Look for the AutoRecover or backup version

By default, Office saves a copy of your file from time to time in case of a power cut or other failure. In theory, when you next launch Word, Excel or other Office program, it should present a list of files you can continue to work on, but sometimes you’ll see nothing at all. If this happens, here’s how to find the AutoRecover files.

Word 2002/2003

In the Tools menu, click Options Go to the File Locations tab and double-click AutoRecover files Copy or write down the file path, the click Cancel, and then Close Using Windows Explorer navigate to the AutoRecover file location Search for files with names ending in .asd

Word 2007

Click the Office button (top left) and choose Word Options In the Navigation Pane, click Save In the AutoRecover file location box, note the path, and then click Cancel. Using Windows Explorer navigate to the AutoRecover file location Search for files with names ending in .asd

Word 2010

Go to the File menu and choose Recent Click on Recover Unsaved Documents (at the bottom)

This takes you to the folder in which Office automatically saves your work, even if you never hit ‘Save’ and gave it a filename.