Version History Issues

How to Recover Previous or Unsaved Versions of a Word Document

Nimra Malik Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to recover content from a Microsoft Word document that was accidentally closed without saving or wants to restore a previous version of an existing file.

How to Recover Previous or Unsaved Versions of a Word Document

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user lost recent document edits due to closing the file without saving, or they need to revert unwanted changes by accessing an older version of the document.
Observed behavior: Recent changes are missing from the file, or the document was entirely closed before an initial save could be performed, requiring access to unsaved drafts or version histories.

Before you start

Determine whether your document was being saved locally to your computer or synced to a cloud service like OneDrive or SharePoint, as this will dictate the correct recovery method.

Solution 1Recommended

Recover unsaved drafts using the Manage Document feature

Use this method if you accidentally closed a new or existing document on your computer without saving your most recent changes.

Microsoft Word periodically creates temporary backup files if the AutoRecover feature is enabled. You can browse these temporary files through the internal document management settings.

Access the Info menu

Open Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' tab located in the top-left corner of the ribbon, and select 'Info' from the left sidebar.

Open Manage Document

Click on the 'Manage Document' icon. If your previously saved file has unsaved changes, you may see a version labeled 'closed without saving' right here. Click it to open.

Recover Unsaved Documents

If you don't see the draft, click 'Manage Document' to open the dropdown menu, then select 'Recover Unsaved Documents'. A file explorer window will open showing recently unsaved drafts (.asd files).

Open and save the file

Select the file you wish to restore and click 'Open'. Once the document loads in Word, immediately click 'Save As' to secure the file to a permanent location on your computer.

Recover unsaved drafts using the Manage Document feature

AutoRecover Prerequisite: This recovery method relies on Word's AutoRecover feature. Recovery is only possible if an AutoRecover file or a temporary backup was generated before the application was closed.

Solution 2

Restore previous versions using OneDrive or SharePoint

If your document was actively saved and synced to Microsoft's cloud storage, you can easily view and restore older versions.

Secure Document Recovery

Safeguard Your Documents with WPS Office Auto-Backup

WPS Writer offers seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word files and features a powerful, intuitive Backup Center. It automatically secures local backups of your unsaved work, making document recovery effortless and stress-free.

1. Open Backup Center: Launch WPS Office, click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner, and navigate to 'Backup and Recovery', then select 'Backup Center'.
2. Locate Local Backups: In the Backup Center window, click on 'Local Backup' to view a chronological list of all automatically saved drafts for your documents.
3. Restore Your Document: Double-click the desired backup version to preview it. Once opened, simply click 'Save As' to restore the recovered document to your preferred folder.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) documentsIntelligent Auto-Backup prevents data loss from sudden closuresDedicated Backup Center for easy file management and recoveryFree, lightweight design with a user-friendly interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are AutoRecover files stored in Microsoft Word by default?

By default, AutoRecover files in Windows are stored in the AppData folder, typically located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\ or C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles. You can check your specific location by going to File > Options > Save.

Can I recover a document if AutoRecover was turned off?

If AutoRecover was disabled and you did not manually save the document, it is highly unlikely you can recover the unsaved changes through Word. You might need to rely on third-party data recovery software to scan for temporary system files, though success is not guaranteed.

Why is the Version History option greyed out or missing in my document?

The Version History feature is only available for documents that are saved and synced to cloud storage services like OneDrive or SharePoint. If your document is saved strictly on your local hard drive, this option will not be active.

How often does Word save AutoRecover information?

By default, Word saves AutoRecover information every 10 minutes. You can change this interval to save more frequently by navigating to File > Options > Save, and adjusting the 'Save AutoRecover information every X minutes' setting.

Document & File Issues