how to recover unsaved powerpoint presentation

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

Always happens five minutes before the meeting

It’s not uncommon to lose hours of work in PowerPoint because of an unexpected system crash, shutdown, or power failure. Microsoft knows that, which is why the program comes with AutoRecover. It’s a feature that helps you retrieve unsaved PowerPoint presentations.

This tutorial will teach you how to use Microsoft PowerPoint’s AutoRecover feature in Windows and macOS, including other tips to recover lost or deleted PowerPoint presentations.

Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations on Windows

Whenever you work on a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 10 and 11, the program’s built-in AutoRecover functionality makes periodic backups to a temporary file once every 10 minutes.

If you forgot to save a Microsoft PowerPoint document because of an unexpected issue, you can get it back. There’s no guarantee it may contain the most recent changes, though.

By default, AutoRecover opens the unsaved presentation when you relaunch PowerPoint after a system or application crash. If you see a Recovered Unsaved File banner, select the Save button inside to save it permanently.

In Microsoft Office 2021 and earlier versions of PowerPoint, a Document Recovery pane should show up to the left of the PowerPoint window, letting you pick the file you want to recover.

If that does not happen, you can view the AutoRecover folder with the following steps:

• Open PowerPoint and select Open on the Start Screen.
• Select the Recover Unsaved Presentations button.

• On the File Explorer pop-up, open the folder related to the PPT file you want to restore.
• Select the file and choose Open .

• Review the presentation and save it to your PC’s hard drive.

If the Recover Unsaved Presentations option is not visible or PowerPoint repeatedly crashes before you can do anything, visit the program’s AutoRecover file location and retrieve the presentation via File Explorer.

• Open File Explorer.
• Copy and paste the following into the address bar, replacing <username> with your Windows user name. Then, press Enter :

C:Users <username> AppDataRoaming Microsoft PowerPoint

• Copy the unsaved PPT file you want to recover to another directory, then double-click to open it in PowerPoint.

To increase the frequency with which AutoRecover backs up your PowerPoint presentations and improve the chances of retrieving the most recent unsaved changes, you must:

• Select the File tab and choose Options (or More > Options ).

• Select the Save category on the PowerPoint Options sidebar.
• Modify the box next to Save AutoRecover information every x minutes .

For example, enter a value of 1 if you want the PowerPoint recovery tool to back up unsaved changes every minute.

Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Files on macOS

Like on Windows, AutoRecover is available on Microsoft PowerPoint for macOS. If you’re working on a PowerPoint presentation on a Mac and experience a sudden crash or shutdown, you should be able to use it to recover the unsaved changes and prevent data loss.

Just re-open PowerPoint. AutoRecover should automatically re-open the presentation you were last working on, allowing you to save the changes permanently.

Suppose that doesn’t happen. Just:

• Open the Home button and choose Open .
• Select Recover Unsaved Presentations .
• Double-click the PPTX file you want to recover.

If the Recover Unsaved Presentations button is not visible, manually visit PowerPoint’s AutoRecover temp folder and retrieve the presentation via Finder.

• Open Finder and select Go > Go to Folder on the menu bar.

• Copy the following path and press Return :

~/Library/Containers/com. Microsoft.Powerpoint /Data/Library/Preferences/ AutoRecovery

• Copy the file you want to recover to a different location.

Manually recovered AutoRecover backups for the Mac do not have a specified file type, so you must go through the following steps to view them in PowerPoint.

• Right-click the auto-recovered PPTX file and select Open with > Other .

• Select All Applications on the drop-down menu next to Enable .
• Select Microsoft PowerPoint within the list of applications and choose Open .

By default, AutoRecover saves your presentations every 10 minutes. If you want to increase the chances of recovering the most recent changes:

• Open PowerPoint and select PowerPoint > Preferences on the menu bar.

• Select Save .

• Modify the box next to Save AutoRecover information every x minutes and enter a new value—e.g., 1 to make AutoRecover back up your presentation every minute.

Other Methods to Recover PowerPoint Files:

Unsaved PowerPoint presentations aside, you might have to deal with misplaced or deleted PowerPoint files every now and then. When that happens, here are several ways you can try to get them back.

Check PowerPoint’s Recents List

If you can’t remember the location of a PPTX file, just check PowerPoint’s Recent list on the Start Screen. If the presentation is listed there, select to open it.

Use Windows Search or Spotlight

Your PC or Mac keeps an index of whatever’s in its internal storage. If you can remember the file name of a lost presentation (or even part of it), try searching for it through Windows Search or Spotlight Search.

Check the Recycle Bin or Trash

Windows and macOS store deleted items for 30 days, so check the Recycle Bin or Trash if you can’t find a presentation. If the PPTX file is inside, you can restore it to its original location.

Use File History or Time Machine

You should be able to recover a lost PowerPoint file if your PC or Mac is set to back up to an external hard drive. Learn how to retrieve deleted files or previous versions using File History or Time Machine.

Use a File Recovery Tool

If all else fails, use data recovery software to retrieve deleted PowerPoint files. Check our list of top file recovery programs for the PC and Mac .

Don’t Forget to Save or AutoSave Your Presentations

Losing an unsaved PowerPoint presentation can be a frustrating experience, but with AutoRecover, you can recover your work and stop having to start over from scratch.

Regardless, it’s best not to leave things to chance, so remember to always save your work frequently. If you prefer storing your presentations on OneDrive, use the AutoSave feature in Microsoft Office to avoid lost data.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn't hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube. Read Dilum's Full Bio

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How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint

Get that PowerPoint presentation back

• Western Governors University

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• AutoRecover
• Alternate Method
• Recover Deleted Presentation
• Enable AutoSave
• Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

• File > Open > Recover Unsaved Presentations .
• Or: File > Info > Manage Presentations > Recover Unsaved Presentations .
• Check your Recycle Bin and automatic backup folders for deleted presentations, or use recovery software.

This article explains how to recover an unsaved PowerPoint. These instructions apply to PowerPoint 2019, 2016, 2013, and Microsoft 365 .

How Do I Recover a PowerPoint That Was Not Saved?

There are a few ways to recover an unsaved PowerPoint. If one method doesn't work, you should try the other options outlined below.

PowerPoint has a feature called AutoRecover which periodically stores data from your presentations. In newer versions of PowerPoint, you can access AutoRecover files from within PowerPoint:

Go to the File tab.

Select Open .

Select Recover Unsaved Presentations at the bottom of the list of recent files.

Select your presentation to open it. If you don't see it, move on to the next section to try a different method.

Alternate Way to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint

Depending on your version of PowerPoint, the steps for recovering unsaved presentations might be different:

Select Info .

Select Manage Presentations > Recover Unsaved Presentations .

Select your presentation to open it.

If you don't see the Recover Unsaved Presentations option in PowerPoint, you might find your presentation in the following folder on Windows:

On Mac, you can find AutoRecover data in this folder:

Copy and paste the above file path in the File Explorer or Finder address bar; then press Enter to open the folder. Replace User with your Windows or Mac username.

If you still don't see your file, try looking in the following folder on Windows:

Alternatively, press Windows key + R to bring up the Run command and enter %temp% in the Run prompt to open the Temp folder. To find your presentation, search for ppt files.

How Do I Get My Deleted PowerPoint Presentation Back?

If you previously saved a presentation and it got deleted, there are a few things you can try to recover your PowerPoint.

First, check your Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash folder. Depending on how long ago a user deleted it, you may be able to restore files from the Recycle Bin or recover files from the Trash on Mac . If successful, the file should return to its original folder.

If you use automatic backup software , check your backup folders. You can also restore your file using recovery software like Recuva or Disk Drill .

Enable PowerPoint AutoSave

PowerPoint includes an AutoSave feature that backs up your work every few seconds. Select the AutoSave toggle switch in the upper-left corner of your presentation to turn it On , or go to go to File > Options > Save and check the AutoSave box.

To recover an unsaved Word document , go to File > Manage Documents > Recover Unsaved Documents . If you see the document listed, select it. Or, search for a backup of the file by going to File > Open > Browse . You can also use Windows Explorer to search for recovered or temporary files.

To recover an unsaved Excel file , if you have AutoSave enabled, view the Document Recovery interface when you launch Excel. In the section called Available Files , you'll see all your autosaved workbooks and document files. To recover a file, select the arrow next to the file details and choose Open .

To recover a deleted or unsaved Notepad file, go to your Windows 10 search function, type %AppData% , and press Enter . The Roaming folder will open. Search for files that end in .txt to find your unsaved Notepad file.

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How to Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint File

After hours of piecing together the perfect presentation, disaster happens the next morning as you go present it: It’s gone. No matter how frantically you search File Explorer, your precious PowePoint presentation is gone. Microsoft, though, has your back. As long as you haven’t disabled autorecovery, the file should still be on your machine -- or in the cloud, if you’re an Office365 user. It’s not foolproof, but you can often recover these accidentally deleted files.

Next time, however, you might want to save a redundant copy to the cloud, just in case.

1. Open a blank Microsoft PowerPoint document and click the File tab .

2. Click the Options link at the bottom.

3. Choose the Save option from the left .

4.Once you find the section with a path showing where your autosaved documents go, select and copy it . In my case, it’s here: C:\Users\Bryan\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint\

5. Open File Explorer and paste in the copied file path . Hit enter .

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6. Here, we’ll see the last save of the document I was working on, which starts with the name “MYPRESENTATION.” Click it to open the file .

7. Right click the Microsoft PowerPoint file, and select Open with .

8. Choose PowerPoint, and click Ok .

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How to Recover Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint File

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Have you lost your PPT file due to a system crash or deletion and aren’t sure how to retrieve it? Don’t worry, this is the place for you. Data loss scenarios are quite common, and several methods are available to help recover your PPT file back. Follow our instructions for quick and easy methods to restore your deleted files.

What is the PowerPoint File Type (PPT, PPTX)

PPT stands for the Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation binary format, and it is the main file extension that saves PowerPoint presentations. The software is widely used to design presentations for educational and business purposes. All slides, videos, texts, images, etc., are stored within the PPT file.

Introduced in 1987 with the release of PowerPoint, the PPT extension used to be the primary file type to save your presentations for versions 2003 and older.

How to Recover Deleted PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) Files

There are many possible fixes to assist you in restoring your lost PPTX files. Go through the table below for an overview of available recovery methods:

While these solutions can be convenient, it is also important to keep certain practices in mind while working on your PPTX file. A few tips and tricks that can be helpful in data-loss situations are:

• 💾 Keep more than one backup of your PPTX file. In case of an unexpected file loss, having backups would ensure a smooth recovery process.
• ❌ If your device crashes or you want to retrieve your file, avoid writing new data to that drive. It can lead to complications while restoring the desired file.
• ⏩ Start the data recovery process as soon as you can. The longer you wait to attempt getting the file back, the restoration chances would become more uncertain.
• 💯 Try the most sure-shot method of file recovery first. It would increase the possibility of successful recovery and might prevent permanent file damage.

Being mindful of these pointers can help avoid severe data loss and make the recovery process quite efficient.

How to Recover PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) Files with Software

Although various data recovery methods are available to help you restore your PPTX files, third-party software is perhaps the most effective. Instead of relying on temporary folders, these solutions can permanently retrieve your files. While it may seem challenging at first, most file recovery software like Disk Drill is relatively user-friendly.

Steps to recover your PPT, PPTX files with Disk Drill:

• While it is faster than most recovery software, Disk Drill will take some time to scan your device for lost data. You can choose your recovery method — Quick Scan or Deep Scan . ⏯️ You can also pause and resume scans halfway to glance through the files found.

Recover PPT, PPTX Files from Windows Recycle Bin and Mac Trash

If you wish to retrieve your deleted PPT, PPTX files, there’s a simple solution to help you get them back. You can use the Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash to restore your files to their original location.

Both these folders in your system temporarily store your deleted files. This makes it easy to recover your data without much effort.

Recovering PPT, PPTX files from the Windows Recycle Bin

• Once you’ve opened the folder, find and select the PPT or PPTX file you wish to recover.

Recovering PPT, PPTX files from Mac Trash

Restore from a Recent Files Folder

While the Windows Recycle Bin and the Mac Trash folders offer effortless data recovery, they can only recover deleted files — whether accidental or voluntary. However, you don’t necessarily need to download software to retrieve your data. There are other solutions within your system that can help you restore your lost PPT, PPTX files.

Let’s go through both the options one by one:

Recovering Files Using Windows File History

• Make sure you have turned on the File History option. If not, select an internal or external drive to which you want to backup your information, and turn it on.

• Go through available backups and locate the PPT or PPTX file you want to recover.

Recovering Files Using Mac Time Machine

• Navigate through the folders to locate your PPT or PPTX file from available backups.

Having backups of your data is a valuable practice that always comes in handy in the long run. The techniques mentioned above can assist you with the convenient recovery of your PPT, PPTX files only if you’ve saved them. It may seem like a limitation in comparison with the data recovery efficiency of software. However, there is a bonus feature on PowerPoint that can help recover your lost files.

