Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool used for organising, analysing, and managing data. However, sometimes instances like accidental deletion of an Excel file take place, where all your stored data gets deleted. Sudden deletion of Excel is a common issue and can put you in trouble, especially if something crucial is lost. Fortunately, Windows provides several built-in options to recover deleted Excel files.
In this guide, we’ll discuss different methods, including built-in options, previously created backups, as well as third-party free data recovery software, that you can try to recover your lost Excel files. Whether the file was accidentally deleted, lost due to a system crash, or overwritten, we’ve covered everything for your easy and quick recovery.
Where do Deleted Excel Files Go on Windows PC?
When you delete an Excel file on Windows, it directly goes to the Recycle Bin folder, i.e., a temporary storage area for deleted files. The file remains in this folder for some specific days (say 30 days) after which it gets automatically erased from your PC. However, if you’ve permanently removed the file (e.g., by pressing Shift + Delete) or emptied the Recycle Bin folder, the file is no longer visible but isn’t immediately erased from your hard drive.
Instead, the space occupied by that Excel file will be marked as “available” for new data. Until that overwrite happens, the file can potentially be recovered using tools like Windows free data recovery software, such as Stellar Data Recovery Free. That’s why the sooner you attempt recovery, the higher the chances of successfully retrieving your deleted Excel file.
Quick Methods to Recover Deleted Excel Files on Windows
Now that you know why prompt action is very important for hassle-free recovery of your lost Excel file, it’s time to jump into recovery workarounds. Just go with the following methods one by one to recover deleted Excel files on Windows:
Method 01: Check the Recycle Bin
As mentioned above, every deleted file on Windows goes to the Recycle Bin folder and remains there until permanently erased. Before you apply any other data recovery approach, it’s important to check the Recycle Bin folder. For this:
- Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop.
- Locate the deleted Excel file that you want to restore (search by name or date deleted).
- If found, right-click on that file and select Restore.
This will return the recovered Excel file to its original location.
Method 02: Recover from Temporary Files
Excel automatically creates temporary files while you’re working on a spreadsheet, storing backup copies at regular intervals. These temporary files can help you recover unsaved or lost work. To recover your lost Excel using this method, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows + R keys and type %temp% in the Run prompt and press Enter.
- Look for the file with names like ~Excel####.tmp or with .tmp or .xls/.xlsx extensions.
- Sort files by date modified to find the most recent ones.
- Open that file in Excel and check if it is the one you want.
- If yes, save the file with a new name.
Method 03: Recover Excel Files Using File History Backup
If you are good at maintaining backups of your files and folders, try checking these backups for your lost Excel files. Windows provides a built-in File History backup utility that can help you restore previous versions of files or folders. If you’ve enabled File History on your device, follow the below steps to restore lost Excel file:
- Firstly, go to the folder where your deleted Excel file was originally stored.
- Right-click on that folder and select Restore previous versions.
- Browse through available versions and select the backup file you want.
- Click Restore to save the selected file to its original location.
Method 04: Use Third-Party Windows Data Recovery Software
If all the above methods to recover deleted Excel files on Windows fail, try third-party free data recovery software. Tools like Stellar Data Recovery Free allow you to restore lost or deleted Excel files quickly and at no cost. The software supports recovery of files deleted due to various scenarios, such as accidental deletion, formatting, system failure, etc. It performs deep scans of your storage devices to retrieve files—even those permanently deleted after emptying the Recycle Bin
Key Features of Stellar Data Recovery Free Tool
- The free version supports recovery of deleted files up to 1 GB for free. To restore files of larger size, you can check and use the premium version.
- In addition to Excel files, you can use this tool to restore your lost documents, images, videos, etc., in a wide range of formats.
- The software offers both Quick Scan and Deep Scan modes, making it effective for simple recoveries as well as retrieving data from severely corrupted or RAW drives.
- It provides an intuitive interface, allowing you to recover lost files in a few simple clicks.
- The software facilitates recovery from formatted or corrupt drives, supporting file systems like FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS.
- It allows you to preview the recovered files before saving them on your device.
Here’s how to recover deleted Excel files on Windows using this free data recovery software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Free software from its official website. Install the tool on a drive different from the one where your deleted Excel files were stored to avoid overwriting data.
Step 2: Launch the software and from the homepage, select Office Documents (since you have to restore Excel files) or any specific type of file you want, and click Next.
Step 3: From the Recover From window, choose the storage location where your Excel file was originally stored or deleted from. Click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 4: Once the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files to verify their content before recovery. Click Recover to save them on your device.
Note: Save the recovered Excel file to a different storage location or drive than its original one to prevent overwriting any existing data.
Additional Tips to Prevent Future Data Loss
Hope the above methods help you recover deleted Excel files on Windows. However, it is always a good idea to prevent this issue from happening again. Here are some preventive measures you can use to avoid accidental deletion of Excel files on your Windows PC:
- Enable AutoSave in Excel (especially when using OneDrive or SharePoint).
- Back up your files using Windows File History, cloud services like OneDrive or Google Drive, etc.
- Install the latest version of device OS or Microsoft apps on your Windows PC.
- Consider using Excel’s macro or VBA to auto-backup critical data.
- Avoid abruptly shutting down your device and always close the Excel program properly to prevent file corruption.
- To avoid data loss due to malicious programs like viruses or malware, protect your device using a reliable Antivirus tool.
Final Thoughts
Losing an important Excel file can put you in trouble, but in most cases, your data is recoverable. Start by checking the built-in Recycle Bin folder, Temporary files, or any previously created backups. If you don’t have any backup, try third-party free data recovery software such as Stellar Data Recovery Free. And once your Excel file is recovered, put backup systems in place to avoid future data loss.
