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How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Content from a Word File
Question details
The user needs to retrieve important text or content that was mistakenly deleted and potentially saved over within a Word document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- A user has accidentally deleted a section of their document, saved the changes, or lost the content, and now needs to revert to an earlier version to get the text back.
- Observed behavior
- The active Word document is missing vital content, and standard Undo commands (Ctrl+Z) are no longer effective or available.
Stop editing and avoid saving the current document immediately, as saving over the file might overwrite temporary backups or AutoRecover files that contain your deleted content.
Use Version History for Cloud-Saved Documents
If your document is saved in OneDrive or SharePoint, you can easily browse and restore previous versions of the file from before the deletion occurred.
Cloud storage services like OneDrive automatically keep track of changes made to your documents. This allows you to roll back to a specific timestamp before your content was deleted.
Open the affected document in Microsoft Word. Click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, navigate to 'Info', and select 'Version History'.
A pane will open on the right side of the screen displaying a list of previous saves categorized by date and time. Click on a version timestamped before the accidental deletion.
Once the older version opens in a separate window, review it to ensure your deleted content is there. Click 'Restore' to overwrite the current file, or save it as a new copy.
Check Word AutoRecover and Unsaved Documents
Word automatically saves temporary backups of your work at specific intervals which can be recovered if you closed the file without saving.
Restore Using Windows Previous Versions or File History
If you save files locally on your PC, you can use built-in Windows backup features to find and restore an older version of your document.
Switch to WPS Office for Seamless Auto-Backups
Tired of losing your progress due to accidental deletions? WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that offers robust Auto-Backup features, ensuring you can easily restore previous versions of your Word documents without relying on complex Windows settings.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Word Document: Open your existing .docx files directly in WPS Writer without losing any layout or formatting.
- 3. Enable Smart Backup: Go to Menu > Settings > Backup Setting to configure automatic local backups so you never permanently lose content again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ctrl+Z (Undo) work after I save and close the Word file?
No, the Undo history is cleared once you close the document. You will need to rely on Version History, Windows File History, or AutoRecover to restore deleted content after the file has been closed.
Where are AutoRecover files located in Windows?
By default, AutoRecover files in Windows are stored in 'C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\'. You can paste this path into your File Explorer address bar to check for unsaved .asd files.
Can I recover deleted content if the Word file was saved locally without backups enabled?
If File History was not enabled and the file wasn't saved to OneDrive, recovery is difficult. However, you might still find an older temporary version by checking the 'Manage Document' feature in Word or checking your PC's Recycle Bin for discarded temporary save files.
How do I access OneDrive Version History from my web browser?
Log into your OneDrive account online, right-click the Word document, and select 'Version history'. This will open a side panel displaying a list of older saves, which you can preview or restore directly from the browser.