Recover PPT, PPTX Files using Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is Microsoft’s command-line recovery utility and is available for free download from the Microsoft Store. Since it doesn’t have a graphical user interface, users must enter the corresponding command prompt to recover lost files. This utility supports various file systems and types and is a helpful tool for data recovery. 

Here’s how you can recover PPT, PPTX files with Windows File Recovery:

• Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store and Install it on your PC.
• Launch Windows File Recovery and click the Run as administrator option.
• Once the Command Prompt window opens, enter the command in the following format: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
• You need to specify a mode in the format mentioned above, according to what’s suitable for your file system. You can use two basic modes to recover files – Regular and Extensive .
• You can also mention any specific file extensions according to the files you wish to retrieve. For instance, enter a similar command to retrieve PPT, PPTX files: winfr C: E: /extensive /n *.ppt /n *.pptx
• Note that the source and destination drives must be different. After you’ve entered, Microsoft automatically creates a recovery folder on the destination drive.

Recover PPT, PPTX Files from your Temporary Files Folder

Another method that you can use to retrieve your unsaved PPT, PPTX files is through the temporary files folder. Windows has this temporary folder dedicated to saving files from various applications. Here’s the path to the temporary files folder: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Temp

There are other ways to access this folder as well. Follow these steps to recover your lost or unsaved PPT, PPTX files from the temporary files folder:

• Once you run the command, the folder window will open in File Explorer. To narrow down your search options, you can filter through the results by using the following extensions – *.pptx, *.ppt, ppt*.tmp . 

Recover PPT, PPTX File from a Local Backup

An easier way to retrieve your PPT, PPTX files is to look for them in a local backup. However, turning to this method will only be feasible if you’ve created backups of your files either on hard drives, or on the cloud. In this article, we shall look at the steps to recover PPT, PPTX files from a local backup:

• Connect your backup drive to your computer.
• Open it using File Explorer.
• Look through the data to find your PPT presentation.
• Copy it to your computer and access the backed up version. 

Recovering PPT, PPTX Files with PowerPoint Features

Did your presentation disappear? PowerPoint provides features that can help recover your unsaved or deleted files. All versions from 2010 and onwards have the Auto Recovery feature and the Recover Unsaved Presentations option. The former saves the file you’re working on at regular time intervals. Both features help the user ensure they have a place from which they can retrieve their lost files.

Auto-Recovery

If you haven’t saved the PPT or PPTX file you’re working on; PowerPoint creates a temporary folder to save these files. You can navigate to the Auto-Recover File Location and look for your file there. However, to enable this feature, you must ensure that the AutoRecover information option is turned on.

Recover Unsaved Presentations

If PowerPoint or your system crashes while you’re working or before you have the chance to check a saved version, you can use this feature. Once you click on the Recover Unsaved Presentations option, it will open your missing file.

On Windows: Open File > Info > Manage Versions > Recover Unsaved Presentations .

You can find more information on these features at the Microsoft Community.

How to Open PPT, PPTX on Mac and Windows

Microsoft PowerPoint is the most suitable application to open your PPT, PPTX files. It supports all the texts, transition effects, images, clipart, videos, etc., which are vital assets to format the presentation. It is available on both Windows and Mac operating systems as well as on Android and iOS. You can purchase a subscription to Microsoft 365 from Microsoft’s official website.

You can also view PowerPoint files in several other presentation programs. Some examples are Apple Keynote, Corel Presentations, or PPTX viewer. If you have a Microsoft Account or a Microsoft 365 account, it will allow you to view and edit your presentations in the web browser.

Programs that Open PPT, PPTX Files

While Microsoft PowerPoint works best, multiple applications can support PPT, PPTX files. You may not be able to edit them using these applications, but you can view them easily. Some programs that support PPT, PPTX files are:

On Windows: Microsoft PowerPoint 354 Corel Presentations 2021 File Viewer Plus

On Mac: Microsoft PowerPoint 354 Apple Preview Apple Keynote

Android: File Viewer by Android Microsoft Office Microsoft PowerPoint Google Drive Google Slides

iOS: Microsoft Office Microsoft PowerPoint Google Drive Google Slides

Tips to Avoid PPT, PPTX File Loss

While it is quite possible to recover your lost PPT, PPTX files conveniently, it is advisable to try and avoid data loss situations. Here are a few tips you can follow to keep your files safe:

• 💿 Save your work manually – While technological advancements have made it easier to recover files, it is good to keep saving your file manually while working. If the system crashes or an unforeseen problem arises, you can seamlessly get back your precious presentations.
• 💾 Keep multiple backups – Ensure that you have backups of your files. You can either backup your PPT, PPTX files to a different storage device or use the backup features on your systems. Both Windows and Mac OS offer some advanced features that allow you to back up your files safely.
• ☁️ Enable AutoRecover and AutoSave – Verify that AutoRecover has been turned on in PowerPoint. This feature can help you recover your deleted or unsaved files without hassle. A lot of users fret that they forgot to save their presentations. This is where the AutoSave option is a real gamechanger: It automatically saves the changes you continue to make onto the OneDrive cloud storage.
• 🩺 Install a good Antivirus – It is crucial to have reliable antivirus software installed on your computer. It will protect your files from malware and prevent file corruption.
• 🔋 System and Power compatibility – It is suggested that you ensure your system’s compatibility with the software. With constant technical developments, outdated software versions would not work on newer systems. To avoid data loss due to sudden power outages, invest in an Uninterrupted Power Source (UPS).
• 🗄️ Separate software from other data – You should keep your software and other data, including your media files and documents on different drives. If this isn’t followed, your system can crash, or you risk disk failure. It can thus result in significant data loss.

This information can help you avoid losing your data. However, if a data-loss situation arises, the methods mentioned above can help you recover files or other data.

How to recover unsaved PowerPoint files in Windows 11?

PowerPoint comes ready with features that actively work to keep a record of your presentations, even if you haven’t saved it yet. To do this, PowerPoint takes regular snapshots of your file, which allows you to recover it in the event of sudden power or application failure.

To recover an unsaved PowerPoint file, follow these steps:

• Open PowerPoint .
• Click File , then Open . At the bottom of the recent files list, click Recover Unsaved Presentations .
• Select the unsaved presentation file in the UnsavedFiles folder, then click Open .

Once opened, save the presentation file like normal.

Where are PowerPoint AutoSave files stored?

If you’re not a Microsoft 365 user, the AutoSave feature that automatically saves your presentation almost immediately after any change won’t be available to you. Instead, you must rely on the AutoRecover feature.

AutoRecover, when enabled, will automatically make a copy of your file every 10 minutes by default. The path to this AutoRecover folder is typically C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint\ , but the below instructions will show you how to find the exact location for you.

• Click File , then Options .
• Click Save .
• Copy the path in the AutoRecover file location box and open it in File Explorer .

How to recover unsaved PowerPoint files on OneDrive?

If your PowerPoint presentation crashes before you get a chance to save it in OneDrive, you may still be able to recover it from a version that was automatically saved. To do so, follow these steps.

• Click File , then Open .
• Click Recover Unsaved Presentations .
• Select your unsaved presentation and click Open .

Going forward, if you’re a Microsoft 365 user, consider saving your file in OneDrive immediately after creating it. This way, the AutoSave feature will be enabled from the beginning, which will save your file every few seconds.

How do I recover PowerPoint history?

Follow these steps to recover PowerPoint file history:

• Open the file you want to view.
• Click File > Info > Version history . 
• Select a version to open it in a separate window.
• If you wish to restore a previous version you’ve opened, select Restore .

Where are temporary PowerPoint files stored?

Temporary PowerPoint files are stores under the following path: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Temp

Follow these steps to recover temporary PPT, PPTX files:

• Press Win + R and type in %temp% in the Run prompt.
• You can filter through the results in File Explorer by using the following extensions – *.pptx, *.ppt, ppt*.tmp . 
• If the presentation is located within the temporary files folder, it should show up in the results and you can recover it.

How to recover PowerPoint files that were not saved on the iPad?

All PowerPoint presentations are saved automatically on iOS devices. In the event that the AutoSave feature was manually disabled, there will be no way to recover an unsaved presentation.

Joshua Solomon

Technology, SaaS, and digital marketing are Joshua's go-to niches. He understands the need for simple and easy-to-read articles on the internet. As technologies grow in complexity, guides and how-to pieces must remain com...

Brett Johnson

This article has been approved by Brett Johnson, Data Recovery Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Brett has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Systems and Network, 12 years of experience.

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How to Recover Deleted/Unsaved PowerPoint Files (Multiple Methods for Windows)

No robots used , our articles are crafted by humans under strict Editorial Guidelines .

In that situation, you can use the methods below to recover the PowerPoint file and save yourself a lot of time.

Quick Navigation

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint File

Forgetting to click the save button when creating a PowerPoint presentation is a fairly common problem, which is why Microsoft made it possible to recover unsaved presentations directly from PowerPoint.

Method #1: Click Recover Unsaved Presentations

As soon as you create a presentation, PowerPoint saves it in a special folder, called UnsavedFiles. The presentation is stored in this folder until you click the Save button and provide your own directory. Here’s how you can recover unsaved PowerPoint presentations that are still located in the UnsavedFiles folder:

• Launch PowerPoint.
• Open the File menu and click Open.

• Open your presentation and save it someplace safe.

If the UnsavedFiles folder is empty, then you need to try the other methods described in this article.

Method #2: Use the AutoRecover Feature

Located inside the Save section of PowerPoint Options is the AutoRecover feature. When enabled, this feature stores information about opened PowerPoint files every X minutes, and when PowerPoint is closed without saving.

The recovery files created by the AutoRecover feature can be found in the following location (USERNAME = your username):

You can recover them from this location by copying the path and pasting it in the File Explorer address bar.

Then, simply move the PPT or PPTX file to a safe location.

Method #3: Check the Temp Folder

Windows allows any application to store temporary inside the following folder:

You can quickly open this folder by pressing Windows key + R on your keyboard and typing %temp% in the Run prompt.

Since the Temp folder tends to be rather messy, we don’t recommend you go through it manually. Instead, enter the following search queries in the search box located in the top-right corner of File Explorer:

If these search queries fail to yield any results, then it’s possible that your PowerPoint files are deleted. The good news is that there are several ways to recover deleted PPT files, and we explore them in the next section of this article.

How to Recover Deleted PowerPoint File

The three methods we’ve described so far can help you recover a presentation that was closed without saving, but what about presentations that were saved, only to be deleted? Well, that’s where the following three methods come in.

Method #1: Look Inside the Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin should be the first place you look for lost PowerPoint files:

• Press Windows key + R to open the Run prompt.
• Enter: explorer.exe shell:RecycleBinFolder

• Find your PowerPoint file.

No luck finding your PowerPoint document inside the Recycle Bin? Then it’s most likely permanently deleted .

Method #2: Retrieve Your File from a Backup

It would be beyond the scope of this article to describe all popular backup applications available to Windows users, so we decided to narrow them down to just three:

• Local backup:
• OneDrive backup:
• File History:
• Connect your backup drive to your computer.
• Open it using File Explorer.
• Find your PPT presentation.
• Copy it to your computer.
• Open a web browser.
• Visit:  https://onedrive.live.com/
• Log in with your username and password.
• Download it to your computer.
• Open the Start menu.
• Type “file history.”
• Select Restore your files with File History.
• Navigate to where your PPT file was located and restore it.

Don’t have a backup of your lost PowerPoint file? Don’t despair! There’s still one method that you can try, and it works even if you don’t back up your files.

Method #3: Use Data Recovery Software

Data recovery software can undelete even permanently deleted files, as long as they haven’t been overwritten by new data. Such software applications are available from many different vendors, some of which are targeting enterprise customers, while others are focusing on individual home users.

To recover a PowerPoint presentation with Disk Drill :

• Add the lost PPT/PPTX file to the recovery queue by clicking the checkbox next to it.

Tips to Avoid Losing PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) Files

Creating PowerPoint presentations is hardly ever fun, but having to recreate a lost presentation from scratch can be a torturous ordeal. Here’s what you can do to avoid losing your PowerPoint files:

• 💾 Enable AutoSave : If you’re using the latest version of PowerPoint (2016 or 2019) and have a Microsoft 365 subscription, then you can enable the AutoSave feature to save your files automatically, every few seconds, as you work. All you need to do is sign in with your Microsoft account and click the AutoSave button in the top-left corner. Unfortunately, the AutoSave feature is not present in PowerPoint 2003/2007/2010/2013.
• 💻 Back up your presentations : It’s never a good idea to keep just a single copy of an important presentation. Instead, consider using the 3-2-1 backup strategy , which states that you should always have three copies of your data, stored on two different media, with one copy off-site.
• ⚡ Buy a UPS : An uninterrupted power supply, or UPS for short, is essentially a battery that sits between your computer and the wall outlet the computer draws power from. In case of a power outage, the UPS quickly turns on to power your computer, allowing you to save your work.
• 💀 Avoid pirated versions of PowerPoint : Obviously, you should never use a pirated version of any software, but it’s especially dangerous to use a pirated version of PowerPoint and other Office applications because you never know if it hasn’t been tampered with and infected with malware.
• 🔧 Maintain your system : Unless your operating system is rock-solid, there will always be a chance of PowerPoint crashing at the worst possible moment. That’s why you should avoid installing dubious software applications from the internet. Instead, try to keep your system as clean as possible by following basic system maintenance tips .

