How to Recover an Unsaved Word Document (Even After a Crash)

Losing a Word document you’ve been working on can feel devastating—especially if Word crashed or you accidentally closed it without saving. But don’t panic: Microsoft Word comes with powerful auto-recovery features that can help you get your work back.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to recover unsaved Word documents using built-in tools, where to find auto-recovery files, and what to do if those methods fail. Whether you’re on Windows or Mac, this step-by-step tutorial will show you how to recover your work and prevent future losses.

Step-by-Step Guide to Recover an Unsaved Word Document

1. Reopen Microsoft Word Immediately

If Word crashed, reopen it right away.
You’ll likely see the Document Recovery pane on the left.
Click the most recent version and Save As immediately.

2. Check the AutoRecover File Location

Go to File > Options > Save.
Under AutoRecover file location, copy the folder path.
Paste the path into File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), and look for files named like:
- AutoRecovery save of Document1.asd (Windows)
- Word Work File or .asd (Mac)

3. Search for .asd Files Manually (Windows)

Open File Explorer.
Search for *.asd in:
- C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word
Right-click and open with Word.
If the content matches, Save As to recover.

4. Look for .wbk Backup Files

If you enabled “Always create backup copy”:
- Go to the folder where the original document was saved.
- Look for a file with a .wbk extension.
- Open it in Word and save it under a new name.

5. Use Temporary Files as a Last Resort

Navigate to:
- C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\Temp (Windows)
Search for files starting with ~ or with .tmp extension.
Try opening suspicious files with Word.

6. Check OneDrive or Auto-Save

If you’re using OneDrive or SharePoint:
- Go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents
- You may find recent versions there.
Check OneDrive’s Recycle Bin or Version History.

7. On Mac: Use AutoRecovery Folder

Open Finder and go to:
- ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery
Open any file that starts with “AutoRecovery save of…”
Rename the file extension to .docx and open it in Word.

Pro Tips & Workflow Improvements

Enable AutoSave to OneDrive: This saves your work every few seconds automatically.
Set AutoRecover to 1 Minute: Go to File > Options > Save, change the interval to 1 minute for better safety.
Create Manual Backups: Enable “Always create backup copy” under File > Options > Advanced > Save.
Use Keyboard Shortcut: Press Ctrl + S (Cmd + S on Mac) often to save manually.

Advanced Use Case: Recover Documents via File History or Time Machine

Windows: Enable File History to restore previous versions of files.
- Right-click the folder > Properties > Previous Versions
Mac: Use Time Machine to restore the Word document folder from an earlier time.

Troubleshooting & Common Mistakes

❌ Didn’t reopen Word immediately: AutoRecovery files are sometimes deleted if Word is closed again before recovery.
❌ Didn’t enable AutoRecover: Double-check it’s turned on in Word Settings.
❌ Overwrote the recovered file: Always Save As with a new name.
⚠️ Using Disk Cleanup: This can delete temp files needed for recovery—use it with caution.
⚠️ Version Mismatch: Some old .asd files may not open in newer Word versions—try using a legacy install or online Word viewer.

Conclusion

Recovering an unsaved Word document is usually possible thanks to Word’s built-in recovery tools like AutoRecover and temporary files. The key is to act quickly and know where to look. Now that you’ve got your document back (hopefully!), take a moment to set up AutoSave and backup options to prevent future data loss.

Next up: Learn how to use Version History in Word to track changes and revert to earlier edits—especially useful for collaborative documents.