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How to Recover Word and PDF Files Lost After a Computer Restart
Question details
The user needs to recover recent edits or full versions of Word and PDF files that disappeared from their computer after an unexpected system restart.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, PDF Viewer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A computer unexpectedly rebooted, resulting in recently saved or edited Word and PDF documents disappearing or losing their latest changes.
- Observed behavior
- Files saved prior to a specific time are no longer visible in their original folders, or the user is unable to locate the most recent versions of their work.
Before proceeding, determine whether you were saving these files directly to your local hard drive or syncing them to a cloud service like OneDrive, as this will dictate your recovery method.
Recover Unsaved Documents via Word's Built-in Features
Use Microsoft Word's AutoRecover and Manage Document tools to locate temporary versions of files that weren't saved properly before the restart.
Microsoft Word automatically saves temporary backup copies of your documents at specific intervals. If your computer shuts down unexpectedly, these AutoRecover files are often your best chance of retrieving lost data.
Open Microsoft Word. If Word detected an unexpected closure, a 'Document Recovery' pane will automatically appear on the left side of the screen. Click on the available files to view and restore them.
Navigate to 'File' > 'Info' > 'Manage Document'. Click on 'Recover Unsaved Documents' to open a folder containing temporary files. Look for your missing Word document here.
Go to 'File' > 'Options' > 'Save'. Locate the 'AutoRecover file location' path, copy it, and paste it into Windows File Explorer to manually search for .asd files.
Restore Files from OneDrive Version History and Recycle Bin
If your files were saved or synced to OneDrive or SharePoint, use cloud recovery tools to retrieve lost versions.
Search Local Drives and the Desktop Recycle Bin
Perform a system-wide search to ensure the files were not accidentally moved, hidden, or sent to the local Recycle Bin during the crash.
Prevent File Loss with WPS Office's Smart Backup
Struggling with lost files in Microsoft Office? Try WPS Office, a free and lightweight alternative that features smart local backups and seamless cloud synchronization. Enjoy a familiar interface and comprehensive format compatibility while ensuring your documents are safe from unexpected computer restarts.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
- 2. Open Your Existing Files: Seamlessly open your existing Microsoft Word (.docx) and PDF files directly in WPS Office without losing any formatting.
- 3. Enable Smart Backup: Navigate to the Backup Center in WPS settings to enable automatic local and cloud backups, securing your work against system reboots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are AutoRecover files stored in Windows by default?
By default, Microsoft Word AutoRecover files are stored in 'C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\'. You may need to enable 'Show hidden files' in File Explorer to access this folder.
Why didn't my AutoRecover save the latest changes before the restart?
AutoRecover only saves your document at specific intervals (usually set to every 10 minutes by default). If your computer restarted before the next scheduled save interval, the most recent changes made within those minutes might be lost.
Can I recover a PDF that was open but not saved before a restart?
PDF recovery depends heavily on the specific PDF editor you were using. Many modern PDF editors offer crash recovery features similar to Word and will prompt you to restore unsaved tabs upon reopening the application. If you were only viewing the PDF in a web browser, changes made to form fields may not be recoverable.
