Microsoft Word files with an ASD extension cannot be opened from this location [Fixed]

Occasionally, while working on a Word document, our computer might suddenly crash, leading us to believe we've lost all our progress. However, upon system failure, Microsoft Word automatically creates a backup copy of the file and saves it on the computer in the .asd format. This allows us to recover the original Word document that was lost due to the crash by using the saved ASD file. But, some users have reported encountering an error message that says, "“Microsoft Word Files with An ASD Extension Cannot Be Opened from This Location." If you're unable to open files with the .asd extension, continue reading this article for a solution. In this article, we will explain what ASD files are and how to open them without errors on a Windows PC. Let's delve into the details.

What is a File with an ASD Extension?

An ASD file stands for AutoRecover Save Data file, which is a temporary backup and recovery file created by Microsoft Word after the original Word document is initially saved. While you work on the document, Word continuously synchronizes the ASD file with the main file, ensuring your progress is preserved in case of a system crash. Simply put, an ASD file is a duplicate of the original document, containing the same content but in a different file format. It serves as a snapshot of the actual file, storing all its contents securely for use in emergency situations. If needed, you can utilize the ASD file to recover the original document without any loss of progress and continue working from where you left off.

This is why ASD Files are also referred to as AutoRecovery Files. Upon restarting Microsoft Word following a crash, it utilizes the automatically saved file present on the computer to recover the original document and prompts the user to open it. These ASD files are stored within the system's storage, but in a binary file format. Moreover, they are typically saved on the drives as hidden files with distinct filenames. You can locate all ASD files in the directory path mentioned below and open them by simply double-clicking on the file. Alternatively, the system will automatically suggest an application to open the file with. That was a brief overview of ASD files.

Microsoft Word saves ASD or AutoRecovery Files in the following default directories in Windows:

• Windows 8/8.1/10/11: [user]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles
• Windows Vista/7: [user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\
• Windows XP: [user]\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\

Auto-Recovery files are typically named as:

• AutoRecovery save of X.asd (where X represents the name of the file)
• ~Wra####.asd (where #### is an arbitrary number assigned by Windows)

You can navigate to the directories mentioned below and locate the autosaved files there. If you encounter any .asd files that cannot be opened, proceed to the next section.

Microsoft Word files with an ASD extension cannot be opened from this location.

If you encounter difficulties opening .asd files in the default directories, we have a solution for you. In this section, we will explain why you might be unable to open ASD files on your system, and we will provide three potential solutions for opening ASD format files. So, if you are unable to access these files, please read on.

Why Can't an ASD File Be Opened?

There could be various reasons for the inability to open ASD files. The most common cause is the absence of software that supports ASD documents on the system. It's possible that you don't have any program installed on your Windows PC capable of opening files with the .asd extension. When attempting to open an ASD file, the system prompts you to choose the application you want to use. To easily open .asd files, you must ensure that you have a compatible ASD file-supporting program installed. For instance, you can install Microsoft Word to handle this file type.

How to Open an ASD File?

There are three methods to open .asd format files on a Windows PC. You can choose any of the following ways to access and open ASD files on your system. They are:

1. 1. Through the Recover Unsaved Documents Option
2. 2. Via Managing Documents in Word
3. 3. Using File Explorer

< strong >< a id = "recover_unsaved_documents" name = "recover_unsaved_documents" > 1. Via Recover Unsaved Documents Option

The first method to access auto-saved documents is by utilizing the "Recover Unsaved Documents" feature in the Microsoft Word application. To open ASD files using this option, follow these steps:

Step 1. Firstly, launch the Microsoft Word application on your Windows computer. From the left sidebar, choose the Open option and subsequently navigate to the Recent section.

Step 2. Next, click on the "Recover Unsaved Document" option from the bottom bar to view all the ASD files.

Step 3. Next, choose the .asd file and click "Open" to open the document in Microsoft Word. After the file is open, click on the "Save As" option in the yellow ribbon to save it as a Word document.

That's correct!

