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How to Restore Missing Excel Data After Reinstalling Windows Apps
Question details
The user needs to recover recent Excel data that went missing after reinstalling Excel or Windows apps, as synced files on other devices are showing outdated versions.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reinstalling Excel or Windows apps caused recent local data to disappear, leaving only outdated versions accessible on other synced devices.
- Observed behavior
- Files accessed from another device show older versions of the data, and the most recent updates prior to the software reinstallation are missing.
Ensure you are logged into the exact same Microsoft account on OneDrive that you used before reinstalling your apps, and temporarily pause any new syncs to prevent overwriting older file versions.
Restore an Earlier Version Using OneDrive Version History
Use OneDrive's version history to locate and recover the most recent copy of your Excel file before the app reinstallation occurred.
OneDrive automatically saves different versions of your documents as you work. If your current file is showing outdated information, you can roll back to a timestamp immediately preceding the data loss.
Open your web browser, navigate to the official OneDrive website, and log in with the Microsoft account associated with your missing Excel files.
Browse your 'My files' directory to find the specific Excel document that contains the outdated data.
Right-click the file and select 'Version history' from the context menu to view a list of all saved iterations of this file.
Review the timestamps, select the version containing your missing data from yesterday, and click 'Restore' to overwrite the current outdated file.
Recover Deleted Files from the OneDrive Recycle Bin
Check if the missing Excel files were accidentally deleted during the app reinstall or sync disruption.
Prevent Future Data Loss with WPS Office
If you are tired of sync issues and lost data in Microsoft Excel, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and easy-to-use alternative that features built-in cloud backup and seamless MS Office format compatibility to keep your work safe.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download and install WPS Office for free on your PC or mobile device.
- 2. Open Your Excel Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and directly open your existing .xlsx files without any format conversion.
- 3. Enable Cloud Sync: Sign in to your WPS account and turn on Auto-Backup to automatically save your document versions securely to the cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel files appear outdated on my other devices?
If you recently reinstalled your apps, your primary device may have failed to sync its most recent local changes to OneDrive before the reinstall. As a result, other synced devices will only display the last successfully uploaded version.
Can I recover missing data if I did not have a OneDrive backup?
Without a cloud backup or File History configured on your Windows device, recovering yesterday's data after an app reinstall is highly unlikely, as the local temporary files were likely deleted during the uninstallation process.
How do I check my OneDrive Recycle Bin for missing Excel spreadsheets?
Log in to the OneDrive website, click on 'Recycle bin' in the left navigation pane, and look for your missing Excel files. If you find them, select the files and click 'Restore' to move them back to their original location.