How to recover deleted PowerPoint files?

Follow these simple steps to recover deleted PowerPoint presentations:

• Download, install & run Disk Drill on your PC.
• Select the disk containing the deleted PowerPoint files.
• Start the scan & wait for it to finish.
• Select the PPT files you want to recover & click “Recover”.
• Choose a safe recovery destination & hit “Confirm”.

How to recover a PowerPoint file after a crash?

To recover a PowerPoint file after a crash, open PowerPoint on your computer, click the File menu > Open > Recover Unsaved Presentations.

Can you recover deleted slides from PowerPoint?

No, even the latest version of PowerPoint doesn’t make it possible to recover deleted slides. The best you can do is restore an older version of the PowerPoint file, which can be easily done using OneDrive.

How to recover a corrupted PowerPoint file?

PowerPoint has a built-in file repair option, and you can access it by opening the File menu and selecting > Open > Browse > Open and Repair (accessible after clicking the small arrow next to the Open button).

How to recover a PowerPoint file that was saved over?

Unfortunately, you can’t recover a PowerPoint file that was saved over unless you have a backup safely stored somewhere on your computer or in the cloud.

In this article, we’ve described multiple methods that you can use to recover deleted and unsaved PowerPoint files, so all you need to do is pick the one that best fits your situation by consulting the Quick Navigation section at the start of this article.

This article was written by David Morelo , a Staff Writer at Handy Recovery Advisor. It was also verified for technical accuracy by Andrey Vasilyev , our editorial advisor.

Curious about our content creation process? Take a look at our Editor Guidelines .

Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint

Losing unsaved information when making PowerPoint presentations can result in a massive loss of time and effort in an instant. You can use different methods to recover unsaved PowerPoint presentations and file versions. In the methods listed below, you can learn how to recover unsaved PowerPoint files and return them to specific file versions.

Method 1: Recover PowerPoint Files Offline

If your system or PowerPoint app randomly crashes, you are usually provided with the option to recover an unsaved file version. If such an option does not occur, you can recover your files using a recovery file. For this purpose, you should first ensure that file recovery is enabled in PowerPoint.

Enable File Recovery in PowerPoint

To enable file recovery, go to File -> Options . In the dialog box that opens up, configure your recovery settings.

You can set your newly created files and the PowerPoint templates you are editing to be saved after a set period of time (e.g., every 1 minute), enable recovering the last version of the file if PowerPoint is closed without saving the presentation, pick the default file location for saving the recovered files, and choose to keep copies of the files online or offline.

Autorecover PowerPoint Files

To recover a PowerPoint file, go to File -> Open and click Recover Unsaved Presentations or via File -> Info -> Manage Presentations -> Recover Unsaved Presentations .

Select the file version to recover from the list to autorecover PowerPoint.

Method 2: Recover PowerPoint Files using OneDrive

Enable autosave for powerpoint files to onedrive.

The new version of PowerPoint comes with an AutoSave option where your presentations can be autosaved to OneDrive. You can enable autosave using this option or enable OneDrive via File -> Save As .

If you aren’t logged in, you will be asked to Sign in and select OneDrive to save the file automatically online.

Recover AutoSaved Files from OneDrive

You can recover files by going to File -> Home and selecting the file name from the list.

The autosaved version of the file can also be found online by logging into your OneDrive account and searching for the file, by going to recent files, or via My Files -> Documents .

Method 3: Recover a File Version in PowerPoint

Sometimes, you don’t need to recover an unsaved file but a specific file version of the PowerPoint file. To recover a file version, go to File -> Info -> Version History .

This will display the versions available for the file for recovery in PowerPoint.

You can also recover file versions by logging into OneDrive and selecting Version History via right-click context menu.

Other Methods for Recovering Unsaved PowerPoint Files

There are also several methods that might be useful to autorecover PPT. These methods might be used when you have exhausted the means to recover PowerPoint files through conventional means.

Restore PowerPoint from Recycle Bin: Sometimes, a file might be accidentally deleted and placed in the Recycle Bin. Restoring a file from there might be your best option at times to recover an accidentally deleted file.

Restore PowerPoint using System Backup: Restoring a system backup might be viable if you have lost an important PowerPoint file due to an operating system reload or if the file might be saved in an older backup.

Recover PowerPoint using Data Recovery Software: There are a wide number of data recovery software that can be used to find and restore permanently deleted files from your hard drive. Some examples include EaseUS free data recovery software, Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery, and Recuva.

Restore PowerPoint using Cloud Storage App: If you’re unfamiliar with OneDrive, you might use alternative cloud storage apps such as Google Drive, Box, or Dropbox to save files. If you have a PowerPoint saved to these apps which were deleted or are missing, you can look to recover it via your cloud drive by logging into your cloud storage account and sifting through deleted files.

Temp Folder: you can also recover an unsaved PowerPoint via the Windows Temp folder by going to Windows+R and entering %temp% in the dialog box. This folder is usually located at C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Temp .

Final Words

To ensure that you can recover PowerPoint files, it is advised to enable autosave either offline or online via OneDrive. This will ensure that you can recover your PowerPoint file and a specific version according to need. Suppose you are unable to recover your PowerPoint files using conventional methods. In that case, the options available require a bit of heavy lifting, such as restoring a system backup, using data recovery software, or sifting through the Windows Temp folder. If you’re really lucky, restoring the file via the RecycleBin might be all you need to do.

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PowerPoint Tips  - Recover Unsaved Presentations

Powerpoint tips  -, recover unsaved presentations, powerpoint tips recover unsaved presentations.

PowerPoint Tips: Recover Unsaved Presentations

Lesson 7: recover unsaved presentations.

/en/powerpoint-tips/spell-check-and-thesaurus-shortcuts/content/

Recover unsaved presentations

Sometimes you don’t get the chance to save your presentation before your computer crashes or you lose power. Thankfully, PowerPoint can help you recover unsaved presentations .

Watch the video below to see how you can restore your work.

• If PowerPoint recovers any unsaved files when you open it, a Document Recovery window will appear.
• Click on the file to open it and then close the window.
• If the Document Recovery window does not appear, click on the File tab in the PowerPoint menu.
• Select Open at the bottom of the recent presentations.
• Click on Recover Unsaved Presentations .
• Select the unsaved file that you want to recover and open it.

We also recommend saving the recovered file in order to prevent losing it in the future. Keep this shortcut in mind next time you have computer trouble, and hopefully, your hard work won't be lost!

Now let’s go over the steps for compressing media files in PowerPoint. 

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• Basic Features and Usage

How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint?

Written by: Bill Whitman

Last updated: April 9, 2024

Recovering an Unsaved PowerPoint Presentation

Losing an unsaved PowerPoint presentation can be frustrating. Whether it happened due to a sudden shutdown, crash, or simply forgetting to save your work, there are several methods to recover your unsaved PowerPoint file. One effective way is by using the AutoRecover feature in PowerPoint, which automatically saves a backup copy of your presentations at a set interval. Additionally, checking the Temporary Files folder on your computer can also yield potential recovery options. Here at LearnPowerpoint.io, we provide you with trusted advice on how to navigate this issue effectively.

Quick summary

• Use the AutoRecover feature in PowerPoint to recover unsaved files.
• Check the Temporary Files folder for backups of your presentation.
• Utilize Document Recovery to restore unsaved changes when PowerPoint restarts after a crash.

Step-by-Step Guide to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

Using autorecover to retrieve your presentation.

AutoRecover is a feature designed to protect your work in case of a power outage or crash. To recover your unsaved presentations through AutoRecover, follow these steps:

• Open PowerPoint and navigate to File > Open .
• Click on Recover Unsaved Presentations at the bottom of the menu.
• Select the presentation you wish to recover and click Open .

Remember, AutoRecover needs to be enabled in the settings for this to work. You can verify or adjust the settings by going to File > Options > Save and ensuring that the AutoRecover option is checked.

Finding Your Presentation in Temporary Files

Sometimes, your unsaved work might end up in the Temporary Files folder. Here’s how to access it:

• Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R .
• Type %temp% into the box and press Enter . This will open the Temporary Files folder.
• Look for files with a .ppt extension or a similar name to your lost presentation.
• If you find a relevant file, open it with PowerPoint and save it immediately.

Utilizing Document Recovery

If PowerPoint crashes or shuts down unexpectedly, the Document Recovery pane might appear when you restart the program. This pane displays any recovered files. Simply click on the file you wish to recover, then save it promptly.

Tips for Preventing Future Loss

To minimize the chances of losing important presentations in the future:

• Enable AutoSave if you are using PowerPoint for Microsoft 365.
• Regularly save your work by pressing Ctrl + S .
• Adjust the AutoRecover interval to a shorter time frame to ensure more frequent automatic saves.

At LearnPowerpoint.io, our trusted advice aims to not only help you recover your unsaved PowerPoint presentations but also to educate you on measures to prevent similar issues. Remember, regular saves and taking advantage of PowerPoint’s built-in recovery features can significantly decrease the risk of losing your precious work.

Recovering an unsaved PowerPoint presentation is usually manageable with the right steps. Whether through the AutoRecover feature, checking the Temporary Files, or using Document Recovery, it’s often possible to retrieve your work. By following the advice provided by LearnPowerpoint.io and enabling preventive measures like AutoSave and regular saving habits, you can safeguard your presentations against future losses.

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How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint

We’ve all been there: working on a presentation in PowerPoint, when suddenly, the app crashes!

Remember that moment of panic, thinking all of your hard work has been lost? You need to know how to recover unsaved PowerPoint  files to save you time and a headache.

Not every PowerPoint is recoverable. But with a few steps, you can recover unsaved PowerPoint files in most cases. We'll cover that in this tutorial. Plus, you'll learn how to avoid lost PowerPoint files altogether.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Files

When you learn how to recover unsaved PowerPoint slides, you can avert a crisis. In moments, you can be back to work, without losing content. 

Consider times when you need to know how to recover unsaved PowerPoint presentations. You may accidentally close a file before saving, resulting in lost changes and edits. Or PowerPoint might crash. This could be caused by the app itself, or another issue.

When you learn how to recover unsaved PowerPoint decks, you can work stress-free. Even if an incident happens where PowerPoint closes, you’ll be comfortable knowing that you can recover your work. 

Recovering unsaved PowerPoint files helps you save the best presentations you build. But how do you build amazing presentations? Easy.

With the   Novate PowerPoint Presentation Template , you can build stunning slides every day. It's part of Envato Elements , an all-you-can-download creative subscription. We’ll use the Novate template to learn how to recover unsaved PowerPoint files. Download it today to follow along.

No matter which operating system you use, PowerPoint attempts to recover unsaved files. This will occur automatically when you reopen the app. In many cases, this instantly brings back your lost work. But sometimes, you have to dig deeper. Keep reading to learn how. 

1. Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Files on Windows

First, we’ll learn how to recover unsaved PPT decks on Microsoft Windows. The first step I like to take doesn’t always solve the issue, but it’s quick and easy. That’s because sometimes, you may actually have a saved copy of your slide deck.

Does PowerPoint autosave? Let's find out.

To check, click on the File tab in PowerPoint. Then, on the Home tab, look under Recent . If your presentation is listed there, click on it, and save it under a new name to start editing again.

Unfortunately, chances are that unsaved PPT files won’t appear in your Recent list. But you’re well on your way to getting them back. 

Stay in the File > Home > Recent section, now scrolling to the bottom. You’ll see a message there labeled Recover Unsaved Presentations. Go ahead and click on it.

Depending upon how many PPT decks you’ve opened recently, you may not see this option. The Recover Unsaved Presentations button hides when you've got many recent files. To find it, click on More Presentations , and you’ll now see it at the bottom of the list of files.

PowerPoint launches the Open file browser. It's pointed to the folder where unsaved, temporary PPTX files are kept. In many cases, this file path is AppData > Roaming > Microsoft > PowerPoint. If you have an unsaved file here, click it, then choose Open . Your missing slides open. 

Before doing anything else, be sure to go to File > Save As. Rename the presentation and save a new copy. Now, it’s safe to start working and editing again. 

This recovery technique uses a powerful PPT feature called AutoRecover. It's built to help you get back lost work. In essence, it answers "does PowerPoint autosave?" By default, the app saves a recovery file every ten minutes that you have the slide deck open. 

2. Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Files on macOS

PowerPoint works great on macOS, too! It’s growing more popular, and you may find yourself with an unsaved file on your Apple computer. Luckily, there are good Mac-based options to recover your unsaved work. Let’s work through some of them now.

To begin, you can check your Recent files, just in case there's a saved copy of your slide deck on your Mac. With PowerPoint back open, go to the File drop-down menu in the upper left. Click it, then hover over Open Recent. 

