How to recover recently deleted documents in Word
Losing important documents can be a frustrating experience, especially when they are deleted accidentally. Whether it’s a thesis, a business report, or a personal letter, the loss of such documents can have significant consequences. If you’ve recently deleted a document in Microsoft Word and are looking for ways to recover it, you’re in luck. This article will guide you through the steps to recover recently deleted documents in Word.
Step 1: Check the Recycle Bin
The first place you should check for deleted documents is the Recycle Bin. When you delete a document in Word, it is often moved to the Recycle Bin instead of being permanently deleted. To recover a document from the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:
1. Open the Recycle Bin by clicking on its icon on your desktop or by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Scroll through the list of deleted files and find the document you want to recover.
3. Right-click on the document and select “Restore.” This will move the document back to its original location.
Step 2: Use the “Undo” Command
If you’ve just deleted a document and haven’t closed Word yet, you can use the “Undo” command to recover it. Here’s how:
1. Click on the “Undo” button in the Quick Access Toolbar (the toolbar that appears when you open Word).
2. If the “Undo” button is not visible, you can press “Ctrl + Z” on your keyboard to undo the deletion.
Please note that the “Undo” command may only work if you’ve deleted the document within the last few minutes. Once you’ve closed and reopened Word, the “Undo” command may no longer be effective.
Step 3: Check the Recent Files List
Microsoft Word keeps a list of recently opened documents. If you’ve deleted a document recently, it may still appear in this list. To check the recent files list:
1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Click on “File” in the top-left corner of the window.
3. Select “Open” from the menu.
4. Scroll through the list of recent files and find the document you want to recover.
5. Click on the document to open it.
Step 4: Use the “File History” Feature
If you have enabled the “File History” feature on your computer, you can use it to recover deleted documents. Here’s how:
1. Open the Recycle Bin or use the “Undo” command to locate the deleted document.
2. Right-click on the document and select “Properties.”
3. In the “Previous Versions” tab, you’ll see a list of previous versions of the document.
4. Select the version you want to recover and click “Restore.”
Step 5: Use a File Recovery Tool
If none of the above methods work, you can try using a file recovery tool. There are many free and paid file recovery tools available online that can help you recover deleted documents. Some popular options include Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Disk Drill.
To use a file recovery tool:
1. Download and install the file recovery tool of your choice.
2. Follow the instructions provided by the tool to scan your computer for deleted files.
3. Once the scan is complete, locate the deleted document and select it for recovery.
4. Choose a location to save the recovered document and click “Recover.”
In conclusion, recovering recently deleted documents in Word can be a straightforward process if you follow the right steps. By checking the Recycle Bin, using the “Undo” command, checking the recent files list, using the “File History” feature, or using a file recovery tool, you can often recover your lost documents without much difficulty.
