How to recover deleted documents from word

​Losing a Word document especially one you’ve worked on for hours or days can feel like a nightmare. Whether it vanished due to an accidental deletion, unexpected system shutdown, software crash, or even a failed save, the sinking feeling of lost work is universal. Fortunately, Microsoft Word, Windows, and third-party tools offer several ways to recover deleted Word documents, whether the loss occurred moments ago or even weeks earlier.

Part 1: Where Word Documents Go When Deleted

Before diving into recovery methods, it helps to understand how Word handles documents and where deleted files typically go:

Unsaved documents may still exist as temporary autosave or autorecovery files.

Deleted documents usually go to the Recycle Bin unless they were removed using Shift+Delete.

Files from cloud storage (e.g., OneDrive) may be recoverable from a version history or the online Recycle Bin.

Formatted drives or emptied Recycle Bin situations require file recovery software.

Now, let’s explore step-by-step methods to recover your documents.

Part 2: Recover from the Recycle Bin

Step 1: Check the Recycle Bin

If you deleted the file from your desktop or a folder, start here:

Open the Recycle Bin from your desktop.

Look for your document by file name or date.

Right-click the document and select Restore.

This will return the file to its original location.

Tip: Sort by “Date Deleted” or search by part of the filename for faster access.

Part 3: Recover Unsaved Documents in Word

Step 2: Use Word’s Built-In AutoRecover Feature

Microsoft Word automatically saves temporary backups of your work while you’re editing. If you closed Word without saving, this method could help.

How to use AutoRecover:

Open Microsoft Word.

Go to File > Info > Manage Document.

Select Recover Unsaved Documents.

A list of unsaved files will appear. Choose the relevant file.

Click Open, then immediately select Save As to preserve it.

Important: These unsaved files are stored temporarily and may be deleted if the system is shut down or too much time passes.

Part 4: Recover from Temporary Files

Step 3: Search for Word Backup or Temp Files

If Word crashed or you forgot to save, a backup or temporary version may still be available.

Method 1: Look for .wbk files (Word backup)

Go to File Explorer.

Navigate to the folder where the original document was saved.

Search for .wbk files. Enable file extensions if necessary.

Open the backup file in Word and save it with a new name.

Method 2: Search for .asd or .tmp files

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

Enter this in the search bar:

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*.asd OR *.tmp

Look in the following locations:

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Word

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\Temp

Right-click any promising file > Open with Word > Save As.

Pro Tip: Press Windows + R and type %AppData% to navigate faster.

Part 5: Recover from OneDrive or SharePoint

Step 4: Restore Deleted Files from OneDrive

If your file was stored in OneDrive, you may be able to recover it from the cloud.

Method 1: OneDrive Recycle Bin

Go to onedrive.live.com and log in.

Click Recycle Bin on the left sidebar.

Locate the deleted document.

Click Restore.

Method 2: Version History

Right-click the Word document on OneDrive.

Choose Version History.

Select an earlier version and click Restore.

Part 6: Use File History or Windows Backup

Step 5: Restore Previous Versions on Windows

If File History is enabled, you can recover previous versions of your Word documents.

How to use File History:

Right-click the folder where the document was saved.

Select Restore previous versions.

Browse through available versions.

Choose the version you want and click Restore.

Note: You must have File History or a system backup enabled beforehand.

Part 7: Use Command Prompt to Search for Hidden Files

Step 6: Use ATTRIB to Reveal Hidden Documents

Sometimes files appear deleted but are simply hidden. You can use the Command Prompt to search.

Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

Type the following command:

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ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D C:\*.docx

Replace C:\ with the drive where the file was stored.

This command scans for Word files with the .docx extension and reveals hidden ones.

Part 8: Use Data Recovery Software

Step 7: Recover Permanently Deleted Word Files with Recovery Tools

Panda Assistant

Panda Assistant is a powerful data recovery tool designed to retrieve lost, deleted, or unsaved Word documents from a variety of storage locations, including your computer’s hard drive, external USB drives, and SD cards. Whether your file was lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, system crash, or a failed save, Panda Assistant increases your chances of getting it back.

To begin, simply download and install Panda Assistant on your device. Launch the program and select the location where the Word document was originally saved such as the desktop, documents folder, or external drive. Choose the Document file type to streamline the scan, and then initiate the search. Panda Assistant will conduct a Quick Scan and, if needed, proceed with a Deep Scan to locate even deeply buried or fragmented files.

Once the scan is complete, you can preview the recovered Word documents before restoring them—this ensures you’re retrieving the right file. Click “Recover,” and save the document to a safe location.

Step 8: Check Sent or Received Email for Word Files

If you emailed the document, you might be able to download it again.

Search your email inbox for the file name or “.docx.”

Check the Sent Items folder to see if you sent it as an attachment.

Download and save the attachment again.

Part 10: Recover Files from Google Docs or Microsoft 365

Step 9: Cloud-Synced Versions May Have Auto Backups

If you were working on the document via Google Docs or Microsoft Word Online:

Google Docs: Open Google Drive > Check the Trash.

Microsoft 365: Go to office.com > Click My Content or open Word Online > Check recent files or Recycle Bin.

Many online editors save automatically and may store multiple versions.

Part 11: Prevent Future Data Loss

Recovery is useful, but prevention saves time and stress. Here are tips to avoid losing documents in the future:

1. Enable AutoSave

Microsoft Word (with OneDrive or SharePoint) supports real-time saving.

2. Set AutoRecover Interval

Go to File > Options > Save.

Set AutoRecover info to save every 2-5 minutes.

3. Use Cloud Storage

Save documents in OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive.

Enables version history and remote backups.

4. Perform Regular Backups

Use Windows File History or an external backup tool.

Consider weekly full-disk imaging for important machines.

5. Install File Recovery Software Before You Need It

Having it on your device saves time during emergencies.

Recovering a deleted Word document can be stressful, but it’s far from hopeless. Between Word’s built-in recovery features, Windows system tools, OneDrive cloud storage, and reliable file recovery software like Panda Assistant, most documents can be salvaged especially if you act quickly.

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