[Fixed] Saved But Can’t Find Excel File 

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Are you having trouble can’t find Excel file that you saved? It’s okay! In this article, we will present six effective methods for recovering your lost Excel files. Additionally, we will provide guidance on preventing future data loss, along with tips for safeguarding related documents.

Part 1. Understanding the disappearance of saved Excel files.

Microsoft Excel is a popular spreadsheet tool with advanced functionality and mathematical capabilities. Excel is a popular tool, yet many users still have issues. Some users accidentally close Excel without storing their work, requiring file recovery. This might be frustrating for others who save their files and can’t find them later. Excel users seem to have this issue often.

There are several reasons why can’t find excel file after saving:

  • Files stored online instead of on your computer make it difficult to find them.
  • The file was saved in an incorrect or unfamiliar location instead of the usual documents folder.
  • The file extension is not correct for the Excel file.
  • The unsuccessful or incorrect saving of an Excel worksheet.
  • Accidentally deleting an Excel file.

This comprehensive article presents several methods to help you recover your lost Excel files. If you are experiencing this issue, please continue reading to discover ways that can assist you.

Part 2. Effective methods for recovering saved Excel files.

The proposed solutions below align with the reasons mentioned earlier. Follow these steps to recover the missing Excel files.

Solution 1. Check if the Excel file is saved online.

If you only store your Excel files online, they won’t be accessible from your own computer. Cloud services are often used for viewing and editing Excel files, and these files are kept solely on the cloud server. To access your documents, log into your cloud service account and check if the files are available.

To access Outlook and check the local temp folder, please follow these steps:

  • Check the online services you use (like Outlook) and look for the Excel file.
  • Or you can check the local temp folder at this location: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\

Method 2: Find missing Excel files on your hard drive.

If you can’t find the Excel file you usually save, it might have been misplaced. In such cases, a thorough search of your hard drive can help you locate the file. This method can also be used to search for recently saved documents, such as Word files.

Follow these steps to find the missing Excel file:

  • Open File Explorer/My Computer.
  • In the search box, type the Excel file extension (.xlsx) or the file name. (if you remember it).
  • Press Enter to start the search.
  • Use the search tool to refine the results. Click on “Type” under the search tool and select “Documents.”
  • Find the Excel file you need in the search results.

Method 3: Check the Excel file extension.

Using an incorrect file extension for your Excel file may prevent it from opening correctly. Excel files typically have the extensions “.xlsx” or “.xls.” To resolve this issue, consider renaming the file and ensuring that the extension is correct.

Method 4. Check the Temp folder for unsaved files.

There is a chance that your recording may fail, and the Excel file might not be saved successfully after editing. However, Excel automatically saves your work every 10 minutes by default. You can try to recover the unsaved Excel file from the open window in Excel or from the temporary folder.

To search for the temporary folder and possibly recover your Excel files, please follow these steps:

  • Go to the following location: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel
  • Sort the temporary files by the date modified to find the desired Excel document.

Method 5: Recover Excel files from the recycle bin.

If you haven’t found your Excel file online in File Explorer or in the temporary folder, it may have been deleted. Please check the recycle bin to see if your Excel file is stored there.

Follow these steps to recover deleted Excel files from the recycle bin:

  • Double-click the trash can icon on your desktop to open it.
  • Please find the Excel file.
  • Right-click on the file and click “Restore.”

The Excel file will be restored to its original folder or location.

Method 6. Recover Excel files after permanent deletion.

If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot locate a saved Excel file and it has been permanently deleted from your computer, your best option is to rely on a backup made earlier or seek assistance from a data recovery service, which can be quite costly. Alternatively, you can use professional Windows data recovery tools to recover the deleted Excel file.

Among the many reliable applications, WinfrGUI is an excellent choice. Developed and supported by a capable team, this software offers a variety of useful features. The GUI version of Windows File Recovery developed by Microsoft allows you to recover files at no cost. You can start by using the free version to check if it can find and recover the Excel files you deleted.

Please follow these steps when using WinfrGUI:

  • Download and install WinfrGUI on your computer.
  • Move the mouse to the partition for data recovery and click “Scan.”
  • During the scan, use the available filters to sort your deleted Excel files, such as by type, date modified, size, or path.
  • Select the Excel file you want to recover and click “Recover x files” to save it to a different partition.

This powerful tool can also be used to recover deleted Word documents in just three easy steps.

Part 3. Additional proposals.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated when saving an Excel file but couldn’t find it, this article presents six possible methods to recover your Excel worksheet. Even if your data has been permanently deleted, powerful data recovery software like WinfrGUI can still assist you. The best part is that this tool offers a free version with no limitations.

To avoid facing the same issues in the future, it is recommended to consider following these suggestions:

  • In Excel or Word, go to Options > Advanced and check the option “Always create backup copy.”
  • Please avoid deleting the trash too often.
  • Use an external hard drive or professional backup software to keep your work safe.

By implementing these suggestions, you can reduce the risk of losing your important Excel files.

>>Also Read: Where Are Temp Word Files Stored and How to Recover