5 Options to Recover Old Version of Excel File

Excel spreadsheets are essential for business operations, data analysis, and personal projects, making the loss or accidental overwrite of a file a significant setback. Fortunately, recovering an old version of an Excel file is often possible through several dependable methods. This guide covers five practical solutions to help you retrieve previous versions of your Excel files, whether they were unsaved, overwritten, or deleted. From built-in features like AutoRecover and Version History to advanced recovery tools, you’ll learn how to quickly and securely restore your important data. Understanding these options not only helps minimize downtime but also prepares you to handle future data loss situations with confidence. By following this guide, you can safeguard your work and ensure continuity in your daily tasks without unnecessary stress or data loss.

Is It Possible to Recover an Old Version of an Excel File?

Yes—recovering an old version of an Excel file is possible but depends on specific conditions. Microsoft Office includes built-in features like AutoRecover, Version History, and Previous Versions (through File History) that can restore earlier file versions if properly enabled. These tools are effective for undoing accidental edits or recovering deleted files. When built-in options fall short, third-party recovery software like WinfrGUI provides a reliable alternative to retrieve lost Excel data.

How to Recover Old Version of Excel File Without Saving

Option1. Recover Excel File Using AutoRecover

Recovering an unsaved or lost Excel file is straightforward if you follow these key steps carefully; here’s how to use the AutoRecover feature to get your data back quickly and safely.

Step 1: Open Excel, go to File > Options > Save, and make sure to enable “Save AutoRecover information every X minutes” with your preferred interval and check “Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving,” then click OK to apply these settings.

Step 2: When you need to recover an unsaved file, open Excel, navigate to File > Info, click Manage Workbook, and select Recover Unsaved Workbooks to view available autosaved files.

Step 3: In the window that opens, locate the autosaved file that matches your lost workbook, open it to verify the content, and immediately save it to a secure location by using File > Save As with a new filename to prevent future loss.

Option2. Recover from Temporary (.TMP) Files

Step 1: Open File Explorer and go to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles\ to locate temporary Excel files.

Step 2: Identify files with a .tmp extension or filenames starting with ~Excel followed by random numbers.

Step 3: Copy the desired .tmp file to a safe location such as your Desktop to prevent accidental deletion.

Step 4: Right-click the copied .tmp file, choose “Open With,” and select Microsoft Excel to open it.

Step 5: Once opened, immediately save the file as a .xlsx or .xls format by going to File > Save As and selecting a secure folder.

Option3. Recover via Version History (OneDrive/SharePoint)

If your Excel file is saved on OneDrive or SharePoint, you can use the built-in Version History feature to recover previous versions with ease:

Step 1: Open the Excel file you want to restore.

Step 2: Click on the File tab in the ribbon, then select Info from the sidebar.

Step 3: Click on Version History—this will open a list of previously saved versions with timestamps.

Step 4: Browse through the versions and click on one to preview its contents, ensuring it’s the correct version you want to recover.

Step 5: After confirming, click Restore to replace the current file with the selected version, or choose Save As if you want to keep both versions separately for comparison or backup.

How to Recover Old Version of Excel File After Saving

Option4. Restore from Previous Versions (File History or Restore Points)

If Windows File History or Restore Points are enabled on your system, you can retrieve earlier saved versions of your Excel file by following these steps:

Step 1: Open File Explorer and go to the folder containing the Excel file.

Step 2: Right-click the file and select Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: Click the Previous Versions tab, where you’ll see a list of available backup versions along with timestamps.

Step 4: Select the version you want to restore, then click Restore to overwrite the current file or choose Copy to save it to a different location without affecting the current version.

Option5. Use Manage Workbook to Access Auto-Saved Versions in Excel

If you have AutoSave enabled in Excel, interim versions may be saved automatically, allowing you to recover earlier edits:

Step 1: Open the Excel file you want to recover.

Step 2: Click the File tab and select Info from the sidebar.

Step 3: Under the Manage Workbook section, click on the dropdown to see available auto-saved or previous versions.

Step 4: Select the version you wish to restore, then click Restore to replace the current file or Save As to create a separate copy, ensuring your data is safely preserved.

Use WinfrGUI for Advanced Recovery

When built-in methods aren’t enough or files are deleted permanently, WinfrGUI offers a powerful and user-friendly solution:

✅ Recover Excel files accidentally deleted or lost due to disk formatting, corruption, or system errors.
✅ Compatible with SSDs, HDDs, USB drives, and SD cards for versatile recovery.
✅ Supports multiple file systems including NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS.
✅ Intuitive graphical interface eliminates the need for complex command-line usage.

How to Recover with WinfrGUI:

1️⃣ Open WinfrGUI and select the drive where the lost Excel file was located.
2️⃣ Choose the appropriate file types (such as Excel files) and pick a scan mode (Quick or Deep Scan).
3️⃣ Review the list of recoverable files in the preview window, then select and click Recover to restore your data.

Troubleshooting FAQ:

Q1. Can I restore a previous Excel file version without overwriting my current data?

Yes. Use Version History in OneDrive or SharePoint, or Previous Versions via File History, and save the older version as a separate file to avoid losing your current work.

Q2. Why don’t I see any previous versions of my Excel file?

Previous versions won’t appear unless File History, AutoSave, or OneDrive versioning was enabled before changes occurred; if these aren’t set up, third-party recovery tools like WinfrGUI may help retrieve lost files.

Q3. How can I protect my Excel files from accidental deletion or overwriting in the future?

Enable AutoSave and AutoRecover, regularly back up files, store work on cloud services like OneDrive or SharePoint for version control, and maintain offline copies on external drives.

Q4. Is it possible to recover previous Excel file versions on a Mac?

Yes. Open the Excel file, then go to File > Revert To > Browse All Versions, where you can preview and restore any saved earlier version.

Q5. What should I do if the Excel file is corrupted or won’t open?

Try Excel’s built-in Open and Repair tool by going to File > Open, selecting the file, clicking the dropdown arrow next to Open, and choosing Repair; if that fails, use recovery software like WinfrGUI.

Q6. Can I recover Excel files after formatting or deleting a storage device?

Yes, but you’ll likely need specialized recovery software like WinfrGUI, which can scan formatted or corrupted drives to recover deleted Excel files and other data safely.

Conclusion

Accidentally overwriting, deleting, or losing an important Excel file happens to the best of us—but the good news is it’s usually fixable. With built-in tools like AutoRecover, Version History, and File History, you have plenty of options to quickly recover your valuable data. And if those don’t do the trick, reliable third-party tools like WinfrGUI offer an extra layer of protection and ease of recovery. By enabling these features and knowing how to use them, you can work with peace of mind knowing your files are safe. With the right approach, recovering an old version of an Excel file becomes simple and stress-free, helping you get back on track without missing a beat.

🔗 Also Read: How to Undo Changes in Excel After Save and Close