File Corruption & Recovery

How to Handle Excel Recovered Workbooks: Yes or No?

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to know whether to select Yes or No when prompted by Excel with a recovered-workbook message after an unexpected closure.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to resume work or recover unsaved spreadsheet data after Excel has crashed or closed unexpectedly.
Observed behavior: Excel displays a prompt upon reopening, asking whether to continue working from the latest saved recovery copies.

Before you start

Before making your selection, try to recall the last time you manually saved your file, as this will help you gauge how much unsaved data relies on the recovery copy.

Solution 1Recommended

Select "Yes" to Recover Unsaved Changes

Choose this option if you experienced a crash and need to restore the latest automatically saved version of your workbook.

Selecting "Yes" is the safest approach if you lost work due to a crash. It prompts Excel to load the Document Recovery pane, which lists all available recovery files captured by the AutoRecover feature.

Accept the recovery prompt

Click "Yes" on the recovered-workbook message dialog box when Excel launches.

Review available files

Look at the Document Recovery task pane on the left side of your screen to see a list of recovered files, usually marked with timestamps.

Open and save

Click on the most recent recovered file to open it, then immediately navigate to File > Save As to save the document permanently to your preferred folder.

Solution 2

Select "No" to Discard Recovery Copies

Choose this option only if you are absolutely certain you do not need any of the unsaved changes from your previous session.

How to Recover Unsaved Workbooks in WPS Office

If you are concerned about losing spreadsheet data to unexpected crashes, WPS Office provides a highly reliable Auto Backup feature. It runs seamlessly in the background and makes recovering unsaved workbooks straightforward.

1. Access the backup center: Open WPS Office, click on the "Menu" at the top left corner of the spreadsheet interface, and navigate to "Backup and Recovery".
2. Open local backups: Select "Auto Backup" from the dropdown menu, then click on "Local Backup" to open the directory containing your automatically saved files.
3. Restore your spreadsheet: Locate the file you need based on the date and time, double-click to open it, and then go to Menu > Save As to securely save the recovered workbook.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) formatsBuilt-in Local Backup and Recovery centers prevent data loss from application crashesLightweight architecture ensures stable performance even with large datasetsFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Excel store the recovered workbook files?

Excel typically saves AutoRecover files in a hidden folder on your primary system drive. You can find the exact location by going to File > Options > Save, and checking the directory path listed in the "AutoRecover file location" field.

What happens if I accidentally click No on the recovered workbook prompt?

If you click No, Excel deletes the temporary AutoRecover files generated during that session. However, you might still find an older temporary file by navigating to File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.

How can I change how often Excel saves recovery information?

To adjust the backup frequency, go to File > Options > Save. Look for the "Save AutoRecover information every X minutes" setting and lower the number of minutes to ensure Excel captures your changes more frequently.

Document & File Issues