Reopen Word first and check the Document Recovery pane. If the draft was never saved on Windows, use File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents. On Mac, look in Word’s AutoRecovery folder if the pane has no copy. Open likely versions, check their dates and times, then save the right one under a deliberate filename. If the document was already saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, check Version History instead.
Start with the kind of loss you have
The right recovery route depends on whether the document was ever saved, where it was stored, and what happened to Word. A never-saved local draft is different from changes lost in a crash, an earlier cloud version, or a damaged file.
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- Never saved or closed without saving: use Word’s unsaved-document recovery on Windows; on Mac, check the recovery pane and then AutoRecovery files.
- Word crashed or closed unexpectedly: reopen Word and inspect the Document Recovery pane on either platform.
- Previously saved to OneDrive or SharePoint: use Version History to find an earlier version.
- Saved file exists but will not open: try Open and Repair; it is not a way to retrieve a never-saved draft.
Microsoft describes Document Recovery as opening automatically the next time you start an Office app after it closes unexpectedly before recent changes are saved. See Microsoft’s recovery guidance.
Recover an unsaved document on Windows
If the document was never saved
- Open Word.
- Go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents. Menu wording can vary slightly by Word release.
- Select the likely document and open it.
- Use Save As to save a permanent copy in a location you can find.
Microsoft documents this route for Word 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365. The recovery list may not contain every unsaved draft, so save any candidate you find before resuming work. Instructions: Recover an earlier version of a Word file.
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- The Data Recovery Stick requires no technical skills — simply plug it into your Windows computer, click Start, and the software automatically begins scanning and recovering lost files within minutes. Compatible with Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, & 11, it's designed to be a reliable first step when accidental deletion occurs.
- Recover photos (JPG, BMP, PNG, TIFF), Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access), Open Office files, MP3 music files, PDFs, RTF documents, AutoCAD files, and HTML web pages. Whether it's personal memories or critical business files, the Data Recovery Stick covers the file types that matter most.
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If you had saved it before, then chose not to save changes
Open the document and check File > Info > Manage Documents for a version marked as closed without saving. If Word offers a restore option, review the candidate first; restoring may replace the current saved copy. Compare versions before replacing anything when possible.
Recover work after Word closes unexpectedly
- Reopen Word and look for the Document Recovery pane.
- If several copies appear, compare the dates and times displayed under their names. The latest timestamp is a useful clue, but open and review candidates if you are unsure.
- Save the version containing your work before closing it or continuing to edit.
These steps apply to Windows and Mac. Word 2024 and Word 2024 for Mac are documented as reopening documents that were open when Word unexpectedly closed, but this behavior should not be assumed for every Word release. See What’s new in Word 2024 for Windows and Mac.
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Find Word AutoRecovery files on Mac
If the recovery pane does not show the needed copy, use Finder to open the documented AutoRecovery folder. It is hidden in Finder’s normal browsing view.
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- Enter
/Users/<username>/Library/Containers/com.Microsoft/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery, replacing<username>with your Mac account name. - Open likely files, check their contents, and save the needed one under a deliberate filename.
Microsoft documents this path for current versions; it can differ by version or configuration. Be careful when closing a recovered file: Microsoft says choosing Don’t Save deletes the AutoRecover file. Save a copy promptly, using a new name if you do not want to overwrite an existing document. Details: Word file recovery and saving files in Office for Mac.
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Restore an earlier OneDrive or SharePoint version
For a document already saved to OneDrive or a SharePoint library, use Word’s Version History to inspect and restore an earlier version. Version History requires the file to be stored in OneDrive or SharePoint; it cannot recover an unsaved local draft.
AutoSave is separate: Microsoft says it is available for eligible Microsoft 365 files stored in OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online. It is disabled for a file that has not been saved or is stored only on a local path. Availability depends on version and configuration. See Use versioning with Word and What is AutoSave?.
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Repair a damaged Word document
If a saved file exists but Word cannot open it normally, try File > Open > Browse, select the file, click the arrow beside Open, and choose Open and Repair. Microsoft says this may recover a damaged file; it does not replace the steps for a document that was never saved. See Open a document after a file corruption error.
Set up recovery before the next problem
- Windows: open File > Options > Save to adjust the AutoRecover interval and location.
- Mac: open Word > Preferences > Save to set the save interval. To change the AutoRecover location, use Word > Preferences > File Locations > AutoRecover files > Modify.
- Save routinely: AutoRecover records recovery information at intervals; it does not guarantee that every last edit will be present.
- For cloud protection: save eligible documents to OneDrive or SharePoint to use AutoSave and Version History in supported configurations.
For details on interval and location settings, see Microsoft’s AutoRecovery settings guide. Microsoft also explains saving, backing up, and recovering Office files.
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