How to Restore Previous Version of Excel File

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Recovering an earlier version of an Excel file may be important if it is deleted or if your computer fails. The loss of important data may be disappointing, but there are ways to recover previous versions of Excel files on both Windows and Mac systems. In this article we will explore the step-by-step steps of recovering saved and unsaved Excel files.

Part 1: Recovering previous versions of Excel files in Windows

When it comes to recovering the last saved version of Excel files on Windows, there are several ways you can try. Whether you’re saving files or not. There’s a solution to restore previous versions.

Scene 1: Recover Saved Excel Files

The “Version History” feature is a useful tool for quickly recovering previous version Excel files. However, please make sure your auto-saving feature is enabled. Follow these steps to ensure:

  • Step 1: Open the Excel file you want to recover and right click on it.
  • Step 2: Select “Restore previous version” from the option
  • Step 3: In the Properties dialog, follow this path: Click “Previous Version” > Select the desired version > Click “Restore”

Scene 2: Recover unsaved Excel files

If you haven’t saved your Excel file yet, but want to restore an earlier version, you can use the “Manage Workbook” feature in Microsoft Excel. Here’s how:

  • Step 1: Click on “File” and select “Information”.
  • Step 2: Find the “Manage Workbook” option from the shoot down button.
  • Step 3: Select “Recover Unsaved Workbooks” which will open the “Open” dialog.
  • Step 4: Find the file you want to recover and select “Open”
  • Step 5: Save your Excel file by selecting the “Save as” command in the “Files” tab and selecting your desired directory.

Part 2: Recover previous versions of Excel files on Mac

Recovering previous versions of Excel files on Mac is possible in different ways. Try exploring two ways to get this:

Scene 1: Recovering Excel files saved through temporary entries

Like the AutoSave feature, Mac has a TemporaryItems folder where you can find Excel files that are still being edited. If you accidentally deleted or lost files, you may be able to find them in this folder. Here’s how:

  • Step 1: Open Finder and go to “Applications”, then click “Utilities” and select “Terminal”.
  • Step 2: In the terminal, enter “Open $TMPDIR” and press “Return”
  • Step 3: Find and open the TemporaryItems folder
  • Step 4: Find the Excel file with the “.tmp” extension that you want to recover.
  • Step 5: Change file extension from “.tmp” to “.xls.”
  • Step 6: Open the file with Microsoft Excel to confirm the contents.

Scene 2: Restore Previous Version of Excel File through AutoRecover

If you haven’t saved an Excel file on your Mac, don’t be afraid. The AutoRecover feature can help you recover previous versions. Follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Select “Finder”. Click on “Go” and select “Go to Folder”.
  • Step 2: Enter the correct path (replace ~ with your username)

Note: Automatic recovery files vary depending on the version of Office you are using. Please refer to the specific steps below for Office 2011, 2008 and 2016.

Office 2016:

/user/~/ library/containers/Com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft

Office 2011:

User/~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/Office2011AutoRecovery

Office 2008:

User/~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/Office2008AutoRecovery

  • Step 3: Click on “To” to access the missing Excel file.
  • Step 4: Find the previous version of the Excel file that you want to recover.
  • Step 5: Open the file to confirm the contents
  • Step 6: If it’s a valid file, select “File” and click “Save” and select the directory you want on your Mac.

Part 3: Restore Previous Version of Excel File in SharePoint

If you use SharePoint to store your Excel file, follow these steps to restore the previous version:

  • Step 1: Open the library using the Quick Launch Bar. Or walk through “View All Website Content” and select your ocean of rooms.
  • Step 2: Right-click on the space between the document name and date. Select “Version History” from the menu.
  • Step 3: If you can’t find “history” click on the ellipsis menu. (…) And you should find it there.
  • Step 4: The version list of your Excel file will appear.
  • Step 5: Choose the model you want to return and click on “Restore”.

Part 4: A simple and secure way to recover Excel files with WinfrGUI

If the other method fails, you can rely on a professional data recovery program like WinfrGUI. This software supports various formats including Excel files and provides a secure recovery process. Follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Download and install WinfrGUI on your computer
  • Step 2: Select the directory where your Excel file is stored before being rewritten. Click “Start” to start the scanning process.
  • Step 3: WinfrGUI will scan your disk for information. This period depends on the size of your file.
  • Step 4: Once the scan is complete, select the files you want and click on “Recover” to save them. It is important to check the files before saving.
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Conclusion

Recovering overwritten Excel files is possible on both Windows and Mac systems. If you act quickly. Think about using a third-party tool like WinfrGUI for better results. This software not only restore previous version of excel file, but can also scan all of your hard drives for other data loss issues.