If you see your missing slides, click on them and PowerPoint opens the deck. Again, you’ll want to save a new copy of the file to ensure it’s editable and won’t become lost once more. 

When you cannot find your missing file in your Recent list, you’re not out of options. Your next best step is to find where PowerPoint stores temporary files on your Mac. There’s a good chance that your lost PPT will be held there.

To get started, open Terminal on your Mac. To reach Terminal, open your Other folder in Launchpad. Or, you can simply launch it by opening a Spotlight search and typing in Terminal .

With Terminal open, paste in the following where the cursor is positioned by default:

echo $TMPDIR

Then, press Return on your keyboard. Next, paste in the following and hit Return again:

open $TMPDIR

Your Mac launches the T (Temporary) folder, which contains many subfolders. Scroll down until you see the one labeled com.microsoft.Powerpoint. Open it up, and inside, you’ll see the TemporaryItems folder. 

If PowerPoint has kept a recovery copy of your slides, you'll find it there.

As you can see, there are good options to recover unsaved PowerPoint files. They vary between operating systems, but they’re available for both Windows and Mac. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these techniques before you need them. That way, you can act fast when a slide deck goes missing! 

How to Prevent Loss of PowerPoint Files

In PowerPoint, there are two distinct ways that files are saved or archived. These are the AutoSave and AutoRecover options. AutoSave is the easiest and best option. 

It does exactly what the name suggests. Whenever you make a change to your slide deck, a copy is automatically saved. Even if PowerPoint (or your computer) crashes, you’ll be able to easily retrieve your slides. However, AutoSave isn't enabled by default in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Turning on AutoSave works identically on both Windows and Mac. With PowerPoint open, look in the upper left corner of the screen, on the orange menu bar. You’ll see a toggle button labeled AutoSave . To enable AutoSave , click on the button so that it reads On .

Now, any time you make a change in your PPT slide deck, it'll be saved automatically. If PowerPoint crashes, your finished presentation is saved and ready to work with.

Windows and Mac both support PowerPoint’s other leading way to retrieve lost files. That’s AutoRecover , and you saw it demonstrated above where we retrieved temporary files.

As mentioned, by default, AutoRecover saves files every ten minutes. That means that if you’ve made just a few quick edits, you might lose your work if PPT crashes. 

Fortunately, you can change the interval so that AutoRecover saves a backup of your PPT more often. To do this, use the following steps on Windows:

• Go to File > Options .
• Click on the Save tab in the PowerPoint Options sidebar.
• In the Save Presentations group, ensure that the S ave AutoRecover Information box is checked. Then, lower the time from the default of 10 minutes to a lower value, like every 2 minutes.

Now, an AutoRecover file of your PPT will be retained more frequently. This enables you to rescue your lost PPT files easily.

Working on a Mac? To step up the pace of AutoRecover , follow these steps:

• Click on the PowerPoint button in the top left corner of your screen.
• From the drop-down, choose Preferences.
• In the Output and Sharing group, click Save .
• Change the time interval using the arrow buttons.

As you can see, it’s easy to avoid the loss of PowerPoint files. Before you get to work building presentations, be sure to enable AutoSave.

Does PowerPoint autosave? With this tweak, absolutely!

And it’s always a good idea to generate AutoRecover save points more frequently. When you do, you can work with peace of mind knowing that you’ll never lose any work in Microsoft PowerPoint. 

The Best Source for Simple PowerPoint Templates (With Unlimited Use)

Envato Elements is a subscription that offers an unlimited variety of PowerPoint templates .  These templates come in a variety of styles and designs, making it easy to find one that fits your specific needs.

Find PowerPoint Templates

When you use Envato Elements, you’ll enjoy:

• Access to a large library of templates. With Elements, you'll have thousands of templates at your fingertips. These modern, professional designs that are sure to make your presentations stand out.
• Regular updates. New templates are constantly being added to the library, so you'll never run out of options. Check back often for new favorites!
• Ease of use. All templates are easy to customize and are fully editable in PowerPoint. This makes them accessible, flexible options for users of all skill levels.  

By joining Envato Elements, you'll have unlimited access. That includes professional PowerPoint templates that'll help you create engaging, visually appealing presentations.

Join today  to enjoy the benefits of Envato Elements. You’ll be glad you did!

Keep Learning Microsoft PowerPoint

Now, you know how to recover unsaved PPT files. This valuable skill is a great one to build on with more helpful articles. Keep learning, even after you've mastered how to recover unsaved PowerPoint files.

Check out more top tutorials with the links below. We've compiled the best PowerPoint resources in our guide, How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide.)

More Top Templates for Microsoft PowerPoint

Let's say that our steps for how to recover unsaved PPT files didn't work. It's regretful, but unfortunately, it happens.

What you  can  do at this point is rebuild in an efficient way. That means starting not from scratch, but with the help of a template. These templates have most of the work done  for you . Just fill them in with your content. See more of the best templates in these articles:

Now You Know How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

You know now how to recover unsaved PowerPoint files if at all possible. Remember: if you lose your PowerPoint, restart with a premium template. It helps you make your deadline without starting from a blank slate.

You may not need this skill today, but it's an important one to know for the future. Bookmark this tutorial on how to recover unsaved PPT for when disaster strikes. You might just be able to save the time versus rebuilding your slide deck!

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How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint

Computers don’t always work the way they’re supposed to. Nothing is more frustrating than when a program locks up and stops responding, or worse, completely crashes—especially if you lose progress on an important presentation that you’re working on.

Fortunately, PowerPoint will try to automatically save backup copies of your presentations. If PowerPoint 2019 encounters a problem and stops responding, you can restart PowerPoint or your computer and try to recover your lost presentations.

Recover a Presentation

If an unsaved presentation can be recovered, a Recover unsaved presentations heading will appear on the Welcome screen.

The Document Recovery pane appears, listing all recovered presentations that were found.

The last autosaved version of that presentation opens.

The Document Recovery pane closes, and you can get back to work.

AutoRecovery Settings

You can further protect your work by using the AutoRecover feature to periodically save a temporary copy of the presentation you're working on. To recover work after a software failure, you must have turned on the AutoRecover feature before the problem occurred. You can set the AutoRecover save interval to occur more frequently than its default setting of every 10 minutes.

• Click Save .
• Make sure the Save AutoRecover information check box is checked.

You can’t specify the interval if the check box is not selected.

Even with PowerPoint’s recovery features, the best way to ensure that you don’t lose much progress is to save your work regularly.

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How to Recover Unsaved PPT in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

Recovering an unsaved PowerPoint (PPT) in Windows 11 might seem like finding a needle in a haystack, but it’s actually quite simple. By using AutoRecover, temporary files, or previous versions, you can easily retrieve your work. Below, I’ll guide you through each step for a smooth recovery process.

How to Recover Unsaved PPT in Windows 11

First, we’ll explore the different ways to recover your unsaved PowerPoint. Follow these steps, and you’ll have your presentation back in no time.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint

Launch PowerPoint on your Windows 11 device.

Once PowerPoint is open, it will automatically try to recover any unsaved files. Look for a Document Recovery panel on the left side of the screen.

Step 2: Check the Document Recovery Panel

If PowerPoint found any unsaved files, they will be listed here.

Click on the file you want to recover. This will open the unsaved file in PowerPoint, allowing you to save it immediately.

Step 3: Use the "File" Tab

If you don’t see the file in the Document Recovery panel, click on the "File" tab.

In the "File" tab, select "Open," then "Recent," and finally "Recover Unsaved Presentations" at the bottom of the list.

Step 4: Browse for AutoRecovered Files

A window will appear showing all the unsaved files PowerPoint could recover.

Select the file you need and click "Open." This will open the file, and you can save it properly from here.

Step 5: Check Temporary Files

If the previous steps didn’t work, search your computer for temporary files.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder: C:Users[YourUsername]AppDataLocalMicrosoftOfficeUnsavedFiles. Look for PowerPoint files in this location, and open them to check if they are the ones you lost.

After you complete these steps, your unsaved PowerPoint should be recovered, and you can continue your work without losing any progress.

Tips for Recovering Unsaved PPT in Windows 11

• Always save your work frequently to avoid data loss.
• Enable AutoRecover in PowerPoint by going to "File" -> "Options" -> "Save" and setting the AutoRecover interval to 10 minutes or less.
• Use cloud storage options like OneDrive for real-time saving and backup.
• Check the recycle bin for accidentally deleted files.
• Maintain regular backups on an external drive or another safe location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does autorecover save files in powerpoint.

AutoRecover saves files at intervals set by the user, typically every 10 minutes by default. You can adjust this interval in PowerPoint’s options.

Can I recover a deleted PowerPoint from the recycle bin?

Yes, if you accidentally deleted a PowerPoint file, you could recover it from the recycle bin unless it has been permanently deleted.

What if I can’t find the AppData folder?

The AppData folder is hidden by default. You can make it visible by going to File Explorer, selecting "View," and then checking the "Hidden items" box.

Are AutoRecover files saved indefinitely?

AutoRecover files are temporary and will be deleted if you close PowerPoint normally without saving your work.

Can I use third-party software to recover unsaved PowerPoint files?

Yes, but it’s usually best to try the built-in methods first. Third-party software can be helpful but might not always be reliable.

• Open PowerPoint.
• Check the Document Recovery Panel.
• Use the "File" tab.
• Browse for AutoRecovered files.
• Check temporary files.

Recovering an unsaved PowerPoint in Windows 11 doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By following the outlined steps and utilizing built-in features like AutoRecover and temporary file locations, you can easily find and restore your lost work. Always remember to save your work frequently and consider setting up automatic backups to prevent future data loss.

Stay diligent, and make use of the tips provided to ensure your PowerPoint presentations are always safe. If you often find yourself in this situation, it might be worth looking into additional resources or tools to help streamline your workflow and backup processes.

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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PowerPoint File Recovery

• Recovers deleted, lost, and unsaved PPT files effectively and completely.
• Handles 500+ data loss scenarios, including accidental deletion, system crash, disk corruption, virus attack, etc.
• Recovers lost documents, photos, videos, music, and other 1000+ file types with a high success rate.

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PowerPoint File Recovery: How To Recover Unsaved or Deleted PowerPoint Files

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Since its release in 1987, PowerPoint has been a go-to platform for creating presentations that support speeches with graphical data. The app first used the PPT format, which was replaced by PPTX in 2007 and brought numerous improvements.

However, neither the PPTX format nor the PowerPoint app are perfect. The files are prone to corruption and viruses, and forgetting to save your work or experiencing a system crash when working with PowerPoint can lead to data loss.

Fortunately, Microsoft has fixed most issues with AutoSave and AutoRecovery features, but there's still a need for a reputable data recovery solution.

Table of Content

How powerpoint files get lost.

• Recover Deleted/Lost/Unsaved PPT With Wondershare Recoverit
• Look for Your Unsaved PowerPoint Files in Temporary Folder
• Use PowerPoint's Recover Unsaved Presentations Feature
• Recover an Unsaved PPT File Using PowerPoint AutoRecover
• Recover a Deleted PowerPoint File From Recycle Bin
• Recover a Lost PowerPoint File Using Windows File History

How To Ensure You Don't Lose PowerPoint Files in the Future

To help you navigate various data loss scenarios, we've created a detailed table explaining how PowerPoint files get lost, the causes behind these issues, and their appropriate solutions.

How To Recover Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint Files

Now that we know more about the possible issues related to PowerPoint files and their respective causes and solutions, we can dive straight into the steps for applying each solution. In this article, we are focusing on recovering a deleted or unsaved PowerPoint file on Windows 11/10. If you are a Mac user, you can refer to our guide for PowerPoint file recovery on Mac .

Method 1. Recover Deleted/Lost/Unsaved PPT With Wondershare Recoverit

Situations where your deleted or unsaved PowerPoint files are gone can be particularly frustrating. Fortunately, dedicated data recovery solutions like Wondershare Recoverit can help and work wonders in numerous data loss cases.

• Recover deleted, unsaved, or lost PPT/PPTX files effectively, safely, and completely.
• Manages over 500 data loss situations, such as accidental deletion, app or system crashes, virus infection, and hard drive failure.
• Repairs corrupted PowerPoint file automatically in the preview process.

Using the app is also incredibly straightforward. Here's how you can do that:

Accidentally deleting data like PowerPoint presentations can be scary. Still, there's nothing to fear when you have a dedicated data recovery tool like Wondershare Recoverit. Recovering deleted files is quick and effortless - as you can see, it only takes a few clicks and minutes of your time.

It can recover over 1,000 file types, including photos, videos, music, and documents, and works wonders with over 2,000 different storage devices like internal and external drives, NAS servers, USBs, etc.

Method 2. Look for Your Unsaved PowerPoint Files in Temporary Folder

Windows and macOS systems have a temporary file folder, also known as a cache folder, which stores the most recent data the user or system uses. This folder is often filled with recently downloaded Windows or macOS updates, files downloaded through the browser, and items currently in use, like PPT/PPTX files.

Therefore, looking into these folders on either operating system for PowerPoint presentations is an excellent idea. On Windows, you can access the folder by following these steps:

• Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\ YourUserName \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft .

