How to Recover an Unsaved Microsoft Project File [MSP]

Microsoft Project is one of the best project management tools offered by Microsoft. However, there might be times when you can't find your required MSP file, mostly because users don't save them. Here are five ways to recover unsaved MS Project files. We've covered all the details!

1. 1. Recover an Unsaved Microsoft Project File Using Software^[Popular]
2. 2. Recover an Unsaved MSP File with the Auto-Save Feature
3. 3. Restore a Microsoft Project File from the Temp Folder
4. 4. Retrieve an Unsaved MSP File via the "Manage Documents" Button
5. 5. Reclaim an Unsaved Microsoft Project File from a Backup

#1. Recovering an Unsaved Microsoft Project File Using Software

Perhaps you accidentally closed a Microsoft Project file without saving it, or MS Project crashed, or you're unsure how to recover an unsaved Word document after your computer restarted. But all is not lost. By default, Microsoft saves backup copies of your work as you go, so it's likely you can recover it.

However, when your PC or Microsoft program crashes, the copied item usually doesn't save correctly. If this happens to you, it's essential to use a Data Recovery Wizard tool to recover unsaved MS project files.

• Recover data lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, damage, virus attacks, and system crashes.
• Restore unsaved documents from the Recycle Bin, SD cards, and other storage devices.
• Recover over 1,000 file formats, including .doc, .xlsx, .pg, .png, .gif, .mp4, .mov, .ppt, .pdf, and more.

Step 1: Launch tools Data Recovery Wizard on your computer. Select the disk where you lost unsaved files and click "Scan".

Step 2. On the left, you'll see "Path" and "Type" tabs. Click on "Type" and select "Unsaved Files". You can double-click on a folder to open it or hit "Open". This unsaved file recovery software will help you easily restore unsaved Word, Excel, PPT, and other files.

Step 3. Select the files you want to recover and click the "Preview" button. Then, click "Recover" to restore your unsaved files. Make sure not to save the recovered files in their original location to avoid overwriting them.

Many Windows 10/11 users have already attested to the tool's effectiveness. If you're interested in solving the unsaved file recovery problem, share this on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

#2. Recover Unsaved MSP Files Using the Auto-Save Feature

Microsoft Project includes a built-in feature called Autosave, which automatically saves your changes to your local disk or the cloud. This reduces the risk of losing unsaved data. Here's how to use the Autosave feature to recover an unsaved MS Project file: 1. **Enable Autosave**: First, ensure that Autosave is activated. In Microsoft Project, click on the "File" menu and then choose "Options." In the dialog box that appears, select the "Save" tab, and make sure "AutoSave" is checked, and set an appropriate save interval. 2. **Recover an unsaved file**: If you accidentally close the program or experience a system crash, Microsoft Project may automatically restore the last autosaved version. Reopen Microsoft Project, and the program should typically check for unsaved files upon startup. - Under the "File" menu, choose "Info," and then look for the "Manage Versions" or "Recover Unsaved Files" option in the right-hand pane. Click it, and you'll see a list displaying all unsaved and autosaved project files. - Select the file you need from the list, and then click "Restore." The file will open, allowing you to save your changes. 3. **Recover from the cloud**: If you've integrated with OneDrive or another cloud storage service, you can also recover your file from the cloud. Log into your cloud storage account, locate the most recent autosaved version, download it, open it, and then save it as a new file. Please note that while Autosave helps prevent data loss, it's still best to manually save your files regularly for maximum data security.

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Project application on your computer. Next, within the "File" tab, look for the option to locate the automatically saved files, which are typically found in an "Autosave" folder.

Step 2: Search for an AutoRecover folder and look for a file that begins with Autosave_Projectname.mpp or a similar extension.

Step 3: Select the most recent .mpp file based on the timestamp, and then double-click it to save it to a location of your choice on your computer.

