Enabling AutoSave in Excel: An Easy Guide

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Want to automatically save Excel files on Windows 10? This detailed article explains how to activate AutoSave in Excel 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007. Discover how to restore unsaved and deleted Excel files.

Understanding the AutoSave function in Excel.

The AutoSave option in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Office 365 is convenient. It automatically saves files at defined intervals while you work on them. Microsoft Office’s AutoSave (AutoRecover) feature stores temporary changes in a directory. You can choose the automatic saving location. Microsoft 365 automatically enables AutoSave for OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint Online files. This reduces data loss from software crashes, power outages, and system failures. Let’s activate Excel AutoSave for Windows 10 and 11.

Activating the AutoSave feature in Excel: Versions 2019/2016/2013/2010/2007

In this section, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to enable the AutoSave feature in Excel on both Mac and Windows computers. Additionally, we will explain how to activate AutoSave in Office 365.

Activating AutoSave in Excel for Mac.

An accident that causes macOS to crash and a power outage can be frustrating when you’re diligently working on an important Excel file that you haven’t saved yet. Fortunately, AutoSave can help you. Follow these simple steps to enable AutoSave in Excel on Mac:

  • Step 1: Open Excel on your Mac. Click on “Excel” in the top toolbar, then select “Settings.”
  • Step 2: In the Excel settings dialog box, click on “Save” under the Sharing and Privacy category.
  • Step 3: Select “Enable AutoSave by default” and “Save AutoRecover information every xx minutes.” Finally, click “OK” to save your changes.

How to enable AutoSave in Excel for Windows 10.

Activating the AutoSave feature in Excel on Windows 10/8/7 is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Open the Excel program on your computer. Go to “File” and select “Options.”
  • Step 2: In the options window, click on “Save” in the left panel. Then, check the boxes for “Save AutoRecover information every xx minutes” and “Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving.” Click “OK” to save your changes.

Activating AutoSave in Excel for Office 365.

If the AutoSave function is not working in Excel on Office 365, you can easily enable and customize the settings by following these steps:

  • Step 1: Open Excel and click on “File,” then select “Options.”
  • Step 2: Click “Save” in the Options dialog box and select “Automatically save OneDrive and SharePoint Online files as default in Excel.” This allows real-time Excel saving.
  • Step 3: Use “Save AutoRecover information every xx minutes.” Shortening the auto-save interval is advised. Apply the changes by clicking “OK”.

The distinction between AutoSave and AutoRecover in Excel.

AutoSave is new to Excel Office 365, while AutoRecover was the automatic saving option in Excel 2010/2013/2016/2019.

Default in Microsoft 365, AutoSave saves changes to your work on the local machine like AutoRecover. Unsaved Excel files can be recovered from temporary files or the latest auto-saved version.

Excel AutoRecover recovers unsaved files following an accidental close or software crash. Reopening Excel lets you restore to the last saved version in the document recovery window.

Recovering unsaved Excel files using the AutoRecover function.

If you lose your work in Excel due to an unexpected program shutdown or crash, you can use the AutoRecover feature to recover unsaved Excel files. Follow these two methods:

Recovering unsaved Excel files from the document recovery pane.

The AutoRecover feature in Excel has an option to recover from the most recently saved version, which is displayed in the document recovery pane when Excel is restarted.

Recovering an unsaved Excel file from a temporary file.

  • Step 1: Open Excel and select “File” > “Open” > “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.”
  • Step 2: Select the workbook that is missing from the list and open it. Don’t forget to save the recovered Excel file properly.

As you can see, enabling AutoSave in Excel makes recovering unsaved data a breeze. However, it’s important to note that AutoSave or AutoRecover cannot replace manual saving. To prevent data loss, it is recommended to save your work manually in real-time.

Recovering deleted Excel files in Windows 10 and 11.

Accidentally deleting an Excel file is a common occurrence and can create big problems. Don’t panic! You can trust WinfrGUI, a reliable data recovery and repair tool, to easily recover permanently deleted or lost Excel files, as well as Word documents, images, videos, audio files, and various emails.

This powerful software can also effectively repair corrupted Excel files. Follow these three steps to recover permanently deleted Excel files:

Step 1: Choose a location and click on “Scan.”

Select the specific drive or folder where you lost the Excel file and click the “Recover Lost Data” button.

Step 2: Locate your Excel file.

To quickly search for Excel files in the scan results, click on the “Documents” option in the left panel, select “xls” or “xlsx,” and use the “Preview” feature to ensure you have selected the desired file.

Step 3: Recover Excel files

Finally, select the Excel file you want and click the “Recover” button. Choose a folder to save the recovered Excel file in a different location, whether on your local drive or in cloud storage.

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Additional information about the AutoSave feature in Excel.

While using the AutoSave feature in Excel, you may encounter some issues. Let’s discuss these problems and explore solutions together.

Why can’t I enable the AutoSave function in Excel?

The AutoSave feature may not work for certain files, especially large files or files stored in SharePoint. To resolve this issue, go to “File > Options > Save” and select the AutoSave box again.

You can change the auto-save location in Excel by following these steps:

  • Open Excel and click on “File” in the top left corner.
  • Select “Option.” (Options)
  • In the options window, select “Save.” (Save)
  • In the “AutoRecover file location” section, you can change the address as you wish.
  • Click “OK.”

By default, the AutoRecover file path is set to C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel. You can change the file location as needed. Follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Open Excel and click on “File > Options” (or in Excel 2007, click on the Office button > Excel Options).
  • Step 2: In the options window, click on “Save” in the left panel and go to “AutoRecover file location.”
  • Step 3: Remove the starting path and fill in the location you want. Click “OK” to save the changes.

How can you turn off the AutoSave function in Excel?

To disable the AutoSave function, follow the same steps as when you enabled it. For instructions on how to disable the AutoSave function, please refer to the guidance provided earlier for enabling it in Excel 2016. Find the AutoSave option and uncheck it.

By following these guidelines, you can easily enable the AutoSave function in Excel and effectively utilize its powerful features to ensure the safety of your valuable data.