How do I retrieve an unsaved word file on a mac - using mac office 2011?
Abuse history
Answer
- Look in your trash for a "Recovered items" folder
- Go to the Finder, select Go > Go to folder, type /private/var/folders and look for files named "Word Work File" inside a "Temporary items" folder.* Option drag files or folders to the Desktop (or anywhere else) before dropping them on Word's icon. Don't delete anything!
* Pressing Command F (i.e., File > Find) and searching for "Word Work File" worked for user Lyn Yeowart.
-----------------------------------
- If you've never saved your document (it is still unnamed) and Word crashes, you will lose all your work, whether AutoRecover was enabled or not.
- If a document contains unsaved changes and you attempt to close it, Word will ask you to save changes. This will be your only chance to get the document on disk, whether AutoRecover was enabled or not.
- If the document is on disk and AutoRecover is enabled, Word will periodically save temporary files that will be used to rebuild your document only if Word crashes. After you quit normally, these files disappear.
- Sometimes Word leaves AutoRecover files behind. Just in case, check this folder: YourHomeFolder/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2011 AutoRecovery and try to open any files in there. If you are successful, immediately do a Save As.
If an answer provides a solution or you find it helpful, please mark it accordingly.
Abuse history
Answer
If an answer provides a solution or you find it helpful, please mark it accordingly.
Abuse history
Answer
- Look in your trash for a "Recovered items" folder
- Go to the Finder, select Go > Go to folder, type /private/var/folders and look for files named "Word Work File" inside a "Temporary items" folder.* Option drag files or folders to the Desktop (or anywhere else) before dropping them on Word's icon. Don't delete anything!
* Pressing Command F (i.e., File > Find) and searching for "Word Work File" worked for user Lyn Yeowart.
-----------------------------------
- If you've never saved your document (it is still unnamed) and Word crashes, you will lose all your work, whether AutoRecover was enabled or not.
- If a document contains unsaved changes and you attempt to close it, Word will ask you to save changes. This will be your only chance to get the document on disk, whether AutoRecover was enabled or not.
- If the document is on disk and AutoRecover is enabled, Word will periodically save temporary files that will be used to rebuild your document only if Word crashes. After you quit normally, these files disappear.
- Sometimes Word leaves AutoRecover files behind. Just in case, check this folder: YourHomeFolder/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2011 AutoRecovery and try to open any files in there. If you are successful, immediately do a Save As.
If an answer provides a solution or you find it helpful, please mark it accordingly.
Abuse history
Abuse history
Hello,
I am very desperate. I saved my work and the whole system crashed on my MAC. What I could manage to retrieve is gibberish. I am doing my masters and this was an 8 page collaborative paper I had just completed!
Please help, I have no one else to turn to!!
Thanks,
Ari
Abuse history
- Go to the Finder and open the HD icon in your desktop
- Press Command F (for Find)
- Next to Search, select "This Mac"
- Click on the first dropdown menu and select Last modified date
- Click on the second dropdown menu and select within last
- Click on the blank field and type 1 (the search operation will start at this point)
- Make sure the third dropdown menu says Days
- In the main menu bar, select View > Show view options and enable Date Modified
- In the search results window, click on the title Date Modified to sort files by date
- Read through the list to identify your file. If a likely candidate is found, Option Drag it to the Desktop (this will copy the file, making sure you don't move any required files out of where they might be needed), then try to open it by dropping it on Word's icon.
- In Word, select File > Open
- In the dropdown menu, select Recover text from any file
- Locate the file on the Desktop and open it
If an answer provides a solution or you find it helpful, please mark it accordingly.
Abuse history
Abuse history
- Do you by any chance have Time Machine enabled and did a backup trigger at the time you were working on the file?
- Did you have Word > Preferences > Save > Save Autorecover info... enabled?
If an answer provides a solution or you find it helpful, please mark it accordingly.
Abuse history
Abuse history
If an answer provides a solution or you find it helpful, please mark it accordingly.
Abuse history
Abuse history
Of course, I shouldn't need to go through all that. What happened in my case was that, due to a bad battery, my computer was turned off completely when the power cord disconnected. While I was in the process of restoring my browser windows and documents, someone tripped on the cord and the computer shut off again. Apparently, Word will pull up unsaved files for you once. But if you don't save them before the next crash, they won't bother pulling them up again even if they're right there on the computer.
Abuse history
* Please try a lower page number.
* Please enter only numbers.