2. Via Manage Document in Word

Another simple method to open .asd format files is by utilizing the Manage Documents feature in the Microsoft Word program. This feature is quite straightforward to use, and the following steps illustrate the process:

Step 1. First, open Microsoft Word on your Windows computer and either create a new document or open an existing document.

Step 2. Next, click on the "File" option in the top menu bar and navigate to the Info section from the left navigation panel.

Step 3. Next, click on "Manage Document" in the Info tab and choose the Recover Unsaved Documents option from the dropdown menu.

Step 4. Next, in the File Explorer window, select the unsaved file and click on "Open" to open it with Microsoft Word.

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3. Using File Explorer This section will guide you on how to navigate and manage files using the File Explorer, which is a standard feature in most operating systems. 1. **Opening File Explorer**: - On Windows, click the "File Explorer" icon usually located on the taskbar or press the "Windows + E" keys. - On macOS, click the "Finder" icon in the Dock or use the keyboard shortcut "Command + Space" to open Spotlight, then type "Finder" and hit Enter. 2. **Navigating Folders**: - Use the left sidebar to access common locations like "Desktop," "Documents," "Downloads," and "Computer" (or "This PC" on Windows). - Click on folder icons to enter them, and use the back button or "Up" arrow to return to the previous folder. 3. **Viewing Files**: - Choose from different view options, such as "List," "Grid," "Details," "Icons," or "Tiles." These can typically be found in the top menu or by right-clicking within the window. - Adjust column headings in "Details" view to sort files by name, size, date modified, etc. 4. **Creating, Renaming, and Deleting Files/Folders**: - Create a new folder by right-clicking in an empty space and selecting "New Folder." - Rename a file or folder by clicking its name once, then typing the new name and pressing "Enter." - Delete items by selecting them and pressing "Delete" or right-clicking and choosing "Delete." 5. **Searching for Files**: - Use the search bar at the top-right corner of the File Explorer window to find specific files or folders. - Type keywords, file types (e.g., .docx), or phrases like "last modified: today" to refine your search. 6. **Copying, Moving, and Organizing Files**: - Select one or more files by clicking them while holding down "Ctrl" (Windows) or "Command" (macOS). - Copy files by right-clicking and selecting "Copy," then paste them elsewhere with "Ctrl + V" (Windows) or "Command + V" (macOS). - Cut and move files using similar shortcuts: "Ctrl + X" to cut and "Ctrl + V" to paste. 7. **Sharing and Permissions**: - Right-click a file or folder and choose "Share" to send it via email or share it with others on your network. - Adjust permissions settings to control who can read, write, or modify the file or folder. Remember that these steps may vary slightly depending on your operating system version. Familiarize yourself with your File Explorer to efficiently manage your files and folders.

The final method to open ASD files on your PC is via Windows File Explorer. Windows File Explorer enables us to access all files stored on our system in a single location and open them effortlessly. To access the recently created .asd file using the File Explorer, follow these straightforward steps:

Step 1. Firstly, open the Run program on your Windows 11 PC by using the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut.

Step 2. Following that, type the below-mentioned directory path into the Run dialog's search field and press Enter.

%AppData%\Microsoft\Word This path refers to the directory where Microsoft Word stores its configuration and user data files in Windows operating systems. Translated into English, it would be: %AppData%\Microsoft\Word In this context, "%AppData%" is an environment variable that typically points to the 'Application Data' folder within the user's profile directory, usually located at: C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming So, the complete path would lead to: C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word

Step 3. It will now take you to the entered directory path, and there you will see all the auto-saved files.

Step 4. Finally, double-click on the ASD file, and it will open in Microsoft Word. You can now edit the recently opened Microsoft Word document.

That's correct!

How to Recover Lost ASD File

If an ASD file is absent from the system's default directory, it might have been accidentally deleted from the computer. Don't worry! There are two methods available to help restore the missing ASD files to the system. Both methods are straightforward and easy to execute. In this section, we have provided a detailed explanation of both approaches. Please take a look at them.

