smokes - you are amazing.

Moisee

Level 1

18 points

Dec 23, 2014 12:05 PM in response to Csound1

thanks for the tip; unfortunately none were listed.

Moisee

Level 1

18 points

Dec 23, 2014 12:26 PM in response to rucope

Thanks to OP and rucope, as well as others who more eloquently expressed that horrible feeling of all is lost ...had abit of a calming affect!!!

i am still running Snow Leopard and Office 2008 ....so OP directions brought no joy, but alot of calm that it has to be here somewhere! And that was so helpful.

so what actually worked for me was

Basically, click "go" on the finder or press command+shift+G.

Then type this to access temporary documents: /private/var/folders

I then opened all the folders [not so helpfully named], looked at dates/times, study, stay calm!

eventually found substantial portions in one file. Thanks so much for all who take the time to post with detailed instructions.

btw, in preferences, i DO have Word set to backup and to save every minute and still after the crash, no backup, no save, and no recovered file offered up as usually happens. I guess if it's a major project w tight deadlines, I will need to print or email to myself or something every hour.

Huge thanks to all! wheww.

Dec 24, 2014 12:42 PM in response to margb

Hello - You describe my problem exactly, and I believe I have followed your instructions, but I still have not been able to find the Excel file. I saved it yesterday (a number of times as I used it) but it does not show anywhere now. I did update Adobe Flash Player last night, because I'd not longer been able to play videos. (The update request was right on top of each video that would not play.) I've had a few problems with computer crashes lately, but the Excel file would come right up when restarting the computer. I've not been able to find this Excel file anywhere now, including following instructions I've found on File Recovery.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

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How to find a lost file in Microsoft Office Autorecovery