File Corruption & Recovery

How to Recover a DOCX File Accidentally Saved as TXT

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover original document notes and formatting after accidentally saving a Microsoft Word DOCX file as a plain text (TXT) file.

How to Recover Notes from a DOCX File Accidentally Saved as TXT

Product: Microsoft Word / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A document was inadvertently saved with a text encoding option, converting it to TXT format and stripping away notes and rich formatting.
Observed behavior: The original DOCX file has been overwritten by or converted into a TXT file, resulting in the loss of document notes, elements, and formatting.

Before you start

Close the text file immediately without making any further saves or edits to prevent overwriting remaining temporary files or version histories.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore Previous Version via OneDrive

If your document was synchronized with OneDrive, you can revert to the previous DOCX version before the accidental format conversion.

Cloud storage services automatically save snapshots of your files. This allows you to roll back to an earlier state if a file is overwritten or formatted incorrectly.

Locate the file in OneDrive

Open File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive folder, or log in to OneDrive via your web browser to find the affected document.

Open Version History

Right-click on the file and select 'Version history' from the context menu.

Select the correct version

Browse the timestamped list of previous versions to locate the original DOCX file state before it was saved as a TXT file.

Restore the file

Click 'Restore' to replace the current file, or choose 'Download' to save the recovered DOCX file as a separate document on your computer.

Version History Empty?: If no versions are available, check the OneDrive Recycle Bin online. The system may have treated the format change as deleting the DOCX and creating a new TXT file.

Solution 2

Recover Using Word AutoRecover and Local Backups

Check Microsoft Word's local temporary folders and backup files if cloud synchronization was not active.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Prevent Future Data Loss with WPS Office

WPS Office is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative to Microsoft Office. It features a robust Auto-Backup system and intelligent cloud synchronization, ensuring your notes and documents are protected against accidental format conversions.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
2. Open your documents: Use WPS Writer to effortlessly open and edit your existing DOCX or TXT files without losing formatting.
3. Enable Local Backup: Go to 'Menu' > 'Options' > 'General and Save' to customize automatic backup intervals and protect your work.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word DOCX, DOC, and TXT formats.Advanced Auto-Backup capabilities to prevent accidental data overwrites.Free and lightweight suite with a familiar user interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my notes disappear when saving as a TXT file?

A Plain Text (TXT) file only supports basic unformatted text. When you save a rich document like a DOCX as a TXT file, all images, comments, footnotes, and text formatting are permanently stripped away to comply with the plain text standard.

Can I just rename the TXT file extension back to DOCX to restore it?

No. Renaming the file extension from .txt to .docx will not restore your lost notes or formatting. The original rich data was discarded during the save process, so you must recover a previous backup or version.

Where else can I look if OneDrive version history fails?

You can check the local Windows Recycle Bin, the OneDrive online Recycle Bin, Windows File History (if enabled), or check other offline devices where your cloud account is logged in but hasn't fully synchronized yet.

Document & File Issues