Where are Word AutoRecover files stored?

Windows 11/10: C:\\Users\\[username]\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Office\\UnsavedFiles\\ for documents that were never saved, and C:\\Users\\[username]\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Word\\ for crash-recovery copies. Mac: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/. Files use .asd, .wbk, or AutoRecovery save of [name].asd extensions.

Word crashed and the document is corrupt — how do I open it?

In Word: File → Open → Browse → click the file → click the arrow next to the Open button → Open and Repair. Word attempts to repair structural corruption. If that fails, try opening in WordPad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac) to extract raw text. SafeRestore's File Repair tool can also reconstruct .docx files when the ZIP container is damaged.

How do I prevent losing Word documents in the future?

Three settings to enable: (1) File → Options → Save → Save AutoRecover information every X minutes — set to 1 minute. (2) Check 'Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving.' (3) Save documents to OneDrive or SharePoint to enable AutoSave (saves every keystroke). Combine with File History or Time Machine for full coverage.

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Recover Unsaved Word Documents — Windows & Mac

Closed Microsoft Word without saving? Your document may still be in the AutoRecover folder. Here are all the recovery paths for Windows and Mac.

Step-by-Step Guide

Let Word recover the file automatically — When you reopen Word after a crash, it automatically offers to recover unsaved documents in the Document Recovery pane on the left side. Click the version you want to restore.
Search the AutoRecover folder — Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word. Mac: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery. Open the folder and look for files with the document name and a recent timestamp.
Check the Unsaved Documents folder (Windows) — In Word: File → Info → Manage Document → Recover Unsaved Documents. This opens %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles where Word stores drafts of documents that were never given a file name.
Restore from OneDrive AutoSave — If AutoSave was enabled and the document was stored in OneDrive, open the file in OneDrive and check Version History (right-click the file → Version History) for earlier saved states.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I recover an unsaved Word document?

Open Word → File → Info → Manage Document → Recover Unsaved Documents. Word stores AutoRecover files at: Windows: C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles\. Mac: /Users/[user]/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/. Open any .asd or .wbk file from those folders and Save As to keep it.

Can I recover a Word document I closed without saving?

Yes — if AutoRecover was on (default since Word 2010). Open Word → File → Open → Recent → Recover Unsaved Documents (link at the very bottom of the recent list). Pick your document. Save it immediately with Save As.

How do I recover a Word document overwritten by a newer save?

Right-click the file → Properties → Previous Versions (Windows) or right-click → Restore Previous Versions in Time Machine (Mac). For OneDrive-synced documents: right-click in OneDrive web → Version History — every save is kept for 30 days.

Can I recover Word documents deleted from the Recycle Bin?

Yes — until disk space is reused. Stop using the PC immediately. Run a deep scan with SafeRestore on the drive that contained the document. Word's .docx files have a clear ZIP signature (PK header) that scanners recognize, giving high recovery rates.

Does OneDrive recover unsaved Word changes?

If the document was stored in OneDrive and AutoSave was on, every change is saved automatically as you type. To revert: open the document → File → Info → Version History. Pick any earlier version and click Restore. OneDrive keeps versions for 30 days.

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