How to recover lost data in Word document? Whether you're on Windows or Mac, this guide covers 7 methods - AutoRecover, backup files, File History, Time Machine, and more. Plus prevention tips. Keep reading.
You've spent hours on a Word document - formatting, editing, perfecting every detail. Then you close it, and it's gone. Maybe you forgot to save. Maybe Word crashed. Maybe the file reverted to an old version. Whatever happened, your work is missing, and you need it back.
This guide walks you through 7 proven ways to recover lost data in Word documents on Windows, plus 3 methods for Mac. Start with the quickest fixes and work your way down.
This quick guide is for Windows users. If you're on a Mac, jump to the Mac recovery section.
| Your Situation | Best Method to Try First |
|---|---|
| You closed Word without saving | AutoRecover or Recover Unsaved Documents |
| Word crashed, or the power went out | AutoRecover files |
| You saved over the wrong version | Word backup files (.wbk) |
| You deleted the file | Recycle Bin or File History |
| You never enabled AutoSave or backups | AOMEI FastRecovery - a professional software |
Luckily, it's entirely possible to recover unsaved Word documents on Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server. When you experience data loss, the first place to check is the Recycle Bin if your lost Word file is there, simply restore it, and you're done.
If it's not in the Recycle Bin, here are the detailed ways to recover lost data in Word documents.
#1: Check if the file is still on your computer: Start with a quick search. Type the file name in the Windows search bar (Win + S) - sometimes you just saved it to a different folder than you expected.
#2: Check the Recycle Bin: If you accidentally deleted the file, it may still be in the Recycle Bin. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, locate your Word file, right-click it, and select Restore.
If you've ever enabled the backup feature in Word, your lost data may still exist as a .wbk file.
Step 1. Open File Explorer. Type .wbk in the search box and press Enter.
Step 2. Double-click the backup file and save it.
AutoSave and AutoRecover are lifesavers when Word crashes or you forget to save. If these features were enabled, your lost data is likely recoverable.
Step 1. Open File Explorer. Enter the following path:
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles.
Step 3. Look for temporary files, choose the one you need, and save it.
➡️ If that doesn't work:
If you've made backups using Windows' File History feature, you can restore lost Word documents from there.
Step 1. Open Control Panel and click System and Security > File History, then select Restore your files with File History.
Step 2. Click Restore personal files.
Step 3. Select your Word documents and click Restore to return them to their original location. Or click the Settings icon > Restore to to choose a different destination.
If none of the built‑in methods above work for you, skip to AOMEI FastRecovery below. It can recover Word documents even when built‑in tools can't.
If you didn't enable any backup features in Word, recovery can feel impossible. That's where professional recovery software comes in.
AOMEI FastRecovery is a secure and reliable tool, backed by a strong team focused on data security and speed, which allows you to recover lost data in Word documents with just a few clicks.
🔎 Dual-Scan Mode: Quick Scan for recently deleted files, Deep Scan for complex data loss. Together, they give you the best chance of recovery.
How to recover Word documents with AOMEI FastRecovery:
Step 1. Download, install, and launch AOMEI FastRecovery on your Windows computer. Then, click Deleted Files Recovery for fast recovery. You can also choose Recycle Bin Recovery, Disk Data Recovery, etc., if it's more suitable.
Step 2. Hover over the disk that contains your deleted Word files, and click Scan.
Step 3. The Quick Scan starts automatically. Once it finishes, under the Type section, check Documents and select Word. Always choose a new location for your recovered files, which significantly avoids data overwriting.
Or expand Word to find individual files in the Deleted Files, Recycle Bin, or Existing Files directories.
⚡ Too many files to scroll through? Type a file name or extension (e.g.,.docx) in the search box and sort the list by column headers. You can also filter by type or size.
You can also double-click the files to preview before recovering lost data in Word document.
Browse by path if you remember where the lost files were saved.
Click the Deep Scan to find more data if Quick Scan fails. It will scan every sector of the disk and take longer.
That covers all the recovery methods for Windows users. If you're on a Mac, skip to the Mac section below.
Mac users face similar challenges. If you're using Word on macOS, here are 3 ways to recover your lost data.
Mac's Terminal can help you access temporary files that may contain your unsaved Word data.
Step 1. Open Terminal. Type: cd $TMPDIR.
Step 2. Type ls to display the files, then look in the TemporaryItems subfolder for your document.
Step 3. Search for the lost file. If found, save it to another location.
If your Mac crashed and your Word document became damaged, you can try forcing Word to repair it.
Step 1. In Word, click File > Open. Then, select the damaged file from the dialog box.
Step 2. Click the arrow on the Open button to display the submenu.
Step 3. Select Repair or Recover Text.
If you use Time Machine to back up your Mac, you may be able to recover your lost Word document from the backup media. This method only works if a backup was previously created.
Step 1. Open Time Machine on your Mac desktop. Use the onscreen up and down arrows to find the specific document you want to restore.
Step 2. Click Restore to get lost data back to its original location. You can preview it by pressing the Space Bar.
Recovery is great, but prevention is even better. Here's how to protect your Word documents:
Enable AutoSave: Go to File > Options > Save and check "Save AutoRecover information every X minutes."
Enable backup copies: Check "Always create a backup copy" in the same settings menu.
Save to OneDrive: Cloud storage keeps version history and protects against local drive failures.
Save frequently: Get in the habit of pressing Ctrl + S (Windows) or Cmd + S (Mac) every few minutes.
This guide shows you how to recover lost data in Word documents on both Windows and Mac. On Windows, you can recover from Word Backup files (.wbk), AutoRecover files, File History, and more. On Mac, Terminal, Time Machine, and the built-in repair feature are all viable options.
If none of the built-in methods work for you, AOMEI FastRecovery is an excellent choice - it's fast, secure, and works across multiple data types.
Hope one of these solutions gets you out of trouble and brings your hard work back.