why did my word document disappear

Microsoft Word documents can vanish under various circumstances. For instance, they might disappear following an unexpected shutdown, power outage, or if you close the application without saving your modifications. Here are some additional reasons why this might occur:

  • Windows 10 automatically upgraded and removed the file.
  • Personal files were erased or hidden by the infection.
  • You created a new user account.

This page outlines several potential methods to retrieve lost Word files. You can attempt any of these approaches to recover deleted Word documents as well as formatted ones in various instances of data loss.

Method 1: Recover from the Recycle Bin

If you accidentally delete Word files from the desktop and move them to the recycle bin, you have a good chance of retrieving them from the recycle bin.

1. Open the Recycle Bin. Click on "View" and then "Arrange Icons" to filter the list by file type, name, deletion date, etc. 2. Once you locate your desired document, right-click on it and select "Restore" to retrieve it.

Method 2: Recover from searching the original document

If you're still unable to locate your file, you can perform a search on your computer. For Windows, follow these steps: 1. Click on 'Start' > 'Search' > 'For Files or Folders.' 2. Enter the file name in the search field and then click on 'Search.' If the file doesn't appear in the Search Results, you can attempt to search for Word backup files or utilize office file recovery software to assist you.

Method 3: Recover from the backup location

Here, we'll use Word 2013 as an example. This method applies to all versions, including 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and so on.

1. Launch Microsoft Word 2013.

2. Click the File menu, click Open, click Computer, and then click Browse.

3. Locate the folder where you last saved the missing file.

4. In the Files of type list (All Word documents), click All Files. The backup file usually has the name "Backup of" followed by the name of the missing file. In the "Files of type" dropdown menu (which displays "All Word documents"), select "All Files." Typically, the backup file will be named "Backup of" followed by the name of the missing file.

5. Click the backup file, and then click Open.

Method 4: Creating a new Word document with the same name

This method may work when you can’t find any tracked changes on your computer with the above three methods. You can create an identical Word document to see if you can locate the previous version.

1. Create a new Word document with the same title and format as the missing one. 2. Right-click on the file > Select Properties, then choose Previous Versions. If you see multiple versions of the Word document, select the earlier version and click on Recover.

Method 5: Recover Lost Word Files with Office Recovery Software

When you permanently delete Word files or other data from your computer or storage devices, none of the above methods will work. In such cases, you'll need professional file recovery software to easily assist you in retrieving your lost files.

Data Recovery Wizard is a popular online data recovery tool for both Windows and Mac users. It enables you to effortlessly retrieve various types of files that have been lost due to accidental deletion, disk formatting, virus infections, or other reasons. It supports all Windows operating systems, including Windows 10, 8, 7, and more. Additionally, it can be utilized to recover different versions of Word documents like Word 2013, 2015, 2016, and also lost Excel files. To recover your lost Word files with ease, download the software now and follow the step-by-step guide provided below.

This video will provide you with detailed information on how to easily recover lost Word files using data recovery software. If you want to become your own data savior, don't hesitate any further and download this tool.

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.

Select a location and click Scan

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. Finally, click on "Preview".

Scan and Preview Word Document

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 other than the original one.

Select Word Documents and Recover