7 Fixes to Accidentally Clicked Don’t Save Excel Issue

Losing hours of work in Excel because you accidentally clicked don’t save excel can be a heart-stopping moment. In today’s fast-paced work environment, every keystroke counts—and a single misclick might seem like a disaster. Fortunately, there are multiple strategies available to recover your lost data. In this article, we’ll explore seven practical fixes that can help you restore your unsaved Excel files quickly and efficiently, ensuring that such mishaps don’t derail your productivity.

Fix 1. Recover from display recovered files

Here is the main way to recover unsaved Excel files. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Restart Excel: a Document Recovery pane should appear on the left side of the window.

Step 2. Select the most recent version of the file you were working on.

Step 3. Click on a recovered file to open it and check if it’s the correct version.

Step 4. Once the file opens, go to File > Save As and save it to a secure location.

Fix 2. Recover from Temp files

You can use Microsoft Office’s “automatic recovery” to save your files without actively saving them. Windows versions store temporary files in separate folders. Examples:

1. Windows 10: C:\Users\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\Unsaved file

2. Windows 8/7/Vista: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles

3. Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\User name\Local settings\Application information\Microsoft\Office\Unsaved file

File names for temporary files include holders. They are typically tilded (~), indicating temporary storage. Hard drive space is saved.

Fix 3. Use Excel AutoRecover Folder

AutoSave and AutoRecover are useful features that can help you recover unsaved files.

AutoSaver will automatically save your Excel files for regular periods of time, while autoRecover allows you to restore the last saved files in the event of a faulty shutdown or system failure.

To take advantage of this feature, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Excel, click “Files” > “Open ” > “Last.”

Step 2. Search for “Recover Unsaved Workbooks” or similar options, depending on your Windows version.

Step 3. Go to the page where you can find the desired Excel file.

Fix 4. Best Way to Recover unsaved Excel

WinfrGUI is a user-friendly solution designed specifically to deal with disappointments caused by mistaken clicks in Excel.

It serves as a graphical interface for Windows file recovery. It’s completely free of charge by Microsoft Corporation.

Here’s how WinfrGUI can help you recover unsaved Excel files:

• Enable WinfrGUI: Open the WinfrGUI application on your Windows PC.
• Drive Selection: Select the drive where you lost your Excel files. WinfrGUI supports recovery from various storage devices, including internal and external drives, USB flash disks, SD cards, and NAS storage units.
• File Scan: Allows WinfrGUI to scan the selected drive for missing or deleted Excel files. It will carefully search for and compile a list of recovered files.
• Show sample and select: It takes a while to see the recovered file. This will verify your identification.
• Recover: After checking the Excel files and clicking “Recover” on the button, choose a system location to save the recovered files.
• Sit back and relax as WinfrGUI recovers. After completion, your Excel files will be safely restored to the selected place.

In addition to WinfrGUI, there are many other ways you can try to recover unsaved Excel files. Try exploring these options.

Fix 5. Recover from recent workbook options.

Step 1. Launch Microsoft Excel again.

Step 2. Click on File in the top menu.

Step 3. Click on “Info” and select Info.

Step 4. Select “Manage Workbook” and click Recover Unsaved Workbooks.

Step 5. Choose the Most Recent Unsaved File

• A window will open showing a list of unsaved files.
• Select the most recent file (based on date and time).

Step 6. Open and Save the File

• Click Open to check the file’s contents.
• If it’s the correct file, go to File > Save As and save it to a secure location.

Fix 6. Restore from File History

If you want to find an unsaved edited version of the Excel workbook, follow these steps:

Step 1. Right-click the folder and select Properties.

Step 2. Open the Previous Versions tab.

Step 3. Choose a version from before the file was lost.

Step 4. Click Restore to recover it.

Fix 7. Recover from OneDrive and Dropbox

Both OneDrive and Dropbox have cloud storage solutions where you can save your work and access it from anywhere.

Here’s how you can recover your lost Excel files using these platforms:

OneDrive Recovery

Step 1. Go to https://onedrive.live.com

Step 2. Register or log in with your Microsoft account.

Step 3. Discover the OneDrive interface and find the Excel file you want.

Dropbox Recovery

Step 1. Go to http://dropbox.com/.

Step 2. Register or log in to your Dropbox account

Step 3. Find your desired Excel file.

Step 4. Once found, select and click the download button.

Step 5. Open the file and be happy to find your missing Excel file.

FAQ to Accidentally Clicked Don’t Save Excel

Q1. How to enable the automatic recording and recycling function

To make sure your Excel files are saved automatically and the existing recovery options are followed, follow these steps:

• Step 1. Click “Files” > “Options” and then go to the “Save” tab.
• Step 2. Enable both “Automatic Recovery Log” and “Check the latest version of AutoRecovered if I close without saving it.”

Q2. Can I make a backup of the saved Excel file?

Yes. You can enable automatic backup for your workbook by following these steps:

• Step 1. Go to File > Save As and click Browse to open the Save As dialog.
• Step 2. In the dialog box, click on the “Tools” option. (located in the lower right part).
• Step 3. Click on “General Options” and check the “Always Create Backup” option in the dialogue.
• Step 4. Click OK and save the file to the folder/location you want.

Q3. Can we recover the document if we don’t save it?

Yes. Luckily, you can recover the document even if you click “do not save” by mistake. Just open the Excel workbook.

See the main menu bar and click on the “Show recovered files” button. This opens the function, you can find all of your unsaved files. Find the files you want and save them by renaming them.

Q4. What happens if I unintentionally click “Don’t save”?

Clicking on “Do Not Save” may be a nightmare for anyone. It may lead to the loss of all your files. However, we have a solution for you. WinfrGUI is your best bet in this situation. I

t is an effective way to recover unsaved files and make sure your hard work is not lost.

>>Read Also: How to Open Recently Closed Word Document?

Conclusion

Accidentally clicking don’t save in Excel can happen to anyone, but it doesn’t have to result in permanent data loss. With the strategies outlined above, you now have seven effective fixes to tackle the accidentally clicked don’t save excel issue head-on. By leveraging Excel’s built-in recovery features, system backups, and even third-party recovery tools, you can minimize the impact of such errors and safeguard your valuable work. Remember to enable AutoRecover and save your work frequently to prevent future headaches.