How to Recover Missing Excel Files on Mac: 6 Tested Methods

It is no secret that the Mac version of Excel receives updates slower than its Windows counterpart, which can lead to instability. Numerous users have reported that their Excel files disappeared on Mac.

Users of Apple's Macs have run into similar problems – unable to find their Excel files on their machines, though the filename appears in Microsoft Excel's list of recent documents, it could not be opened on macOS.

Solution 1: Recover Disappeared Excel File Using Software Method 1: Recover Lost Excel File with Software

Utilizing professional and trustworthy data recovery software is the best option for retrieving lost Excel files. The powerful Mac Data Recovery Wizard is an excellent tool for Excel file recovery, allowing you to swiftly retrieve data from unresponsive Excel on your Mac with just a few clicks.

To make the Excel file recovery process clearer, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Select the location where you lost your Excel file, and then click “Search lost files”.

Step 2: The Mac data recovery wizard will immediately start scanning the selected disk volume. The scan results will be displayed in the left pane. Select “Documents” and then you can quickly filter out the previously lost XLS or XLSX files.

Step 3. Double-click on the target Excel file to preview it, and then click "Recover" to get your lost Excel document back immediately.

Moreover, the Mac file recovery software also supports recovering unsaved Excel documents. You can refer to this article for more details.

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3 Ways to Recover Unsaved or Lost Excel Files on Mac

This article introduces two methods to help you recover unsaved Excel documents lost on your Mac from the temp folder and AutoSave. Read More >>

Solution 2: Find Disappeared Excel File on Mac with Finder

If you're missing an Excel file on your Mac, don't panic! Consider whether you might have accidentally dragged the Excel file to another location.

In that case, check if your Excel file was saved on the Mac instead of its original location.

Follow these steps to check if the missing Excel file is still on your Mac:

Step 1. Launch Finder, enter the name of your Excel file or its .xls/.xlsx extension in the search field, and press “Enter” to proceed.

Step 2: Find your lost Excel file in the search results and move it to a secure location on your Mac.

If the search doesn't find your missing Excel file, don't worry; keep reading. Your file might have been accidentally deleted, and you can recover it using one of these methods.

Please share this helpful article on social media to help others learn how to recover lost Excel files on their Mac.

Solution 3: Recover Lost Excel File from Mac Trash

You might have accidentally deleted the Excel file, making it unavailable at its original location. Usually, you can find the deleted file in the Mac Trash. However, if you opted for the "Delete Immediately" option to permanently remove the Excel file, you won't be able to find it in the Trash.

Here are the steps to recover an Excel file that was accidentally deleted: 1. **Check the Recycle Bin**: First, check your computer's Recycle Bin or Trash folder. Deleted files are usually moved here before being permanently erased. Look for the Excel file and restore it if found. 2. **Restore from File History (Windows)**: If you're using Windows and have enabled File History, you can recover the file by following these steps: - Go to File History in Control Panel. - Connect an external drive if prompted, as File History requires one to be set up. - Find the Excel file in the list of backed-up files, and click "Restore" to get the latest version. 3. **Time Machine (Mac)**: For Mac users with Time Machine backup, follow these steps: - Connect your Time Machine backup drive. - Open Time Machine from the Dock or System Preferences. - Browse through the timeline to find the point where the file was still present. - Click on the file, then choose "Restore" to bring it back. 4. **Recent Versions (Windows)**: If you don't have File History enabled, Windows may still have a previous version of the file: - Right-click on the folder where the file was located. - Select "Properties," then navigate to the "Previous Versions" tab. - Here, you can see available versions of the folder; select the one with the deleted Excel file and click "Restore." 5. **Data Recovery Software**: If the above methods fail, consider using data recovery software like tools Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, or Disk Drill. These tools scan your hard drive for deleted files and attempt to recover them. 6. **Cloud Services**: Check your cloud storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. If you had the file synced or uploaded there, you might find a previous version or a backup. 7. **Contact Your IT Department**: If you work in an office environment, reach out to your IT support team. They might have backup systems in place or additional tools to help recover the file. Remember, prevention is key. Always keep regular backups of important files to avoid losing data in the future.

Step 1: Click on the “Trash” icon on your desktop to open it.

Step 2: Type the name of your lost Excel file and search for it in the Trash.

Step 3: Right-click on the Excel file and choose “Put Back” to move it back to its original location.

If the 'Put Back' option is missing on your Mac, download and install a reliable Excel file recovery tool – Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to restore lost Excel files from Mac Trash.

Solution 4: Recover Lost Excel File from Temporary Folder

If you didn't save the file before closing Microsoft Excel, it might be missing because it wasn't saved properly. In that case, you can recover the lost Excel file from the Temporary folder.

Please follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

Step 2: Type open $TMPDIR and press “Return” to open the “Temporary Files” folder.

Step 3: Choose the lost Excel file under “Temporary Items” and recover it.

Fix 5: Recover Disappeared Excel File from AutoSave on Mac

AutoSave is especially useful for Office apps, as it saves open documents to your device automatically so you don't lose your work if your system crashes or you shut down unexpectedly.