• Copy and paste these files to the desktop and change their extension from ".tmp" to ".ppt" or ".pptx" depending on your Microsoft Office version, with PPTX being the default format for versions from 2007 and newer.

For macOS, you'll need to follow different steps:

• Close down all your active applications.
• In Finder, click on Go > Go to Folder , and enter the following command: ~/Library/Caches
• Once inside the cache folder on Mac, locate PPT/PPTX files and drag them to the desktop, or open them and save your presentations elsewhere.

It's worth noting that deleting temporary files and cache is also an excellent way to increase your storage space, but it should only be done after you've found the data you need.

Method 3. Use PowerPoint's Recover Unsaved Presentations Feature

Temporary or cached PPT/PPTX files can also be found in the Microsoft PowerPoint app through the Recent feature, which requires similar steps on Windows and macOS. Here's how you can find it:

• Launch the Microsoft PowerPoint app after it or the system has crashed.
• Click the File menu and then select Open .

• Choose the unsaved recent PowerPoint presentation and open it.

It's highly recommended that you save the file to a safe location as soon as you open it to avoid app or system crashes affecting your files again.

Method 4. Recover an Unsaved PPT File Using PowerPoint AutoRecover

The last few versions of PowerPoint include a nifty little feature called AutoRecover. Microsoft added this feature into a few Office apps to allow users to recover files in case of system or app crashes. You can find the AutoRecover feature by following these steps on Windows or macOS:

• Open a PowerPoint presentation and navigate to File > Home > Options > Save .

• Open Windows Explorer, paste the path on the address bar and hit"Enter" to search the lost unsaved PowerPoint file.

You can also change the frequency of the Autorecover feature by modifying the Save every X minutes box. The AutoRecover File Location box is also here, allowing you to change the location where PowerPoint files are saved.

Method 5. Recover a Deleted PowerPoint File From Recycle Bin

If you've accidentally deleted PowerPoint presentations that you still need, these PPT or PPTX files have likely wound up in Windows' Recycle Bin, so you can effortlessly recover them. Here's how:

• Open the Recycle Bin.

• Find the restored PPT/PPTX files in the folders they've previously occupied before deletion.

If you have emptied the Recycle Bin , you'll need to go back to the Wondershare Recoverit solution and use that, as a dedicated data recovery app is the only thing that can help in such situations.

Try Wondershare Recoverit to Recover Unsaved/Deleted PowerPoint

Method 6. recover a lost powerpoint file using windows file history.

If you're a Windows user, you're likely aware of the built-in backup and recovery tools by the name File History. This tool is handy in situations related to accidental file deletion, failing disk drives, and mistakenly formatted storage devices.

Here's how to use File History on Windows 10 to recover your lost or unsaved PowerPoint presentations:

• Click it, then you will get the list of the backed up files. Find the unsaved powerpoint file you wish to recover, then click the green icon to restore it.

If you have upgraded your system to the latest Windows 11 version, follow these steps:

• If you didn't use File History before, you need to turn it on and select a drive to backup.

• Check the avaiable backup files and find the powerpoint file you are trying to recover.
• Once you find it, click the green icon and restore it.

Remember that you can only use File History if you've previously set up these features and use them as backup options. If that's not the case, you'll have to use the mentioned data recovery method.

Although recovering PPT/PPTX nowadays is effortless, with numerous solutions that can help regardless of how you lost data, prevention is still better than treating. We've included a few tips to help you avoid PowerPoint data loss in the future:

• Manually Save Files - While Microsoft's AutoSave and AutoRecover features are fantastic, and you should undoubtedly keep them enabled on supported apps, manually saving your work is still relevant and necessary. Creating a habit of hitting CTRL + S whenever you get up from the PC or every few minutes can be immensely helpful.
• Use Reliable Backup Software - Windows and macOS provide decent and helpful built-in backup tools like Backup and Restore , File History , and Time Machine . However, a dedicated backup tool like Wondershare UBackit is even better, providing more options and features like scheduled and automatic backups.
• Install a Trustworthy Antivirus - Keeping a reliable AV or anti-malware tool on your computer is vital for protecting yourself from digital threats. And since viruses and malware can cause chaos, delete data, encrypt files, and lead to corruption, there are even more reasons to get a proper security app.
• Invest in a UPS - System crashes are often caused by power loss, and if you live in an area where power surges are common, investing in a UPS is a terrific idea. Not only will it save you from losing valuable data, but it'll also keep your hardware components healthy, as power surges can damage them.

Separating your OS, applications, media, and vital or work files is also a great option, and you can do that by dividing your disk drive into partitions. Alternatively, you can invest in multiple HDD/SSDs, each with different types of files.

Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most widely used applications for creating graphical presentations that support speeches. It uses PPT and PPTX files, which, although massively improved over the years, are still prone to accidental deletion, viruses, or corruption. The app can also suffer from power losses and system crashes, resulting in deleted or unsaved PowerPoint presentations.

There are numerous culprits behind PowerPoint presentation data loss, and we've included a detailed table with the most common cases and their causes and appropriate solutions.

From utilizing PowerPoint's AutoSave and AutoRecover features to looking through temporary files to using dedicated data recovery tools like Wondershare Recoverit, there are numerous methods for retrieving PPT/PPTX data, and we've included the top solutions for recovering deleted and unsaved PowerPoint files.

Easily recover deleted or lost files from 2000+ storage devices like HDDs, SSDs, external drivs, USB drives, memory cards, and more. The software confidently retrieves all data types, regardless of how they went missing.

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Discover the essential steps to recover an unsaved PowerPoint file effortlessly. Never lose your work again with our expert guide!

Steps to Manually Open an AutoRecover File

Step 1: access ms powerpoint.

Step 2: Navigate to the File Tab

Step 3: Click Recover Unsaved Presentations

Step 4: Locate AutoRecover Files

Step 5: Open and Save the Recovered File

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• Files & Documents

How to Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint Presentation

Last update: March 22, 2023

PowerPoint is very popular presentation software. It can be disastrous to lose or delete an important PowerPoint file. Fortunately, there are ways to get lost PowerPoint presentations back. Read on to see how you can recover your valuable data.

Ways to Recover Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

There are multiple ways to recover deleted or lost PowerPoint files. Let’s take a look at the various methods you can use to get back deleted or unsaved PowerPoint files.

Method 1: Use Operating System Features

The first place to look for any lost files is in the special folders that the Windows and Mac operating systems provide to temporarily store deleted items.

To recover a PowerPoint presentation from the Windows Recycle Bin , follow these steps:

• Open the Recycle Bin by clicking on its icon.
• Find the file you wish to restore.
• Click or tap on Restore to recover the file to its original location.

Mac users can use the Trash to recover recently deleted PPT files with these steps:

• Open the Trash by clicking on its icon.
• Locate the item you want to recover.
• Right-click on the PowerPoint file and click Put Back.

Method 2: Try Native PowerPoint Features

PowerPoint provides two powerful native methods of recovering data. You can use the PowerPoint Autorecover feature or the Recover Unsaved Presentation feature. Here’s how they work.

AutoRecover – PowerPoint automatically saves files temporarily via the AutoRecover feature. Recovering them requires navigating to the appropriate folder and searching for your file. To see where PowerPoint is storing the files, use the following steps in PowerPoint.

• Open File > Options > Save.
• The file is specified in the AutoRecover file location field.

You can also  enable or disable AutoRecover  from this window and modify the elapsed time between automatic saves of your PowerPoint files.

Recover Unsaved Presentation  – If PowerPoint crashes before you have a chance to save your presentation, you can use this feature to recover your work. Just follow these steps:

• Open the File tab in PowerPoint.
• Select Recent.
• Click on the Recover Unsaved Presentation icon on the bottom-right of the window.

Recover from temporary PowerPoint files  – You may be able to manually save files that have been temporarily saved by the application. Look in these locations for your operating system if you have lost a PowerPoint file.

• Windows – C :\ Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temp
• Mac – /Users/<username>/Library/Containers/com.Microsoft.Powerpoint /Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery

Method 3: Use PowerPoint Recovery Software

In cases where the previous recovery methods are not successful, specialized software may help you restore a lost PPT file. Data recovery software works by taking advantage of the way modern operating systems delete data. When a file is deleted on a Windows or Mac machine, the data is not immediately removed from a disk-based storage device. The operating system disables logical access to the deleted data but it remains on the disk until it is overwritten by new information.

Our editorial team has extensively used licensed copy of Disk Drill data recovery software, which has proven to be a reliable solution for various data loss situations. The steps with other recovery applications will be similar to the following procedure that we use with Disk Drill for Windows.

• Download and install the software. Don’t use the disk that contained the lost PowerPoint files or you risk overwriting them.
• Launch the application and select the disk with the missing PowerPoint presentations from the list of available devices.

• Click the  Recover  button to сhoose a safe storage location that is not on the disk being recovered.

There are many data recovery software solutions available for Mac and Windows computers. Some are freeware applications while others are commercial products. When you are tasked with recovering a lost PowerPoint file, you want to choose the right software tool. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your choice.

Freeware solutions such as Disk Drill data recovery software provide more features than free alternatives.The only real benefit of free tools is the price. The features included with a commercial solution are generally far superior to free alternatives. When faced with a data loss situation, you want to use the best tool available, and a paid/freeware solution will give you a better chance of successful recovery.

Method 4: Recover PowerPoint Presentation From a Backup

If you are following accepted best practices and backing up your computer regularly, you may have a copy of the lost PowerPoint available on backup storage media. Whatever tool you choose to use for making backups, the recovery process is essentially the same and will follow these general steps.

• Connect the storage media containing the backup files to your computer.
• Start the backup and recovery application.
• Search for the PowerPoint presentation you want to recover.
• If found, restore the file to your computer.

The fact that the last resort may be to use a backup copy to recover your files demonstrates the importance of making it a regular practice to back up your data. Take the time to do it. Someday you will be very happy that you did.

Why Do PowerPoint Files Get Deleted?

Just as with any other type of file living on your computer or laptop, there are many ways that PowerPoint presentations can be lost or deleted. Here are some of the most common reasons you might lose one of these important files.

• Human error is involved in a large majority of data loss incidents. It’s very easy to inadvertently delete the wrong file and then empty the Trash or Recycle Bin. You may also accidentally format a drive or partition that contained some PowerPoint files.
• An infection with a virus or malware can be responsible for the loss of data on a Mac or Windows 7/8/10/11 machine. Files may be randomly deleted or the filesystem can become corrupted depending on what type of malware has entered your system.
• Physically damaged disks will often exhibit lost and deleted data. Disks can be damaged due to simple wear and tear or by treating them badly and exposing the devices to excessive moisture or heat.

Protecting Your PowerPoint Files

There are several measures that you can take to protect your PowerPoint files.

The information presented in this section should help you protect your PowerPoint presentations and recover them if you are impacted by a sudden data loss. Here are a few more points of interest regarding recovering deleted PowerPoint files.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i recover a powerpoint that i have overwritten.

Once you have saved a PowerPoint over an older copy, the best way to recover it is with a backup. Windows users may also be able to use the Restore Previous Version feature that also depends on restore points being saved by the operating system.

How can I recover deleted PowerPoint files from an iPad?

Data recovery software can be used to restore a PowerPoint file deleted from an iPad. Connect the iPad to your computer and let the recovery software scan it as it would any other disk-based device.

How can I recover a file if PowerPoint crashes?

Use the Recover Unsaved Presentation feature to recover files that you were working on when PowerPoint stopped responding or crashed. Alternately, you can use PowerPoint’s Autorecover feature which can be configured to automatically save presentations on a time-frame of your choosing.

• 12 publishings

Robert is a freelance writer and technology enthusiast who graduated from Pace University in New York with a degree in Computer Science in 1992. He is a former computer specialist at IBM. During his long career in IT, he has worked for a number of major service providers in various roles related to data storage, management, and protection.

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Yevgeniy Tolkunov is Hardware Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Yevgeniy has a Master's Degree in Physics, Information Technology; 15+ years of experience.

• Data Recovery

How To Recover Unsaved Or Deleted PowerPoint Files

How to recover lost PowerPoint file easily? Read this post. This article will show you how to recover deleted or lost PowerPoint file efficiently and will not bring any damage to the original data. 

Part 1 – You Need to Recover Deleted or Lost PowerPoint File Sometimes

As an important part of Microsoft Office, PowerPoint is used widely. PowerPoint, along with Word and Excel, provides great convenience for our work, improving the work efficiency to a large extent. Well, power failure, system crash, human error or many other reasons could make your PowerPoint file ( also known as PPT file or PPTX file ) gone ( or at least the content of it gone ). No wonder there are so many people who asked “ how do I recover unsaved PowerPoint files ” and “ how do I recover deleted PowerPoint file “.

Taking this into consideration, we feel it’s necessary to talk about how to recover deleted or lost PowerPoint file with a piece of free data recovery software or with the solutions provided by Microsoft.

Recently, one of my friends Annik said that she has worked on a PPT file all day, but now lose one important PTT file. She struggled to find it based on her knowledge but ended with a failure. Now, she needs help to get that PTT file back.

