How to Set Up Autosave In Excel

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Learn how to set up autosave in excel to automatically save files. This detailed guide covers Excel 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007, as well as unsaved and deleted file recovery.

What Is AutoSave in Excel  

The AutoSave option in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Office 365 is convenient. As you work on your files, it saves your work periodically. The AutoSave option is great since it reduces data loss in the event of software crashes, power outages, or system failure.

Activating AutoSave in Excel on Mac and Windows 10.

Let’s enable AutoSave in Mac and Windows Excel versions step-by-step.

Enable AutoSave in Excel for Mac.

If you are using Excel on a Mac, follow these instructions:

  • Select “Settings” from the “Excel” tab on Excel’s top toolbar.
  • Excel settings > Sharing and Privacy > “Save”.
  • Pick “Enable AutoSave by default” & “Save AutoRecover information every xx minutes.”
  • Click “OK” to save changes.

Activating AutoSave in Excel for Windows 10

For Windows 10 users, here’s how to enable AutoSave in Excel:

  • Open Excel, choose “File,” then “Options.”
  • Left side, click “Save.”
  • Examine both alternatives “Save AutoRecover information every xx minutes” & “Keep the latest AutoRecover version if I close without saving.”
  • Apply adjustments by clicking “OK”.

Activating AutoSave in Excel for Office 365.

If the AutoSave function is not working in Excel for Office 365, you can enable it manually by following these steps:

  • Open Excel and click on “File,” then select “Options.”
  • In the options dialog box, select the “Save” button.
  • Check the option that says “Automatically save OneDrive and SharePoint Online files by default in Excel.”
  • Set the desired automatic recording interval by selecting “Automatically save recovery data every xx minutes.”
  • Click “OK” to save the changes.

AutoSave and AutoRecover in Excel.

The AutoSave feature is a new feature exclusive to Excel Office 365, while AutoRecover is the name of the automatic saving feature in earlier versions of Excel (2010/2013/2016/2019). Both AutoSave and AutoRecover serve the same purpose of saving your work, but when AutoSave is enabled in Excel, recovering unsaved data becomes much easier. However, it’s important to note that AutoSave and AutoRecover cannot replace manual saving. Don’t forget to save your work regularly to prevent data loss!

Recovering Excel files using the AutoRecover function.

In the unfortunate event of an accidental closure or crash that causes Excel files to be lost, you can recover those files using the AutoRecover function in two ways:

Recovering unsaved Excel files using the document recovery feature:

When you open a new Excel after an unexpected shutdown, you will notice the document recovery pane. This pane will display the latest saved version of your work, allowing you to recover it.

Recover an unsaved Excel file from a temporary file:

If you cannot find the unsaved Excel file in the Document Recovery pane, please follow these steps:

  • Open Excel and select “File” > “Open” > “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.”
  • From the list, select the missing workbook and open it.
  • Save the Excel file to keep the work you have recovered safe.

Recovering deleted Excel files on Windows 10 and 11.

Accidentally deleting an Excel file can be a nightmare, but don’t worry! You can easily use the WinfrGUI tool to recover deleted or lost Excel files, as well as other types of files such as Word documents, images, videos, audio, and emails. Just follow these three simple steps below:

Choose a location and start scanning:

Select the specific drive or folder from which you lost the Excel files, then click the “Find Lost Data” button.

Find your Excel file:

Go to the “Documents” option in the left sidebar to quickly search for your Excel files from the scan results. You can preview them to ensure they are what you need.

Recover Excel files:

Select the Excel file you want and click the “Recover” button. Choose a new location on your local drive or cloud storage to save the recovered file.

Download WinfrGUI Free

Additional information about auto-saving in Excel.

This is the answer to common questions about the AutoSave feature in Excel:

Can’t you open the AutoSave function in Excel?

If the AutoSave setting is not working for certain files, especially large files or files stored in SharePoint, you can go to “File > Options > Save” and check the AutoSave box again.

Changing the auto-save location in Excel:

By default, the AutoRecover file path is C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel. You can modify this place as you wish by following these steps:

  • Open Excel and click on “File > Options” (in Excel 2007, click on the Office button > Excel Options).
  • Select “Notes” in the left sidebar.
  • Search for the “AutoRecover file location” section.
  • Change the starting route to the desired location, then click “OK” to save the changes.
  • Disabling the AutoSave function in Excel:

To turn off the AutoSave function, simply follow the same steps you used to enable it. Please refer to the instructions for enabling AutoSave in Excel 2016, locate the AutoSave option, and uncheck it.

>>Also Read: Excel Crashed: 8 Effective Ways to Resolve It!

Summary

Now you know how to set up autosave in excel. Don’t confuse AutoSave and AutoRecover, and save your work manually to minimize data loss. Use WinfrGUI to restore crucial Excel files if you mistakenly erase them. Excel operate with ease and confidence with AutoSave!