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How to Recover Missing or Deleted Excel Chart Data
Question details
The user needs to recover missing or deleted data that was feeding an Excel chart.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A chart in an Excel workbook has lost its data points because the source cells, worksheet, or chart series were accidentally deleted, hidden, or modified.
- Observed behavior
- The Excel chart appears entirely blank, is missing specific data series, or displays broken reference errors due to missing source data.
Before attempting a deep recovery, check if the data source rows or columns are simply hidden, as Excel charts are configured by default to not display data located in hidden cells.
Restore Data using Version History or AutoRecover
Best for recovering recently deleted data when the file is synced to a cloud service (like OneDrive/SharePoint) or if Excel's AutoRecover was enabled.
If you accidentally deleted the worksheet containing your chart data and saved the file, you can often roll back to a previous version to retrieve the missing information.
Click on 'File' in the top ribbon and select 'Info'. If your file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, click on 'Version History'.
A panel will appear on the right side of the screen. Browse the list of timestamped versions and click 'Open version' on a file saved before the data was deleted.
If you closed the file without saving, go to 'File' > 'Info' > 'Manage Workbook' and click 'Recover Unsaved Workbooks' to locate automatically backed-up drafts.
Re-link Data Source via Select Data Settings
Use this solution if the source data still exists within the workbook, but the chart has lost its reference or the series were manually removed from the chart.
Extract Embedded Chart Data from Workbook XML
An advanced method used when the source worksheet is completely gone but the chart still visually exists, allowing you to extract the cached data from the file's underlying XML structure.
Easily Recover and Protect Spreadsheet Data with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a robust built-in Backup Center and Cloud synchronization, making it incredibly simple to recover deleted chart data, restore previous workbook versions, and prevent future data loss without dealing with complex XML files.
- 1. Access the Backup Center: Open WPS Spreadsheets, click on the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner, and navigate to 'Backup and Recovery' > 'Backup Center'.
- 2. Locate Your File: Click on 'Local Backup' to view automatically saved versions of your spreadsheets, even if you forgot to save manually.
- 3. Restore the Chart Data: Find the version of the file containing your intact chart data, double-click it to open, and save it to your preferred directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Excel chart suddenly become blank?
This typically happens if the source data cells were deleted, the worksheet was renamed incorrectly, or the rows/columns containing the data were hidden. By default, Excel charts do not display data from hidden cells.
How do I show hidden data in my chart without unhiding the rows?
Right-click the chart and choose 'Select Data'. Click the 'Hidden and Empty Cells' button at the bottom left of the dialog box, and check the box for 'Show data in hidden rows and columns'.
Does the Windows Recycle Bin keep my deleted worksheets?
No, the Recycle Bin only stores completely deleted files (like an entire .xlsx workbook). If you only deleted a specific worksheet from inside an open workbook, you must use Version History or an AutoRecover backup to restore it.
Can I recover chart data if I clicked 'Don't Save' by mistake?
Yes, if AutoRecover is active. Open Excel, go to 'File' > 'Info' > 'Manage Workbook', and click 'Recover Unsaved Workbooks'. You may find your draft there with the chart data intact.