In her case where the PPT file is lost unexpectedly, we guess a piece of free  file recovery software may help. Here, we suggest MiniTool Power Data Recovery , which has helped a lot of users finish PPT recovery or the recovery of other kinds of files and won the favor of many people. Believe it or not, it works well in various file loss cases; and even if it can’t find the specific file for you, it will never do any damage to your disk and other data. So you might as well give it a shot, and we believe it will surprise you.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery Trial Click to Download 100% Clean & Safe

After that, we’ll talk about the AutoSave function and Auto Recovery options of Microsoft PowerPoint in detail. Please jump to it if you want to know clearly about those features.

Part 2 – Recover PowerPoint File with Different Methods

According to search, the recovery of MS PowerPoint content is widely talked. Sometimes, we have deleted a very important PowerPoint file by mistake and sometimes, the PowerPoint file/content is lost somehow due to different reasons like system crash and power failure. No matter which the situation is, you must want to restore PowerPoint file , right?

Here, we provide different ways to help you recover deleted PowerPoint file and recover not saved PowerPoint. You should first confirm your situation and then select the appropriate way to start PowerPoint file recovery yourself.

How to Retrieve Deleted/Lost PowerPoint Files

Before you do anything else, you should acquire a MiniTool Power Data Recovery , which is regarded as the best file recovery program by a large number of users. Considering that the size of PowerPoint file is generally not too large, We think you should firstly download the trial edition of this software on your computer to check whether it can find the files you want to recover.

You can download the program directly by clicking on those two buttons. Then, please run the setup program to install the software immediately.

This free MiniTool data recovery software has four recovery modules: This PC, Removable Disk Drive, Hard Disk Drive , and CD/DVD Drive .

These four recovery modules can fix different situations for you:

• This PC recovery module can help you to recover data from logical damaged partition, RAW partition, or formatted partition.
• Removable Disk Drive recovery module is used to retrieve files from different kinds of removable drive, such as USB flash drive, SD card, memory card, and more.
• Hard Disk Drive recovery module is designed to get your missing data back from the lost partition.
• CD/DVD Drive recovery module can be used to recover your data from scratched or corrupted CD/DVD.

So, if you want to recover deleted or lost PowerPoint file, you need to choose a proper recovery module accordingly. In this post, we take This PC module as an example.

Suppose that you want to recover a PowerPoint file from partition F:, you need to choose that partition from This PC interface and click on Scan button to start the scanning process.

This software will take some minutes to finish the scanning process. When it finishes, you will enter the scan result interface.

Here, we will tell you some useful tricks to find your wanted files quickly.

• You can click on Type tab to make this software show you the scanned files in type, and then you can pick out the PowerPoint files easily.
• If you know the name of the lost or deleted PowerPoint file, you can click on Find button to input the name of the file to locate the target item directly.
• You can also use the Filter function to filter the files according to your own requirements which can help you find the target PowerPoint file easily.

After you check the files you want to recover, you need to click on Save button and choose a path on the pop-out window to save these files. Here, you should notice that you’d better not save the selected files to its original location to prevent them from being overwritten.

After these steps, you can discover that your lost or deleted PowerPoint files are back to the specified location.

• If you want to use this software to recover your data. Please update it to an advanced edition .
• If you need to use other recovery modules of this software to recover deleted or lost PowerPoint file, you can refer to the above steps, and we will not repeat them here.

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Well, how to recover deleted PowerPoint files on Mac? You should get MiniTool Mac Data Recovery and run it to choose Undelete Recovery from the main window. Then, select the target drive to scan and check files to recover at the end of the scan.

Top Recommendation:

If you plan to recover Word document, instead of PowerPoint file, the “ How To Recover Unsaved Word Document (2020) – Ultimate Guide ” article will help you out. Please click to read it earnestly.

How Can You Recover PowerPoint Unsaved

Closing a PowerPoint file without saving the changes and system crashing down when PowerPoint is running are quite common things actually. You may easily run into one of them. When that really happens to you, how are you going to deal with it? If you have no idea at all about how to recover an unsaved PPT file, we are here for you; we’ll show you the exact way to get back lost content with the AutoSave  and Auto Recovery options provided by Microsoft.

Recover unsaved presentations.

When you need to get back the unsaved content while PowerPoint is still opening, you should follow this:

• Click File button in the upper left corner.
• Navigate to Versions under Info option, which is selected by default.
• Find out the certain version from all the automatically saved versions by taking a look at the autosave time.
• Click on it in order to open it in a new window, in which you can choose to Compare this one with the current version in the running PowerPoint or you can just click on Restore to recover this version.

Recover autosaved PowerPoint.

What if you have closed a PPT file without saving the many changes that have been made? Under this circumstance, you are not able to find the previous versions through above method. What to do at this time? Please calm down and follow the steps given below to recover an unsaved PowerPoint file all by yourself.

• Open any PowerPoint file on your computer or just create a new one.
• Click File in the upper left corner and select Options , instead of Info.
• In the pop-up PowerPoint Options window, please shift to Save from General.
• Look at the AutoRecover file location and open C drive to expand the folder step by step in Windows Explorer (the default location is C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint\ ).
• Find the unsaved PowerPoint file and click on it.
• Click on the Restore button in the open file and then choose Yes from the pop-up prompt window to allow the restoration of this PowerPoint file.

To know more about automatically save and recover files in Office for Mac, please look at this page .

Part 3 – Conclusion

While you are using Microsoft Office, you must be aware of the potential risks of important file loss, like Word document, PowerPoint file and excel file. In case of any unexpected data loss, we highly recommend that you make a reasonable backup plan for your data, at least important data. To backup data on a regular basis is a good habit that all of you should form.

Well, there’re many cases in which the accidents happen before people have a chance to backup PowerPoint file or before they realize the importance of backup. Does this mean that data will be gone for good? Of course not! We have practical solutions to help you recover deleted or lost PowerPoint file efficiently. You should stop doing anything else when the accidents occur and then resort to the methods we mentioned in part 2 immediately in order to avoid any unnecessary data overwriting and recover as much data as possible.

If you run into any problems while recovering PowerPoint file that has been deleted or lost suddenly, please feel free to contact us via email or just leave a short message below to explain your problem. Then, we’ll reply you very soon.

Recover Deleted or Lost PowerPoint File FAQ

• Open Windows File Explorer.
• Type ppt*.tmp into the search box at the upper right and hit Enter .
• Look through the found ppt files and right click on one to Rename it. (Please add the .ppt extension.)
• Double click on this ppt file to open.
• Click Save As and choose a storage path for it.
• Use MiniTool Power Data Recovery : run software -> select the drive to scan -> choose needed PowerPoint file to recover.
• Use Restore previous versions : open File Explorer to find the folder containing deleted PowerPoint file -> right click on it to choose Restore previous versions.
• Turn to Backups : open the software/services that you used to make backup -> select the backup that includes the deleted PowerPoint file -> restore to this backup.

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• Articles of PPT

2 Easiest Ways to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint (Step-by-Step Guide)

Working with PowerPoint and other office software is becoming increasingly popular, especially since the onset of COVID-19. Alongside this trend, users facing challenges have become more common, with their presentations occasionally getting lost due to errors or unexpected interruptions in PowerPoint. However, there's no need to worry; PowerPoint presentations can be recovered. In this article, we will discuss methods to recover unsaved presentations on both Mac and Windows. So, let's proceed to recover your presentation!

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint on Windows (In Easy Steps)

In this section, we will learn how to recover unsaved PowerPoint files on Windows, so, let's get started!

Method1: Using the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” Feature in PowerPoint

In this method, we will utilize PowerPoint's built-in feature called "Recover Unsaved Presentations:

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint app on your Windows system and go to the "Open" tab in the sidebar. There, you will find the option for "Recover Unsaved Presentation".

Step 2: The system will then prompt you to the location of unsaved files within File Explorer. You can also manually navigate to the directory.

Step 3: In the directory, you will see a list of recoverable PPT files. Select the latest version to restore.

Step 4: Make sure to save your recovered PowerPoint file in a safe and easily accessible location. It's recommended to save it as a copy.

Method 2: Using the AutoRecover Feature to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint

Step 1: Open PowerPoint, click "File" in the upper left corner, and select "Options" from the dropdown.

Step 2: In the PowerPoint Options window, choose "Save" from the left-hand menu, locate "AutoRecover file location", and copy the following path:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint

Step 3: Open File Explorer, then paste and browse the copied path to locate the unsaved file you need.

Step 4: Copy the unsaved file to a secure location, change its file extension to .pptx or .ppt, and attempt to open and save it in another location.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint on Mac (Easy & Quick)

Mac users can recover their unsaved presentation files easily as follows:

Method 1: Check Recent Files on Mac

Step 1: Start the PowerPoint application on your Mac.

Step 2: Navigate to the menu bar at the top of your screen. Click on "File" and select "Open Recent" from the dropdown menu. Click on Presentation to move forward.

Step 3: Choose the file you need, and it will open in PowerPoint.

Step 4: Now, go to "File" again, but this time, select "Save As" and pick your desired location to save the file.

Method 2: Using AutoSave Feature on Mac (If Enabled)

Step 1: Open PowerPoint on your Mac, then go to "Preferences".

Step 2: In the Preferences menu, click on "Save" in the Preference window.

Step 3: Make sure the box next to "Save AutoRecover info every" is checked, this enables AutoSave.

To Find the AutoRecovery Folder:

Step 1: Quickly locate the PowerPoint AutoSave folder on your Mac. Open Finder, click "Go" in the menu, and select "Go to Folder".

Step 2: Copy and paste the following folder path in the search field, replacing "username" with your username:

/Users/username/Library/Containers/com.Microsoft.Powerpoint/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery

Step 2: Once you find the necessary file, you can either drag and drop it into a different folder or open the PPT presentation and click "File" > "Save as".

How to Avoid PowerPoint from Being Unsaved Again

What is wps office and why choose it.

Unexpected power outages and computer crashes can disrupt your work at any moment. To maintain productivity and safeguard your work, it's crucial to utilize the right resources. WPS Office offers a solution by providing cloud storage options that automatically save your work as you progress. This comprehensive office suite is highly compatible, allowing you to seamlessly work on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets without any concerns. Plus, its compatibility with Microsoft Office ensures smooth collaboration and hassle-free document sharing.

Edit Your PowerPoint Presentations with WPS Office

Step 1: To kickstart the editing process, the initial step involves downloading WPS Office. Head to the official WPS Office website to initiate the download.

Step 2: Open the WPS Office application once it has been successfully downloaded.

Step 3: After launching WPS Office, choose "Slides" from the Side Bar, and then you’ll see the “Open” icon, click on it to open your PowerPoint Presentation.

Step 4: Elevate the quality of your presentation with ease by making use of the diverse editing tools available in WPS Presentation!

Step 5: Once your presentation is ready, click on the menu in the top left corner. Then, select the "Save" option to store your presentation safely on your computer.

Use Cloud Storage Service

WPS Cloud is a comprehensive document storage and management service integrated with WPS Office. It offers users 1GB of free storage space for files and rich media. Documents are automatically saved to WPS Cloud, allowing file roaming and cross-device accessibility.

Creating a New Folder:

Step 1: In WPS Office , click on "Files" in the sidebar menu.

Step 2 : Select "WPS Drive." You'll see all your files stored in WPS Cloud. Now, click on "New" and then choose "Folder" to create a new folder in WPS Cloud.

To delete a single file:

Step 1: Go back to "WPS Drive" and locate the file you want to delete.

Step 2: Right-click on the file, then choose "Delete" from the context menu to remove it from WPS Drive.

Downloading Files:

Step 1: In "WPS Drive", locate the file you wish to download.

Step 2: Right-click on the file and select "Export" from the context menu.

Step 3: Choose the location to save the file and click "Save".

Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

Edit PDF files with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

Q1. What is the standard storage space provided for a WPS account?

A standard WPS account comes with 1 GB of storage in the cloud. You can save documents, spreadsheets, and other files there. But if you need additional space, you can get a Premium account. You get 20 GB of storage with a Premium account. You have to pay for Premium every month for a monthly subscription. It is practical if you usually make and save big files using WPS.

Q2. Do PowerPoint presentations save automatically?

Yes, PowerPoint presentations do have an autosave feature. By default, PowerPoint autosaves your work every 10 minutes. This feature protects your work in case of unforeseen issues like power outages or program crashes. But it's still a good practice to save your work yourself regularly. If you want to retrieve an autosaved file, you can do so from the Backstage view in PowerPoint.

Q3. How do I change the AutoSave frequency in PowerPoint?

To modify how often PowerPoint saves your work automatically, follow this straight-forward step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and click on the "File” menu. You can locate this on the Left side.

Step 2: From the menu that displays, select "Options".

Step 3: In the Options window, click on "Save".

Step 4: Look for the "Save AutoRecover information every [X] minutes" field under "Save presentations".

Step 5: Adjust the number in this field to set how often PowerPoint saves your work automatically.

