Where Are Excel AutoSave Files Stored? Find Them Fast!

Excel’s AutoSave feature has been a game-changer for many users, providing peace of mind when working on important spreadsheets. Whether you’re working on a business report, academic project, or personal data, knowing where AutoSave files are stored can be crucial when things go wrong. The AutoSave feature can automatically save your progress at regular intervals, ensuring that no work is lost, even if your computer crashes or you forget to save manually.

This article will guide you through understanding Excel AutoSave, locating AutoSave files on both Windows and Mac, recovering lost files, and the best practices for file recovery.

What Is Excel AutoSave?

AutoSave is a feature built into Microsoft Excel that automatically saves your work as you go, without requiring you to manually click the Save button. It periodically stores your changes to a temporary file, typically every few seconds, reducing the risk of losing data in case of a sudden shutdown, crash, or unexpected error.

This feature works in conjunction with OneDrive, SharePoint, or other cloud-based storage systems. However, it is essential to understand where the AutoSave files are stored, as they might not always be easy to locate when you need them most. If these files are lost or damaged, recovery tools like WinfrGUI can help restore them quickly and efficiently.

Where Stored on Windows?

On Windows, Excel AutoSave files are stored in temporary directories or within the OneDrive folder (if using OneDrive for storage).

Default Local Location: mathematica C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\

To find these files, follow these steps:

Open Excel: Start Excel and open a new or existing workbook.

Go to “File” Tab: Click on the “File” tab in the Excel ribbon.

Click “Options”: Scroll down and select “Options” at the bottom of the list.

Choose “Save”: In the Excel Options window, click “Save” from the left-side menu.

AutoSave Location: Under the “Save Workbooks” section, you will see the AutoSave file location. It could be a local directory or your OneDrive.

Alternatively, you can manually navigate to the AutoSave folder by following these common file paths for temporary files:

• Temporary File Path: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles
• OneDrive Folder Path: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\OneDrive\Documents

Where Stored on Mac?

For Mac users, Excel AutoSave files are also stored in temporary folders or cloud-based storage, depending on where your file is saved.

Default Location: swift /Users/[YourName]/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/Excel/

Steps on how to find them:

Open Excel: Launch Excel on your Mac.

Click on “Excel” in Menu: At the top left of the screen, click on “Excel” in the menu bar.

Select Preferences: In the dropdown, choose “Preferences.”

Click “Save”: Under the “Save” section, find the location for AutoSave files.

Check for AutoSave Files: Mac typically saves AutoSave versions to a folder in the following path: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoSave

Additionally, if you’re using cloud services like OneDrive or iCloud, the saved files might be available through those respective folders.

How to Recover AutoSave Files?

Sometimes, Excel crashes or you may accidentally close a file without saving it. In such situations, you may want to recover AutoSave files. Below are steps to recover AutoSave files on both Windows and Mac.

Recover on Windows

Open Excel: Start Excel again.

Click “File”: In the ribbon, click on “File” and then “Open.”

Click “Recent”: On the left, select “Recent.”

Click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks”: If you see “Recover Unsaved Workbooks,” click it.

Select the File: A list of unsaved files will appear. Choose the one you need and click “Open.”

If your file doesn’t show up, you can also manually search your temporary files by navigating to the folder C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles.

Recover on Mac

Open Excel: Launch Excel on your Mac.

Go to “File”: Click on the “File” menu.

Click “Open Recent”: Under “Open Recent,” look for “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.”

Locate the File: If available, click on it to open and save.

If you don’t see the file in the recent list, navigate to the AutoSave folder on your Mac to find the temporary file.

Enabling AutoSave

To ensure that Excel AutoSave is enabled, follow these steps:

• Windows: Go to “File” > “Options” > “Save” and make sure “Save AutoRecover information every X minutes” is checked. You can set the interval for how often Excel saves your work.
• Mac: In Excel Preferences, under the “Save” section, check the box for “Save AutoRecover information every X minutes.”

Ensure that your document is being stored in OneDrive or SharePoint to allow AutoSave to function smoothly.

Saving Versions of Your Files

Excel not only allows AutoSave but also saves different versions of the file. This helps you retrieve older versions if needed.

Enable Version History: To enable version history, save your workbook to OneDrive or SharePoint.

Access Version History: Right-click on the file in OneDrive or SharePoint, and select “Version History.”

Restore Previous Versions: Select any older version and click “Restore.”

This feature is especially useful when you want to roll back to a specific point in your work.

Customizing AutoSave Settings

You can customize how AutoSave works by adjusting its settings. Here’s how:

AutoSave Interval: Change the interval of AutoSave to save your work more or less frequently depending on your needs.

File Storage: Ensure that files are saved in a location that supports AutoSave, such as OneDrive or SharePoint, to maximize its effectiveness.

Enable AutoRecover: This ensures that even if AutoSave fails, you have another layer of protection by saving data in temporary files.

Effects of Disabling AutoSave

If AutoSave is disabled, you will have to manually save your work, which increases the risk of losing unsaved data. In this case, Excel will only save your data when you explicitly click “Save.” If the program crashes before you save, you may lose your progress.

Best Practices for File Recovery

Having a reliable file recovery strategy is essential. Here are some best practices to ensure you recover your files quickly:

Enable AutoSave: Always have AutoSave enabled to prevent loss of data.

Save Regular Backups: Regularly save backups of your important files in cloud storage or external drives.

Use OneDrive or SharePoint: These platforms support version history, which allows you to recover older versions of your work.

Don’t Rely Solely on AutoSave: While AutoSave is helpful, don’t rely on it exclusively. Manually saving files at regular intervals ensures you have multiple versions saved.

Try WinfrGUI for Recovery

If your AutoSave file cannot be recovered using standard methods, you can use data recovery software like WinfrGUI, which can help retrieve lost or corrupted files. Here’s how to use it:

Download WinfrGUI: Install WinfrGUI from a trusted source.

Select Recovery Mode: Choose the type of file recovery (e.g., AutoSave Excel files).

Scan Your Device: Let the tool scan the location where your AutoSave files were stored.

Restore Files: Once the scan is complete, you’ll see a list of recoverable files. Select the file you want to restore and follow the prompts.

This tool is highly useful if your files are not available in Excel’s auto-recovery options.

Closing Remarks

Excel AutoSave is a crucial tool for protecting your work and ensuring that your data is not lost due to unforeseen circumstances. Knowing where are excel autosave files stored, how to recover them, and how to customize your settings can help ensure that you are always prepared. Whether you’re using Windows or Mac, following the steps outlined above will guide you through the process of locating and recovering your AutoSave files quickly.

By enabling AutoSave, saving versions, and using tools like WinfrGUI for recovery, you can safeguard your work against data loss and improve your productivity in Excel. Always remember to use cloud services like OneDrive or SharePoint to take full advantage of AutoSave and version history.