'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Recover a Deleted Excel Worksheet or Previous File Version
Question details
The user needs to restore a deleted Excel worksheet by recovering a previous version of the workbook from a day or two ago.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Accidental deletion of a specific worksheet inside an active Excel workbook.
- Observed behavior
- The current workbook no longer contains the deleted worksheet, and the user needs to revert to an older file state to retrieve the lost data.
Before restoring a previous version, create a copy of your current Excel workbook to prevent overwriting any recent changes you might still need.
Restore a Previous Version via Windows File Explorer
Use this method if your Excel file is saved locally on your Windows computer and you have Windows File History or System Restore enabled.
Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your Excel workbook is stored.
Right-click the Excel file and select 'Properties' from the context menu.
Click on the 'Previous Versions' tab at the top of the Properties window.
Select the file version from a day or two ago before the worksheet was deleted, then click 'Restore'.
Recover via OneDrive or SharePoint Version History
Best for files synced to the cloud, allowing you to view and restore older versions saved automatically by Microsoft 365.
Prevent Data Loss with WPS Office Auto-Backup
WPS Office provides robust local and cloud backup solutions. With built-in Backup and Recovery tools, you can effortlessly browse a timeline of your spreadsheet's history and recover deleted worksheets with a single click.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner of the WPS Spreadsheets interface.
- 2. Access Backup and Recovery: Navigate to 'Backup and Recovery' in the drop-down menu and select 'Local Backup'.
- 3. Locate previous versions: Find your spreadsheet in the backup list and click to view its historical versions mapped out on a timeline.
- 4. Restore the worksheet: Double-click the desired version from before the deletion to open it, then save it as a new file or copy the needed worksheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Previous Versions tab empty for my Excel file?
The 'Previous Versions' tab will be empty if Windows File History or System Protection (System Restore) was not enabled for the drive where the file is stored, or if a backup hasn't been triggered yet.
Can I recover a deleted worksheet without reverting the entire workbook?
Yes, but you must restore the older version as a separate file first. Instead of replacing the current file, restore or copy the older version to a new location. Open both files, right-click the recovered worksheet tab, select 'Move or Copy', and copy it into your current workbook.
How long does OneDrive keep the version history of an Excel file?
By default, OneDrive and SharePoint keep the version history for personal and work accounts for at least 30 days. You can view and restore any saved version within this timeframe.