Remember that saving more frequently will secure your work but may slow down the PowerPoint. Therefore, find the ideal option that suits your preferences.

Empower Your PowerPoint Journey with Recovery and Enhancement

However, sometimes, due to power outages or app malfunctions, our hard work in crafting a presentation isn't saved. In this article, we have explored how to recover our unsaved presentations. WPS Office offers the convenience of cloud storage, allowing you to seamlessly recover unsaved presentations. Download WPS Office today and streamline your presentation-making process.

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15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

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• How to Recover Unsaved or Deleted PowerPoint Easily?

by Anna Sherry   Updated on 2021-09-13 / Update for   Data Recovery

It is indeed a big headache when you lose your PowerPoint presentation after working on it for hours. All the thoughts you had for your presentation have gone in vain as the file has just been deleted from your machine. However, if you know a little bit of data recovery, you can perform a PowerPoint recovery and recover your deleted or unsaved PowerPoint presentation.

In fact, there are multiple methods available to recover PowerPoint file on your computers. While some of these methods are provided by PowerPoint software itself, the others are provided by either your system or a third-party data recovery company. So, if you have got yourself in a situation where you need to recover unsaved PowerPoint on your computer, the following is what you need to do.

Method 1. Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Using Recover Unsaved Presentations

Method 2. recover unsaved powerpoint using autorecover feature, method 3. recover deleted powerpoint file from recycle bin.

• Extra Tip: How to Recover Corrupted PowerPoint Document?

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations on Windows 11/10/8/7?

While you are working on a presentation in PowerPoint, the software automatically saves the drafts of your presentations. These unsaved presentations can easily be recovered, and the following is how you do it with PowerPoint on your computer.

Step 1. Launch PowerPoint using your preferred way on your computer.

Step 2. When PowerPoint launches, click on the File tab and choose Open followed by Recent .

Step 3. On the following screen, click on the button that says Recover Unsaved Presentations at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4. You should be able to select your unsaved files and recover them on your computer.

As you can see, it is easy to recover PowerPoint file not saved on a computer using the above method.

If you could not find or recover your file using the above method, you may try another recovery option called AutoRecover. The feature is built right into the software and it saves a copy of your presentations at a prespecified folder on your computer.

You can access the folder to see if a copy of your unsaved or deleted PowerPoint presentation is available. If it is, you can open it with the software and save it in any other folder you want. The following is how you find the folder where the AutoRecover files are located.

Step 1. Launch PowerPoint on your computer.

Step 2. Click on the File tab and choose the option that says Options . It will let you view settings of PowerPoint.

Step 3. When the options menu appears, click on the Save option in the left sidebar. On the right sidebar, you will see a path next to the box that says AutoRecover file location . Copy the path to your clipboard.

You may now paste the path in File Explorer and it will launch the folder where your presentations are auto-recovered. Find your file in the folder and double-click on it to open it with the PowerPoint software. That is how to recover unsaved PowerPoint using a built-in PowerPoint feature.

When a file gets deleted from your computer and you wish to restore the file, the first place you will want to look at is Recycle Bin. That is where all the deleted files go, and your PowerPoint file may still be there for you to restore it.

Step 1. Launch Recycle Bin on your computer

Step 2. Find your PowerPoint file and right-click on it and select Restore.

The selected file will be restored on your machine. That is how you use Recycle Bin to recover a PowerPoint presentation on your computer.

Method 4. Recover Unsaved or Deleted PowerPoint File with PowerPoint Recovery

If you have still not been able to recover your PowerPoint file, it would be worth using a data recovery software to recover your valuable presentation. Enter Tenorshare 4DDiG for Windows Data Recovery , a software that allows you to recover PowerPoint as well as many other types of deleted files on your computer. It uses complex algorithms to help you find and restore all the lost files on a computer. It is easy to use the software and it gets the whole job done in a few minutes.

Step 1 Download and launch the software on your computer. On the first screen, select the drive where your file was located and click on Scan .

Step 2 On the following screen, you can see all the files that can be recovered using the software. Click on your presentation and select Recover to recover it.

Step 3 The software will ask you to select a folder to save your file in. Do so and it will let you continue.

You are all set. Your chosen PowerPoint file will be recovered to your chosen destination on your computer.

You may also be interested in how to recover unsaved PowerPoint Mac , How to Recover Unsaved Word Documents. or How to Recover Unsaved Excel Documents.

Extra Tip: How to Recover Unsaved Corrupted PowerPoint Document?

Sometimes your PowerPoint files can become corrupted and it is a headache to work with such files. If that's the case with you, you may want to use a third-party software to fix your corrupted files.

There are several tools on the Internet such as Stellar Repair for PowerPoint Software that will help you repair your corrupted PowerPoint files on your computer. Try as many of those software as you can until you find the one that fixes your file.

Final Verdict

If you are having trouble restoring an unsaved or deleted PowerPoint file, the above guide will help you perform PowerPoint recovery to recover your lost PowerPoint 2019/2016/2013/2010 files on your computer. We really hope it helps you get your valuable presentations restored on your machines.

  Updated on 2021-09-13 / Update for   Data Recovery

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Full Guide to Recover Files After Unexpected Shutdown

How to recover files after unexpected shutdown? This article provides 2 ways to recover files after unexpected shutdown. Learn the reasons why computer shuts down unexpectedly and get 4 fixes.

By Lori / Updated on June 28, 2024

1. Recover Files After Unexpected Shutdown via MyRecover

2. recover unsaved data after unexpected shutdown, fix 1. turn off fast startup, fix 2. scan for viruses, fix 3. run system file checker (sfc), fix 4. update drivers and gpu driver, faqs about computer unexpected shutdown, can you recover files after shutdown.

“I was working on an important document when suddenly, without warning, my computer shut down. I wondered if the hours of my hard-earned time were gone forever. How to recover files after unexpected shutdown? Thank you so much!”

Did your computer shut down unexpectedly, leaving your documents unsaved or files stored on your computer's hard drive lost? An unexpected shutdown can be a nightmare, especially when important files are at risk. An unexpected shutdown can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a power failure, system crash, or hardware problem.

But don't worry! It is possible to recover files after unexpected shutdown . This guide will provide 2 effective ways to recover files and minimize the damage after an unexpected shutdown. In addition, you'll learn about common causes of unexpected shutdowns and get 4 ways to fix an unexpected computer shutdown . Are you ready?

How to Recover Files After Unexpected Shutdown (2 Ways)

If your system or computer suddenly shuts down for any reason. First try to restart the system, in most cases, the files will reside in your system. Just launch the file explorer and search for the files. Or, if you have a backup of the lost files, you can directly restore files from backups . If them don’t work, Here are 2 proven methods to recover data after unexpected shutdown efficiently.

• We always strongly recommend to regularly backup important files and folders and save them on any cloud and other external storage devices. Protect your data in advance with this free backup software for Windows like AOMEI Backupper Standard.
• Before taking steps to restore files after unexpected shutdown, stop creating or deleting files in your computer. Otherwise, your lost files may be overwritten and thus unrecoverable.

When your computer shuts down unexpectedly and you cannot access your data. The most effective way is to try using a free data recovery software. Here I highly recommend MyRecover , which is a professional and reliable data recovery software. It can recover deleted or lost data in various data loss situations.

In addition, if the computer crashes and cannot be started, MyRecover can also help you recover data. It will create bootable media and access the system and perform computer crash recovery .

Here are the key features of MyRecover.

Recover unsaved word document , Excel, PPT, PDF, PPTX, MP4, ODP, CSV, WPS files, and other 200+ file formats with 3 simple clicks.

Recover data lost due to various reasons such as accidental deletion, virus infection, system crash, etc.

It automatically performs both quick scan & deep scan to recover all lost or deleted files and keep their original filename, directory, path, and quality.

MyRecover supports recover deleted files from USB , internal/external hard disk, SSD, memory card, and other storage devices.

It is compatible with all Windows OS , including Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, 11, and Windows Server.

You can use this free edition to recover lost files up to 500MB at no cost . Now, download MyRecover to recover files after unexpected shutdown as soon as possible! Keep your data safe and get it back!

Step 1. Run MyRecover and scan the target partition/drive

Open MyRecover and hover over the drive containing lost data and click Scan to fully scan the selected drive.

Step 2. Preview found files

Quick Scan and Deep Scan will find all your lost or deleted files. You can preview different file formats such as jpg, png, bmp, jpeg, tif, svg, gif, ico, etc. to make sure they are the files you want.

🤞 Tip: Also, you can filter data to locate the desired files faster. Here are 3 options.

• Type: Select the file type (Videos, Documents, Images, Audios, Mails, Webpages, Compressed files, etc.)
• Date modified: Set the date (today, yesterday, last 7/30 days, etc.)
• Size: Filter the file size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~ 512MB, 512MB above, etc.)

Step 3. Recover and save all needed data

Select the data you want to recover and click Recover X Files . Please save them to a new location, as selecting the original location may overwrite the old data and make it irrecoverable.

• MyRecover can help you recover data after unexpected shutdown without damaging the original data. If you wish to recover more than 500MB of files, you can try to upgrade to MyRecover Pro/Tech.
• In addition, if you are unable to restart your computer after an unexpected shutdown, the Pro/Tech version allows you to make a bootable data recovery disk and then recover data when PC won't boot .

If your computer shuts down unexpectedly while using Windows Word/Excel/PowerPoint or other programs like Photoshop, you can try to recover unsaved and lost document using the AutoSave feature. Here is a step-by-step method to recover unsaved Word document:

Step 1. Launch the unsaved Word document. Click File > Open > Recent > Documents and select Recover Unsaved Document .

Step 2. It will redirect you to the UnsavedFiles folder. Select the unsaved Word document and click Open .

Step 3. Click File > Save As > Browse and choose a new location to save the Word document.

• PowerPoint and Excel also include the AutoRecover feature. So, you can easily recover unsaved Excel files as well as PowerPoint files using it.
• It is recommended to manually save files frequently using the Save icon or Ctrl + S keys, and not to rely too much on the AutoRecover feature.

How to Fix Computer Unexpected Shutdown (4 Fixes)

Unexpected shutdowns not only disrupt your workflow but can also signal deeper issues. It's essential to address the problem after recovering data from crashed hard drive /computer. Here are 4 practical methods to fix unexpected shutdowns.

Although Fast Startup helps your computer boot up faster, it may cause random shutdowns. Here's how to turn off this feature in Windows 10:

Step 1. Press Win and search for the Control Panel. Launch it. Select Power Options .

Step 1. Click " Choose what the power button does ".

Step 1. Click " Change settings that are currently unavailable ".

Step 1. Uncheck " Turn on fast startup (recommended) " and click " Save changes ".

Unexpected shutdowns can result from virus attacks. Use Windows Security (Windows Defender) or a third-party antivirus program to scan your system.

Step 1. Press Win , search for " Windows Security ", and open it.

Step 2. Switch to the " Virus & Threat Protection " tab and click on " Scan Options ".

Step 3. Choose " Full scan " and click " Scan now ". This process may take several hours, so be patient.

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows utility that scans and repairs corrupted files. It can help prevent unexpected shutdowns. Here's how to use it:

Step 1. Type cmd in the search box and choose Run as administrator .

Step 2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter . It will scan all the corrupted system files and replaces them. Then, restart your computer.

How to fix Windows unexpected shutdown? Outdated drivers could be the culprit behind random shutdowns. Regularly updating your drivers in Device Manager can solve this issue.

Step 1. Press the " Win + X " to open Device Manager > right-click your clicking hard drive and select " Properties " > Switch to the Details tab, choose " Hardware Ids " and click " OK ".

Step 2. Copy the first result, paste it into your browser, and search for it. The top search results will show the exact name and manufacturer of your GPU.

Step 3. Visit the GPU manufacturer's website and download the updated driver. Then, install the driver and restart your computer.

🤞 Tip: If you can't find the official website of your GPU manufacturer, search for the GPU name with the prefix “driver update for” (e.g., driver update for Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 drivers).

Why Do Unexpected Shutdowns Occur?

Understanding why does your computer shuts down unexpectedly is crucial for data recovery, computer fix, and prevention. Here are 4 common causes.

Cause 1️⃣: Computer Overheating

Computers need to maintain a certain temperature to operate properly. If your device exceeds 60℃, it may automatically shut down to protect its components. Laptops are more likely to overheat than desktops due to their compact design.

• Remove dust: Make sure your computer is free of dust and place it in a well-ventilated area.
• Maintain fans: Clean and check the fans inside your computer regularly.
• Reduce workload: Close unnecessary programs and limit resource-intensive tasks.
• Update software and operating system: Keep software and operating system updated to improve efficiency and speed.

Cause 2️⃣: Hardware Failure

Incompatible or faulty hardware components (such as monitors, network adapters, storage controllers, disk drives, network cards, RAM, video cards, modems, and sound cards) may cause your computer to shut down randomly.

• Check connections: Make sure all hardware components are securely connected.
• Update drivers: Download and install the latest drivers and firmware from the manufacturer's website.
• Replace faulty hardware: Identify and replace any faulty hardware components.

