Organizations understand the meaning of Excel sheets. Excel is used to track data and manage finances in all types of organizations. However, since it is widely used, users often encounter technological problems such as difficulties in recovering previous versions of Excel files. This article aims to provide a comprehensive solution by mentioning techniques to recover both saved and unsaved data, as well as frequently asked questions.

Part 1: Recover previous versions of Excel files – is it possible?

Yes. Previous Excel versions are available under certain conditions. The Microsoft Office ‘Previous Version’ function is popular for this. To use this functionality, file history must be enabled.

Part 2: Recover previous versions of Excel files without saving

Solution 1: Restoring Excel to a previous version using AutoRecover

AutoRecover is useful for unsaved Excel files. Enable Autorecover and follow these instructions to effortlessly recover files:

·Step 1: Open the document and select File > Options on the left. Click Save.

·Step 2: Edit the “minutes” field to set AutoRecover recording frequency.

·Step 3: Click ‘OK’ to save changes.

Solution 2: Restore Excel to previous version from file.TMP

Temporary file that ends with extension.TMP can be used to recover previous versions of Excel. For Windows 10 users, follow this path to access temporary file folders:

·C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles\
·For Windows 7 users, this is slightly different:

·C: \Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel(Word)\

Solution 3: Restore Excel to a previous version using the version history under data

Another way to recover an earlier version of Excel file is to use the workbook properties in Excel. Here’s how you can do it:

·Step 1: Open Excel and go to File > Info

·Step 2: In the Info tab, click on the ‘Manage Workbooks’ option and select ‘Recover Unsaved Workbooks ‘from the menu.

·Step 3: Select the desired file from the following window and open it. Now you can recover unsaved Excel files by keeping them on your computer.

Part 3: Recovering previous versions of Excel files after saving

Solution 1: Restore Excel to a previous version using the previous version under Properties

Recovering an earlier version of an Excel file after saving is a simple process. Just access the file properties and use the previous version tool if you enable the file history. Follow these steps:

·Step 1: Right click on the Excel file and select ‘Properties’ from the menu.

·Step 2: In the ‘Properties’ window, go to the ‘Previous Version’ tab, select the version you want to restore and click ‘Restore’

Solution 2: Restore Excel to an earlier version using Manage Workbook

Another excellent technique to recover prior Excel files on Windows 10 leveraging Workbook features:

·Step 1: Open the newest file and select File > Information. Select Manage Workbook from the Data tab.

·Step 2: Look for the appropriate file version in ‘Manage Workbook’ and click ‘Restore’.

Bonus Tip: Recover previous versions of Excel files with Data Recovery Tool

In the unfortunate situation that Excel files were mistakenly deleted or mysteriously missing, a reliable excel recovery software can save lives. WinfrGUI is a graphical version of Windows File Recovery developed by Microsoft Corporation, which makes the recovery process easier without using complicated commands. Here are the features of Winfr GUI:

·Easy recovery of deleted or missing files including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and more.

·Supports recovery from Windows, USB flash drive, SD card, external hard drive and other storage devices.

·Inadvertent deletion repairs, RAW file system formatting errors, and damage.

·A wide range of supported data types for recovering photos, videos, audio and documents.

·Quick scanning and strong security measures to protect data during recovery.

To recover lost Excel files using WinfrGUI, follow these steps:

·Select Location: Select a drive with missing Excel files or remove them in WinfrGUI. Configure the file type to be scanned in the next window.

·Scan for deleted Excel files: Sit back and let WinfrGUI scan the drive for recoverable files.

·Check and Recover Deleted Excel Files: After scanning, select the desired Excel file from the received file. Click ‘Recover’ to restore the deleted file.

·With WinfrGUI, you can apologize for the problem of missing Excel files and enjoy the convenience of smooth recovery at your fingertips. The same method can be used to recover deleted Word documents.

Frequently Asked Questions About Previous Excel Files

Can I recover the Excel file I saved?

Yes, there is a way to recover saved Excel files:

·Recovering Excel to a previous version using the previous version tool under Properties

·Recovering Excel to a previous version using Manage Workbook

How can I recover saved files?

You can recover saved files using the previous version tool or the workbook management features available in all Office applications.

Why can’t I find an earlier version of my Excel file?

If you could not find a previous version of Excel file, it may be because you did not enable the file history property.