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#3. Restore the MSP file in the Temp folder

As mentioned above, the Temp folder, also known as the temporary files directory, is a folder on Windows computers where temporary files are stored. If you accidentally deleted an unsaved file, you might be able to recover it from this folder. Here's how:

Step 1: Type %temp% in the search box, and then click "OK" or press Enter.

Step 2: Once inside the Temp folder, look for an unsaved Microsoft Project file with a name or extension that looks like .msp.

Step 3: You can also access the “Temp” folder by going to C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp. If you accidentally deleted your temporary files, you can recover them by following the steps in the next section.

How to Recover Deleted Temporary Files

If you accidentally lose your temporary files, don't worry. You can easily recover deleted temporary files with a data recovery wizard tool.

#4. Recover unsaved MSP files via the 'Manage Documents' button

The “Manage Versions” button is also available. Office programs save temporary backups of your files regularly (every ten minutes, by default), so you should be able to recover most of what you lost.

Step 1: First, open the Office application you were using when you created or saved the file. Go to the “File” menu.

Step 2: On the Info page, choose Manage Documents, and then select Recover Unsaved Documents from the drop-down menu.

The UnsavedFiles folder contains temporary backup files that Microsoft Office creates for unsaved Project files.

Step 4: Select the file you need, then click "Open."

#5. Recovering an Unsaved Microsoft Project File from a Backup

When you lose your Microsoft Project data, another sensible thing to do is to restore files from a backup. This method is particularly useful if you have a habit of backing up your data regularly. Let's see the steps:

If you have a backup of the file on an external drive, like a thumb drive, plug it in. Browse the contents of the device to locate and restore your MSP file. If you have a cloud account, sign in. Your MPP file may be waiting for you there. To verify that syncing is enabled, open the Settings app, then navigate to Accounts, and choose Windows Backup.

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In short

When a Microsoft Project file closes or crashes unexpectedly, look for a saved version in the Autosave folder. Also, consider backup solutions and cloud storage services. Prevention is key; develop good saving habits and take advantage of MS Project's recovery features. Stay ahead of the game by following the steps in this article. Use the Data Recovery Wizard tool to avoid future stress and hassle.

How to Recover an Unsaved Microsoft Project File

If you still have questions on how to recover unsaved MS Project files, refer to the following quick answers for self-help:

1. Can you recover an unsaved Microsoft Project file?

If you accidentally chose not to save a Word document, open the File tab and scroll down to “Manage Documents.” Choose “Recover Unsaved Documents,” which will display all unsaved Microsoft Project files.

2. How can I recover an unsaved Microsoft Office file? If you forgot to save a Microsoft Office file, try the following methods to restore it: For Microsoft Word: 1. Open a new Word document. 2. Click on "File" in the menu bar. 3. Select "Info." 4. On the right side, click on "Manage Versions" or "Recover Unsaved Documents." 5. In the pop-up window, browse for your unsaved file and then click "Restore." For Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, or other Office applications: 1. Open the respective program. 2. Click "File" on the menu bar. 3. Choose "Recent" or "Open." 4. At the bottom, find "Recover Unsaved Workbooks" (for Excel) or "Recover Unsaved Presentations" (for PowerPoint). 5. Browse for your file and click "Restore." Please note that these features might vary slightly depending on your Office version. If you can't find the unsaved file, check your system's temporary files folder or use data recovery software to attempt to retrieve the lost document.

To recover an unsaved workbook in Excel or unsaved presentation in PowerPoint, go to File > Info > Manage Document. Select the file, and then click Open. To save the file, click Save As at the top bar of the file.

3. How do I recover an autosaved project?

Auto-saved files store project data from the last auto-save. Choose File | Open to open an auto-saved file. Then, in the Open dialog box, select the Auto-save file extension from the Files of type drop-down list. Select the auto-saved project file that you want to open.

4. Where does Microsoft Project save files?

Project Online is built on SharePoint Online and stores its data in Office 365.