Reviving Unsaved Word Documents- A Guide to Reopening Recently Closed Files_1

How to Open Recently Closed Word Document Not Saved

Have you ever been in a situation where you accidentally closed a Word document without saving it? It can be a frustrating experience, especially if the document contained important information or work that you didn’t want to lose. Don’t worry; there are several ways to open a recently closed Word document that was not saved. In this article, we will discuss the different methods you can use to retrieve your unsaved document.

1. Use the “File” Menu

One of the simplest ways to open a recently closed Word document not saved is by using the “File” menu. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Click on the “File” menu located at the top left corner of the screen.
3. In the left-hand pane, click on “Open.”
4. Look for the “Recent” section on the right-hand side of the screen.
5. Scroll through the list of recently opened documents and click on the one you want to open.

If your document is not listed in the “Recent” section, you can try the next method.

2. Use the “Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access Toolbar is a customizable toolbar that provides quick access to frequently used commands. If you have added the “Open” button to the Quick Access Toolbar, you can use it to open a recently closed Word document not saved. Here’s how:

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. If the Quick Access Toolbar is not visible, click on the “File” menu and then click on “Options.”
3. In the “Customize Quick Access Toolbar” section, select “All Commands” from the drop-down menu.
4. Scroll through the list and find the “Open” command, then click on it and press “Add.”
5. Click “OK” to close the “Word Options” dialog box.
6. Click on the “Open” button on the Quick Access Toolbar to open the “Open” dialog box.
7. Look for the “Recent” section on the right-hand side of the screen and click on the document you want to open.

3. Use the “Undo” Command

If you have enabled the “Undo” command in the Quick Access Toolbar, you can use it to open a recently closed Word document not saved. Here’s how:

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. If the “Undo” button is not visible, click on the “File” menu and then click on “Options.”
3. In the “Customize Quick Access Toolbar” section, select “All Commands” from the drop-down menu.
4. Scroll through the list and find the “Undo” command, then click on it and press “Add.”
5. Click “OK” to close the “Word Options” dialog box.
6. Click on the “Undo” button to undo the last action, which should open the recently closed document.

4. Use the “File History” Feature

If you have enabled the “File History” feature on your computer, you can use it to restore a previously saved version of your Word document. Here’s how:

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Click on the “File” menu and then click on “Info.”
3. In the “Info” pane, click on “Manage Document.”
4. Click on “Open File Location” to open the folder where your document is stored.
5. Look for the document in the folder and open it.

Remember to enable the “File History” feature on your computer to use this method effectively.

5. Use the “Windows Search” Feature

If you have saved the unsaved Word document on your computer, you can use the “Windows Search” feature to find and open it. Here’s how:

1. Press the “Windows” key on your keyboard to open the Start menu.
2. Type the name of your document in the search box and press “Enter.”
3. Look for the document in the search results and double-click on it to open it.

By following these methods, you should be able to open a recently closed Word document not saved. Always remember to save your work regularly to avoid losing important information.