Where does Excel automatically save files on a Mac? Follow these steps to locate and recover them.

Step 1: Open Finder on your Mac, and then click Go > Go to Folder.

Step 2: Type the path /Users/username/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery in the search bar.

Step 3: Click “Go” to open the AutoRecover folder for Excel.

Step 4. Find your lost Excel file and recover it, then save it to another secure location on your Mac.

Fix 6: Recover Disappeared Excel File with Time Machine

Another option is to recover the lost Excel file via Time Machine backup. This method has some limitations: you must have backed up your Mac using Time Machine, or have a good habit of backing up files regularly. If so, follow these steps to restore the file.

Step 1: Connect your Time Machine backup disk to your Mac.

Step 2: Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar, then choose Browse Time Machine Backups.

Click the Time Machine icon.

Step 3: Use the timeline on the right to locate the Excel file you want to recover.

Step 4: Click on “Recover” to restore the selected Excel file.

But if you didn't, you can install the tool Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to retrieve deleted files from your Mac without a Time Machine backup.

Why Did My Excel File Disappear on MacBook Pro/Air?

There can be several reasons why an Excel file might disappear on a MacBook Pro/Air, with the most common ones being:

• Human Error: Users forget to save an Excel file, accidentally delete it, or move it to a different location.
• macOS Issues: The system crashes abruptly, or the macOS version is incompatible with Excel.
• Physical Damage to Mac: The Mac sustains physical damage, like a drop, leading to device malfunction.
• Storage Failure: Hard drive failure on the Mac, making stored data unreadable, or accidental formatting of the drive.
• Excel Software Problems: Outdated versions, unresolved software glitches, or bugs.

If you have encountered the same issue, worry not! This article will introduce effective methods to recover lost Excel files on your Mac.

Tips to Prevent Excel Files Disappearing on Mac:

Losing files can be very inconvenient, so to better protect your documents, you can:

Before closing your Mac, make sure all documents are saved, and save any open Excel files before closing them. Work with your Mac connected to power to avoid unexpected shutdowns due to low battery. Regularly back up important files using Time Machine or another disk backup solution. Keep your Mac away from water and high-temperature environments to prevent damage.

Conclusions

This article outlines several practical methods to recover missing Excel files on a Mac, including using the Mac Finder to locate the vanished file, employing Mac file recovery software, utilizing the 'Put Back' feature in the Trash, retrieving from the Temporary folder, recovering from AutoSave, and restoring from a Time Machine backup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Disappearing Excel Files on a Mac

When people look for missing Excel files on their Mac, they often ask:

**How to Recover a Lost Excel File?** If your Excel file has vanished unexpectedly, try these methods to recover it: 1. **Check the Recycle Bin**: First, look in your computer's Recycle Bin to see if the file was accidentally deleted. If found, right-click and select "Restore." 2. **Recent Versions**: If using Microsoft Office, open the "File" menu, then choose "Info" > "Version History." Here, you can view and restore previous versions. 3. **Auto-Save**: Excel has an Auto-Recover feature. In the "File" menu, select "Info" > "Manage Versions" > "Recover Unsaved Workbooks" to check for unsaved versions. 4. **Temporary Files**: Sometimes Excel creates temporary files. Search for "*.tmp" in your C drive, and see if any of these temporary files contain your data when opened with Excel. 5. **Backups**: If you have regular system backups or use cloud services like OneDrive or Google Drive, check their backup folders to restore the lost file. 6. **Professional Software**: If all else fails, consider using data recovery software like Recuva or tools Data Recovery Wizard. Note that this might involve a fee and is not always guaranteed. 7. **Contact Support**: If the file is crucial and you still can't recover it, reach out to Microsoft support or a professional IT service for assistance. Remember, prevention is better than cure, so regularly save and back up your work.

Here are six effective ways to recover a missing Excel file:

• Locate a missing Excel file on Mac using the Finder due to a changed storage path.
• Recover a lost or deleted Excel file on Mac using a data recovery wizard tool.
• Restore an Excel file that disappeared due to accidental deletion via the "Put Back" feature in the Trash.
• Retrieve a vanished Excel file from the Temp folder.
• Get the missing Excel file from Mac's Auto Save feature.
• Recover the disappeared Excel file from Time Machine backup.

**How can I recover a deleted Excel spreadsheet on my Mac?**

You can use the "Restore" feature to recover deleted Excel spreadsheets from the Trash. However, if it's not there after you've emptied the Trash, you should use a professional data recovery tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to restore your deleted Excel spreadsheet.

How to automatically recover Excel files on a Mac?

To automatically recover an Excel file on a Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose “Options” from the “FILE” menu.

Step 2: Click the Save category in the left pane of the Excel Options dialog box.

Step 3: Make sure that both options for “Recover every 10 minutes” and “Keep unsaved changes when closing without saving” are checked.

Step 4: In the Excel Options dialog box, go to the Save tab, configure the AutoSave/AutoRecover settings, and click OK.

4. Why Can't I Find My Excel File?

If your Excel file suddenly disappears, common reasons might include accidental deletion, a changed storage path, or cleanup by antivirus software.