Where Are Temp Word Files Stored and How to Recover

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where are temp word files stored

Temporary Word files can be a real headache to find, especially when you think you’ve saved your documents, but they seem to be missing. There are many ways you can lose Word documents on your PC—from hard drive failures to accidental deletion and even virus attacks. That’s when the question hits: where are temp Word files stored? Don’t worry! In this post, we’ll walk you through how to locate temporary Word files on both Windows and macOS.

The good news is that Microsoft Word automatically creates and stores copies or temporary versions of unsaved documents. This feature is incredibly helpful when you’re trying to recover missing work. So let’s dive in and explore where temp Word files are stored—and how you can recover them easily.

If you’re a Windows user, one quick way to search is by navigating to this path:
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word
This folder often contains the temporary Word files you’re looking for.

How to Locate Temporary Word Files in Windows

Losing important Word documents can be stressful, but luckily there are several ways to locate temporary or unsaved Word files on your Windows PC. Whether your file was lost due to a crash, accidental closure, or other reasons, these methods can help you recover your work.

Let’s start with one of the most effective solutions—using specialized recovery software that digs deep into your system to find lost files.

Method 1: Use recovery software to find unsaved Word files.

One of the most effective ways to locate temporary and unsaved Word files is by using specialized recovery software such as WinfrGUI. This free tool thoroughly scans your computer to find lost or unsaved files not only from Word but also from Excel, PowerPoint, photos, videos, and audio files.

winfrgui

Key Functions of WinfrGUI:

  • Deep Scan: Searches your entire hard drive or specific folders for deleted or unsaved files.
  • File Type Filtering: Allows you to filter search results by file formats like .doc and .docx for Word documents.
  • Preview Feature: Enables you to preview files before recovery to ensure you select the correct documents.
  • Recovery of Unsaved Files: Special mode to target files that were never saved or were lost due to crashes.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Simple steps guide even beginners through the recovery process.

How to use WinfrGUI to recover unsaved Word files:

  1. Download and install WinfrGUI on your Windows PC.
  2. Launch the program and select the local disk or folder where your Word files were last stored.
  3. Check the “Unsaved Files” option to target files Word failed to save.
  4. Select the .doc and .docx file types to focus on Word documents.
  5. Start the scan and wait for the results.
  6. Browse the recovered files using the preview function.
  7. Select the files you want and click “Recover” to save them to a safe location (preferably a different drive).
Download WinfrGUI Free

Method 2: Use Microsoft Word Recovery Features

Microsoft Word includes built-in tools designed to help you recover unsaved documents. These are usually the first place to check if Word crashes or you close a document without saving.

Steps to recover unsaved Word files using Word’s recovery feature:

  1. Open Microsoft Word.
  2. Click the File tab in the upper-left corner.
  3. Select Open from the sidebar.
  4. Click Recover Unsaved Documents near the bottom of the window.
  5. A folder containing unsaved Word files will open. Browse through it and open the document you want to recover.
  6. Save the recovered file immediately to avoid losing it again.

You can also manually locate temporary Word files on your PC by navigating to:

mathematica C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\UnsavedFiles

In this folder, you’ll find temporary files created by Word, which often have names ending with .asd or .tmp. Copy the file to another location and open it with Word to check your content.

Method 3: Use File Explorer to search for Temp files.

File Explorer is another useful tool you can use to locate temporary Word files on your Windows computer.

Follow these steps:

  • Click on the “Windows and E” buttons at the same time to open the file scanner.
  • Enter “.temp” in the search bar at the top right corner and press “Enter”.
  • Select the desired Temp Word file from the list

Another way to find a temporary Word file is to use the Run dialog:

  • Click on the Windows + R button to open the run dialog.
  • Enter “%temp%” and click “OK”
  • A list of temporary files will be displayed. Search for the files you want.

To make sure you never lose your Word file. It is recommended to enable auto saving and autoRecover before. Follow these steps:

  • Open Word and go to the File tab.
  • Select “Options”
  • Select “Save every automatic recovery data” and set the interval. (5 to 10 minutes).
  • Enable the “Automatically save the latest if I turn off without saving” option.
  • Click on “OK”

Temporary Word files are essential for the smooth operation of Microsoft Word. Each time you create or edit a document, Word generates a temporary file as a backup. These files usually have a “.tmp” extension and are stored in designated temporary folders on your system. Once you save the document, these temp files are typically deleted automatically. If File Explorer isn’t working properly during this process, check out this guide for help: Windows File Explorer Not Responding? Try 8 Quick Fixes!

Where Are Temporary Word Files Stored: FAQ

Q1. Where is the unsaved Word file stored in Windows?

By default, Microsoft Word saves unsaved files through the AutoRecover feature in this way: C:\Users[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles. However, the exact location may vary depending on your Word version and system settings. Check your Word AutoRecovery settings for correct information.

Q2. How can I quickly find a temporary file?

You can use the built-in file scanner to quickly find temporary files:

  • Click on the “Windows + E” button to open the file scanner.
  • Type “%temp%” in the search bar, then press Enter.
  • This will take you to the Temp folder, which contains the temporary file.
Q3. Can I recover unsaved Word files without using a time file?

Yes, you can recover unsaved Word files using the Word Autorecover feature. Here’s how:

  • Select the “Files” tab, then click on “Information” and select “Manage Documents”.
  • Click on “Recover unsaved documents”
  • Select “Open” when you select the file you want to receive.
  • Select the “Save as” button and save your Word file.
Q4. Where is the temporary Word file stored on your Mac?

On Mac, you can find temporary Word files in a Temporary folder. These files were created by the Mac operating system and stored in a temporary folder on the system. (TMP folder). It is worth checking this folder if you are looking for a missing job recovery.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering where are temp Word files stored, the answer depends on your system. On Windows, they’re typically found in folders like:

  • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\
  • %temp% via the Run dialog
  • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles\

On Mac, temporary Word files are usually stored in system-generated TMP folders, such as /private/var/folders.

Understanding where temp Word files are stored is essential for recovering lost or unsaved documents. You can rely on Word’s built-in recovery tools or take it a step further with a dedicated solution like WinfrGUI, which can scan your entire drive for deleted or unsaved Word documents and help bring them back in just a few clicks.

To avoid future headaches, make sure to enable AutoSave and AutoRecover in Word. But if you’ve already lost something important, don’t panic—follow the methods above and start your recovery process now.

Also Read👉 How To Recover a Lost Word Document