How to Find Recently Deleted Microsoft Word Documents
Losing important documents can be a frustrating experience, especially when it’s something you’ve recently worked on. Whether it’s an important project for work or a personal essay you’ve been diligently writing, finding recently deleted Microsoft Word documents is crucial. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to recover your deleted documents and get back to work without any hassle.
1. Check the Recycle Bin
The first place you should look for recently deleted Microsoft Word documents is the Recycle Bin. When you delete a document, it is often moved to the Recycle Bin instead of being permanently deleted. To find your deleted document:
1. Open the Recycle Bin by clicking on the icon on your desktop or searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Look for the Microsoft Word document you’re trying to recover. If you can’t find it, you can use the search function in the Recycle Bin to search for the file name.
3. Once you’ve found the document, right-click on it and select “Restore” to move it back to its original location.
2. Use the “Undo Delete” Command
If the document is still in the Recycle Bin and you want to undo the deletion immediately, you can use the “Undo Delete” command in Microsoft Word. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open Microsoft Word and navigate to the location where your document was saved.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top left corner of the screen.
3. Select “Open” and navigate to the folder where your document was saved.
4. Click on the “Undo Delete” button located in the bottom-left corner of the window. This will restore the document to its original location.
3. Use the “Recover Unsaved Documents” Feature
If you’ve accidentally closed a Microsoft Word document without saving it, you can try to recover it using the “Recover Unsaved Documents” feature. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open Microsoft Word and click on the “File” tab.
2. Select “Manage Documents” and then “Recover Unsaved Documents.”
3. A list of recently unsaved documents will appear. Look for the document you’re trying to recover and click on it to open it.
4. Utilize File History
If you have enabled File History on your Windows computer, you can use it to recover deleted documents. File History automatically saves copies of your files at regular intervals. To use File History:
1. Open the File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your document was saved.
2. Right-click on the folder and select “Restore previous versions.”
3. A list of previous versions of the folder will appear. Select the version that contains the deleted document and click “Restore” to save it to your computer.
5. Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software
If the above methods don’t work, you can try using third-party data recovery software to recover your deleted Microsoft Word documents. These tools are designed to scan your computer’s hard drive and recover deleted files. Some popular data recovery software options include:
– Recuva
– EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
– Stellar Data Recovery
To use these tools, follow the instructions provided by the software to scan your computer for deleted files and recover your Microsoft Word document.
In conclusion, finding recently deleted Microsoft Word documents is possible with a few simple steps. By checking the Recycle Bin, using the “Undo Delete” command, utilizing the “Recover Unsaved Documents” feature, enabling File History, or using third-party data recovery software, you can recover your deleted documents and get back to work.
