How to Auto Recover Word Documents

The modern versions of Microsoft Word will create an auto-recover file of the document you are working on. This file can then be used if the word-processing program is shut down or aborted without saving the file to your hard drive. You do have to set up where Word will store auto-recovery files or else Word will create a temporary directory that may be difficult to locate.

Instructions

Setting up Auto Recover Folder

1. Open Word on your desktop.

2. Click on "Tools" from the top text menu bar. Choose "Options." Click on the "File Locations" tab in the option window.

3. Click on the "Auto Recover" in the listed file types. Click the "Modify" button.

4. Select a folder for the auto-recover files to be saved. If needed, you can select the "New Folder" icon to create a new folder for the files.

5. Click "OK" when your have finished the process.

Auto-Recovery of Files

1. Re-start Word on your computer.

2. Look at the list of files in the "Document Recover Pane" after the program opens.

3. Select the name of the file you wish to recover. The file will open as usual for the word processor.

4. Save the file under a new file name in the proper directory.

5. Open and re-save any remaining files in the "Document Recover Pane" of the word processor.

Tips & Warnings

• In most cases, very little information will be lost when auto-recover re-opens a document.

• You can set how often auto-recover saves the files by clicking on "Options" and then the "Save" tab. Ensure the auto-recover check box is marked and set the time in how often to save.

References

• Microsoft: How Word Creates and Recovers the Auto-Recover Files
• Microsoft: How to Recover a Lost Document