1. Recover from Unsaved Files Folder

The first approach to retrieve missing ASD files is from the Unsaved Files folder on your system. This folder contains all the unsaved files, and you can access it using the File Explorer. Follow these steps: 1. Launch the File Explorer by clicking on its icon or pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard. 2. In the File Explorer window, navigate to the following location (depending on your operating system): - For Windows 10/8/8.1: `%AppData%\Microsoft\Word\UnsavedFiles` - For Windows 7/Vista/XP: `C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\UnsavedFiles` (Replace `` with your actual username.) 3. Once you reach the UnsavedFiles folder, look for any ASD files. These files might not have recognizable names, but they will have the ASD file extension. 4. To open and check the contents of an ASD file, simply rename it with the .docx or .doc extension and then double-click on it. Microsoft Word should automatically open the file. 5. If the file is the one you were looking for, save it with a proper name and desired location. Please note that the ASD files might not always contain the complete content of the unsaved document, so it's essential to act promptly when you realize a file is missing to increase the chances of recovery.

Step 1. First, open the File Explorer program on your Windows 11 computer and type the following directory path into the search bar within File Explorer.

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles This is the path to the folder where Microsoft Office temporarily stores unsaved files on a Windows computer. The "%username%" part represents the specific user's username on the system.

OR stands for "Or", which is a logical operator used to indicate a choice between two options or to connect two statements where either one can be true. In programming, it is often used in conditional statements to check if a condition is true for either of the provided values.

Step 1. Launch the Microsoft Word application, click on "File," and then navigate to the Open option. Within the Open section, click on "Recent" and subsequently choose Recover Unsaved Documents. This will direct you to the UnsavedFiles folder.

Step 2. You can now view all the unsaved Word files in the UnsavedFiles folder. Next, double-click on the file you wish to open in Microsoft Word. Then, in the File Explorer window, choose the "Save as" option from the dropdown menu.

2. Restore Missing ASD or Word Files with Data Recovery Software

If the desired ASD or Word file is not found in the Unsaved Files folder, do not despair. There is another method to recover lost or deleted ASD files on Windows. You can utilize a third-party utility, the Data Recovery Wizard, to restore missing ASD files on your system within minutes. It is indeed one of the best data recovery tools, and its superior data recovery capabilities attest to this. This tool can assist you in overcoming various data loss scenarios, such as lost partitions, virus attacks, or accidental deletion. With all the necessary features for file recovery, you can rest assured that Data Recovery Wizard has got you covered when it comes to retrieving lost files.

You can promptly retrieve various types of deleted files, including documents, photos, audio, music, and emails. This utility supports the recovery of files from multiple devices, such as USB flash drives, recycle bins, SD cards, digital cameras, and camcorders. Significantly, it facilitates the effortless restoration of .asd format files. Data Recovery Wizard offers both a free and a paid version. The free version permits the recovery of up to 2 GB of data. The premium version, on the other hand, allows you to restore an unlimited amount of data of all types. Hence, download Data Recovery Wizard on your Windows PC to recover ASD files right away.

Here are the steps to use the Data Recovery Wizard tool to restore various types of documents, including ASD files:

Step 1. Select the Word file location

Select the drive or a specific folder where you lost your Word documents and click the "Scan" button.

Step 2. Locate your Word documents

The software will promptly initiate scanning for all lost data on the selected drive. Upon completion of the scan, click on the "Documents" option in the left panel. From the scan results, select the targeted Word file. Following that, click on "Preview".

Step 3. Recover the Deleted Word Documents

After previewing, select the desired Word files and click "Recover". Remember to save the recovered documents in a different location instead of the original one.

We hope you've now recovered all the lost ASD files.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, the conclusion. We hope this troubleshooting guide was instrumental in helping you reach your objective. Microsoft Word automatically saves files in the .asd format, enabling access in case of system crashes. In this article, we've outlined three methods for accessing and opening ASD files on a Windows PC. Feel free to employ any of the above-mentioned techniques to effortlessly open .asd files on your system.