Are you struggling with AutoRecover not working issue and looking for a way out?
Well, in that case, you have landed on the appropriate page to find a solution. Excel AutoRecover is an in-built feature that auto-saves all open excel files at a user-defined fixed interval.
However, sometimes this function stops working automatically, resulting in unexpected data loss. But there is no need to freak out as we’ve got you covered.
This comprehensive guide will take you through different methods to fix Autorecover not working issue in various Microsoft applications. Keep on reading and resolve the error with ease.
Part 1: What’s AutoRecover and Why It Not Working?
AutoRecover is an in-built feature given by Microsoft to facilitate the users. It saves a copy of your work on a daily basis while you are working on a project.
In short, this Microsoft feature allows you to make automatic backup of your working document so you can recover the most up-to-date version of the document if the program crashes or the system shuts down unexpectedly. This feature is available in MS Excel 2007 and higher.
But in certain instances, this feature stops working which, in turn, leads to an unexpected data loss. In this scenario, there might be two possible causes of occurring AutoRecover not working error, either the feature is not enabled or the file gets corrupted.
Let’s learn about these causes in a bit of detail.
1. AutoRecover feature is disabled
AutoRecover will not work if the user forgets to enable the feature. In such cases, Excel files do not get auto-saved when closing the program.
Hence, it is advised to check the “Save AutoRecover information every minute” and “Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving” checkboxes are checked or not.
If both or either one of them is unchecked, it means that AutoRecover is disabled due to which you are unable to use the option.
2. The file gets corrupted
The second major reason that might trigger the error is the corruption of the file. Sometimes, files get damaged due to a virus attack, sudden power loss, and more, resulting in AutoRecover not working error.
Part 2: How to Fix Excel Autorecover Not Working Issue?
Since now you are aware of the primary reasons that mainly cause the trouble, it’s time to learn about the solutions to fix this trouble in different MS applications.
For Excel
Method 1: Enable the “AutoRecover” feature
Make you have enabled the AutoRecover feature to enjoy its advantages. Follow the steps given below to enable AutoRecover.
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Launch MS Excel and click on the File > Options.
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Tap on the Save tab and tick the checkbox “Keep the last auto-saved version if I close without saving” and “Save AutoRecover Information every * minute” box.
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Set the time in the “Save AutoRecover information for every * minutes.”
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Click Ok and you are done.
Method 2: Repair Corrupted Excel Files Manually with “Open and Repair”
Since AutoRecover not working error might occur due to the corrupted files, you should opt for repairing the excel file to get rid of the trouble.
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Click File > Open.
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Browse the folder containing the damaged file.
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Choose the corrupted excel file in the Open dialog box and click the arrow next to the Open button.
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Tap “Open and Repair” and choose “Repair” to repair the damaged file.
For Word
Method 1: Check the file format
AutoRecover feature doesn’t support older file formats such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, etc. So, if you facing trouble while using it, make sure to check the file format before executing another solution. Consider changing it if it is not compatible with AutoRecover and see if it helps in resolving the error.
Method 2: Enable AutoRecover option
Carry out the step-by-step guide to enable the AutoRecover feature in MS Word.
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Select File > Options.
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Click “Save” on the left pane.
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Check the box that says “Save AutoRecover Information Every * minute. You can set the time value by using arrow keys.
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Click Ok.
For PDF
Method 1: Using the AutoSave feature of your PDF application
All major PDF readers, including Adobe, Nitro, Foxit, etc., have AutoSave features that you can use to recover the lost data. Read on to find how this works in major PDF applications.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
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Access the unsaved file on which you were working before the program crashed and tap “Yes” when asked to open the file with the AutoSave feature.
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Get it saved with the same name as the original file.
Foxit Reader
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Go to the File Explorer and visit the %systemdrive%\Windows\Temp.
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Now, open %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Temp to find the recovered file.
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Click on Yes when prompted and save the file with the same name as the original.
For Powerpoint
Method 1: Turn the AutoRecover feature on
Follow the steps to enable the AutoRecover feature in MS Powerpoint.
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Got to the File tab.
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Click “Options.”
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Tap on the Save tab.
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Make sure the Save AutoRecover Information box is checked.
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Adjust the time interval and click Ok.
Part 3: Ultimate One-stop Solution : Try Wondershare Repairit
Have you tried all methods but are unable to fix the “AutoRecover not working” error? Consider using Wondershare Repairit and get rid of the trouble quickly. It is a third-party tool to fix corrupted or damaged files in various formats such as docx, pptx, xlsx, and more
Features
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Repair damaged files with all levels of corruption, including blank files, files not opening, unrecognizable format, unreadable content, files layout changed, etc.
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Support to repair all formats of PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Zip, and Adobe files.
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Perfectly repair corrupted files with a very high success rate, without modifying the original file.
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No limit to the number and size of the repairable files.
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Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 14.
Step 1: Load corrupted files
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Download and install Wondershare Repairit. Open it and choose "File Repair" in the "More Types Repair" section.
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Click on the Add button to upload corrupted files. Browse the folder containing the damaged files and selectively choose which are to be repaired by ticking the checkboxes against each file.
Step 2: Initiate the Repair
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As soon as the file gets uploaded, click on the “Repair” button to commence the process. The software might take a while to complete the repair. Until then, you can check the progress of the process on the screen.
Step 3: Preview and Save
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Once the repair process is completed, the users can use the Preview function of the software to check whether the file is successfully repaired or not.
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If you are satisfied with the final result, click on the “Save” button to store the repaired file at the designated location.
This video can help you fix your files with a step-by-step guide.
Attention:
If you want to repair files online and your corrupted file is no more than 300MB, you can try the online version of Repairit to get your files repaired online with ease.
Final Verdict
AutoRecover not working error mainly triggers when the file gets corrupted or if the user has disabled the feature mistakenly. But there is no need to worry about it as there are plenty of go-to solutions to resolve the trouble. These can be implemented to determine the possibility of getting back maximum data added in the last saved version of the file.
While you can use the easy steps to turn on the AutoRecover feature, the users have to opt for some third-party tool if the file gets corrupted or damaged. Wondershare Repairit is a one-stop solution to repair word, excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. It features a simple interface and can restore even the most severely damaged files in three easy steps.
FAQs
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1. Why is AutoSave turned off?
AutoSave feature is available in Excel, Word, and Powerpoint for Microsoft 365 subscribers. It gets enabled automatically when a file is stored on One Drive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online. However, this feature gets disabled if the file is stored in another location or if it hasn’t been saved at all. -
2. Where are AutoRecover files saved?
AutoRecover files are usually saved at: C:\Users<UserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles. In this path, you can replace <UserName” with your username to get the file. However, if you don’t find missing files in these locations, Open Word and select File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents.
