Word's AutoRecover is famously unreliable — except when you know where it actually saves files. This guide covers the four folder locations to check in order, the Windows registry tweak that makes AutoRecover work better, and how to recover from a Word crash even when AutoRecover claims there's nothing to show.
Key Topics Covered
AutoRecover file location on Windows and Mac
Checking the UnsavedFiles folder in Office temp directory
TMP file recovery from Word's working directory
Increasing AutoRecover interval in Word settings
Document recovery pane — when it appears and when it doesn't