Cause 3️⃣: Driver Issues

Outdated or faulty drivers may cause your computer to shut down unexpectedly. Before uninstalling these drivers, be sure to troubleshoot them individually to avoid further problems.

• Update drivers: Visit the manufacturer's website or use driver update software to download and install the latest drivers.
• Roll back drivers: If a recent driver update caused problems, roll back to a previously reliable version.
• Uninstall problematic drivers: Uninstall the driver that causes ongoing problems, then reinstall the correct version.
• Control driver updates: Adjust settings to manually control driver updates, as automatic updates can sometimes install incompatible drivers.

Cause 4️⃣: Software Issues

Software issues can cause your computer to shut down suddenly. This includes corrupted or missing system files, problematic applications, junk files, and Windows registry issues. Checking for software updates regularly can help.

• Use the SFC tool: Run the System File Checker (SFC) in Command Prompt to scan and repair corrupted or missing system files.
• Disk Cleanup: Use the Disk Cleanup tool or third-party software to remove temporary files, cache, and unnecessary data.
• Update your operating system: Make sure your operating system is up to date.

5 Useful Tips to Protect Your Data

1️⃣ Save documents regularly: Always save your work frequently.

2️⃣ Save before shutting down: Make sure you save your files before shutting down your computer.

3️⃣ Use a UPS: Consider using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide constant power to your PC.

4️⃣ Disconnect removable drives: Remove any USB flash drives or external drives before shutting down.

5️⃣ Back-up data: Create a file backup regularly to prevent accidental loss.

Closing Words

Now you know how to recover files after unexpected computer shutdown with 2 effective methods. Also included are 4 solutions to fix an unexpected computer shutdown. Whether your computer works fine after restarting or not, you can use MyRecover to rescue your files. Take action now and use it today to enjoy 500MB of free file recovery!

1. What does it mean when Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown?

An unexpected shutdown error in Windows is often caused by an incompatible driver. To resolve this, you need to disable the problematic drivers by booting into safe mode. In safe mode, only the essential drivers are loaded.

2. How to find files that were not saved when Windows shut down?

Click the "File" tab > "Info" > "Manage Document". Click "Recover Unsaved Documents". You will see the list of your unsaved files. Select the file and click "Open" > "Save As" to store the file.

3. Can you recover files from a computer that won't turn on?

Yes, you can recover files from a computer that won't turn on. Using data recovery software like MyRecover can help you access and recover data easily.

4. Can unexpected shutdown damage your computer?

Yes, unexpected shutdowns can damage your computer. Hardware can suffer from power cuts, fluctuations, and surges. A high-quality UPS with surge protection can prevent this. Forceful shutdowns can also corrupt the operating system and software. Always close all programs before performing a forced shutdown.

5. How to recover Excel file when computer crashed?

You can recover Excel file after crash . Go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Workbooks in Excel, or Recover Unsaved Presentations in PowerPoint.

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How to recover an unsaved PowerPoint file: 5 different methods

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If you’ve accidentally deleted a PowerPoint file or forgot to save your progress, you can recover PowerPoint in Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2021, PowerPoint 2019 and PowerPoint 2016. Each version comes with built-in features that you can use to restore presentations.

The easiest and fastest way to restore a PowerPoint is to use the built-in feature under Open > Recent > Restore Unsaved Presentation .

How to recover an unsaved PowerPoint file

If you try to close an unsaved PowerPoint file, the program will display a warning message. This message lets you know that changes to the file still need to be saved. Despite this precaution, it can happen that open programs are closed without saving and data is lost. Unforeseen situations can also cause the program to close without saving. Luckily, there are various ways to recover a PowerPoint.

Recover a PowerPoint file with temporary files

In the “temp” folder, Windows saves temporary files on an ongoing basis. There’s also a possibility that unsaved contents of your PowerPoint can be found in this folder.

Step 1: Search for the file

Open File Explorer and enter the term “PPT*.tmp” into the search bar. Now wait and see if the search comes up with anything.

When saving, PowerPoint adds a random number to the filename. Since you don’t know this number, you can use * as a placeholder.

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My Microsoft Word is not responding, but I have unsaved some important documents. How can I fix this? Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. - from Microsoft Community

Microsoft Word may not be responding due to a slow Internet connection, disk errors, and more. This is really annoying, as you risk losing what you have been doing for a week or more. But do not worry—this post will help you fix Microsoft Word not responding on Mac and save your unsaved Word documents.

First Aid: Recover Unsaved Word Files to Fix Word Not Responding

To recover unsaved Word documents ASAP, the most effective and simplest way is to use some professional data recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac .

  Download for Mac macOS 14 - 10.9  Also Available for Windows

This data recovery tool for Mac can help you perform Mac unsaved Word recovery and can even recover permanently deleted files on Mac even when you drag the file to the Trash and empty it. Other than Word files, this data recovery tool for Mac from EaseUS can recover unsaved Excel, PPT and more Microsoft documents.

Follow the detailed instructions here to get your Word documents back:

Note : You can create a backup by clicking the "Disk Backup" on the left first. When the disk is damaged or the unsaved document on the disk is accidentally deleted or lost, you can get the data back from the backup image.

Step 1. Select the disk

Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, hover the mouse over the device where you lost an unsaved file, and click "Search for lost files".

Step 2. Choose unsaved documents

After the scan, click "Type", and expand "Unsaved Documents". Click the exact file type - Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Keynote, Pages, or Numbers you lost without saving.

Step 3. Preview and recover unsaved files

Double-click to preview your unsaved file, select the right version and click "Recover" to save the file to another secure location on Mac.

You are welcomed to share this post to forums like Reddit or social media like Twitter or Linkedin to help more users facing this Word error:

Fix 1. Force Quit and Save the Work to Solve Word Not Responding

If your screen turns semi-transparent but you can do nothing to help, you may try to force quit Microsoft Word like this:

Step 1. Tap the Apple icon in the upper left and choose "Force Quit" from the drop-down menu.

Step 2. Then, a new window will appear, and you just need to highlight Microsoft Word and click the "Force Quit" button to confirm.

Fix 2. Remove the Auto Recovery Folder to Fix Microsoft Word Do Not Respond

If you have tried recovering unsaved Word documents with the auto Recovery folder, but it fails to work, you may remove the Auto Recovery folder from your Mac to see if your Word will be restored.

Step 1. Open Finder > Go to Folder.

Step 2. Type the following path and press Enter:

Step 3. Locate the Auto Recovery folder and drag it to the Trash.

Step 4. Now, you can open Microsoft Word again.

Fix 3. Clear Cache and Temporary Files to Fix Microsoft Word Not Responding Mac

If your Microsoft Word has too many cache or temporary files, you may also encounter situations like Word not responding. In this case, you can clear cache and temporary files like this:

Step 1. Launch Mac Finder, choose "Go" from the menu and select Go to Finder.

Step 2. Now type the following path and tap on "Go":

Step 3. Now, you just need to delete useless files and caches in the Cache folder.

FAQs on Word not Responding on Mac

Here are some frequently asked questions that may help you better understand this Microsoft Word does not respond error:

1. What do you do when Microsoft Word is not responding on a Mac?

You can first try forcing quit Microsoft Word and deleting the auto recovery folder. It is also workable to clear the cache and temporary files. If the methods above help but you have lost the unsaved Word files, try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

2. How do you unfreeze Microsoft Word on a Mac?

Do as follows if your Word freezes:

• Hold Option + Shift + Command + Esc.
• Navigate to Dock. Hold the Option key and double-click the freezing Word for Mac icon.
• Locate the Apple menu and choose "Force Quit".

This post from EaseUS has looked at four reliable ways to solve Microsoft Word not responding Mac. You may try them one by one to save your freezing Microsoft Word. If you have lost unsaved Word documents on your Mac, try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

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Finley is interested in reading and writing articles about technical knowledge. Her articles mainly focus on file repair and data recovery.

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Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook

When you accidentally delete Outlook items, such as email messages, calendar appointments, contacts, or tasks, you can often recover them if they are in your Deleted Items or Junk Email folders. In some cases, you can even recover items after the Deleted Items folder is emptied.

The first place to look for a deleted item, such as an email message, calendar appointment, contact, or task is the Deleted Items folder. If it's not there, you might still be able to recover it, depending on which type of Outlook you're using.

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

Note:  If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select the Classic Outlook tab and follow those steps instead.

Recover items from your Deleted Items or Junk Email folders in new Outlook

Select the item or items you'd like to recover by hovering over the item and selecting the checkbox next to it.

Recover an item that's no longer in your Deleted Items folder

If you can't find an item in the Deleted Items folder, the next place to look is the Recoverable Items folder.

Hover over an item and check the box next to it. Select Restore from the Home ribbon.

Tip:  You can select multiple items, or select the checkbox next to Recoverable Items to select all messages. Select  Restore .

Recover items from your Deleted Items or Junk Email folders in classic Outlook

Select the Deleted Items  or  Junk Email  folder.

Select the items you'd like to recover.

Select and hold (or right-click) the item and select Move , and then select the folder you'd like to move it to.

If you can't find an item in the Deleted Items folder, the next place to look is the Recoverable Items folder. This is a hidden folder, and it's the place where items are moved when you do one of the following things:

Delete an item from the Deleted Items folder.

Empty the Deleted Items folder.

Permanently delete an item from the Inbox or from another folder by selecting it and pressing Shift+Delete .

Watch this video or follow the steps in this section to recover items from the Recoverable Items folder.

Make sure you are online and connected to the mail server.

In Outlook, go to your email folder list, and then select Deleted Items .

Important:  If you don't see the Deleted Items folder, but instead see the Trash folder, your account doesn't support recovering an item that's no longer in your Deleted Items folder.

On the Home tab, select Recover Deleted Items From Server .

Important:  If there is no Recover Deleted Items command on the menu, your account doesn't support recovering an item that's no longer in your Deleted Items folder.

Select the items that you want to recover, select Restore Selected Items , and then select OK .

If you were not able to find your deleted item in the Recover Deleted Items window, contact your system administrator. 

Recover deleted folders 

You can recover a deleted folder (together with all its messages) if it's still in your Deleted Items folder. To recover the folder, select  Expand to expand Deleted Items. Locate the folder and select, hold, and drag to move it back to its proper location in the folder list.

Note:  You can't recover a folder that's been permanently deleted. However, you can use the steps in this topic to recover messages from the folder that you deleted.

Items restored from Recoverable Items go to the Deleted Items folder

When you recover items from the Recoverable Items folder, they are moved to the Deleted Items folder. After you recover an item, you can find it in your Deleted Items folder and then you can move it to another folder.

Tips and Troubleshooting

To help you find a specific item in the Recover Deleted Items window, select the Subject , Deleted On , or From column header to sort items by that column.

Note that the Deleted On date specifies when items were permanently deleted (by using Shift+Delete ) or when they were removed from the Deleted Items folder.

All items in the Recoverable Items folder—including contacts, calendar items, and tasks—are represented by the same envelope icon.

If you're looking for a contact, sort by the Subject column, and then look for the name of the person. You can also sort by the From column to look for blank entries. This is because contacts don't have a From field.

If you're looking for a calendar appointment or a task, sort by the From column, and then look for your name.

To recover multiple items, press CTRL as you select each item, then select Restore Selected Items . You can also recover multiple adjacent items by selecting the first item, holding down the Shift key, and then selecting the last item that you want to recover.

Your administrator may have specified how long items in the Recoverable Items folder are available for recovery. For example, there may be a policy that deletes anything that’s been in your Deleted Items folder for 30 days, and another policy that lets you recover items in the Recoverable Items folder for up to another 14 days. After the recovery period expires, your administrator may still be able to recover an item. If you can't find the item in the Recoverable Items folder, ask your administrator whether it can be recovered. If neither of you can find the item, the item was probably permanently deleted from your mailbox and can't be recovered.

When you delete multiple Outlook items, you can see them listed in the Deleted Items folder. If you must recover the items, you can return them only to the following folders.

Each of these folders represents a specific message class. When you select multiple items and then start to move them, Outlook creates a new Outlook item that is specific to the message class of the destination folder. All the selected items that you are moving are assigned to the new item.

Recover items from your Deleted Items or Junk Email folders in Outlook.com and Outlook on the web

Email is automatically deleted from your Deleted Items folder after 30 days.

Items removed from your Deleted Items folder are recoverable for 30 days.

Junk email is retained for 10 days before it is automatically deleted.

Email folder names are the same, but folder hyperlinks listed below will not work if you sign in with a work or school account.

Select the item or items you'd like to recover by hovering over the item and selecting the checkbox next to it. If you don't see a checkbox, select and hold (or right-click) the message, and then select  Move  >  Inbox , or choose another folder.

Note:  It's not possible to recover messages deleted from children's accounts. This way, parents can be confident that when they delete messages from their children's accounts, they stay deleted.

Restore items from Junk Email 

Sometimes messages appear in your your Junk Email folder that aren't junk. It's good practice to check your junk email regularly because junk emails will be permanently deleted:

In 10 days on Outlook.com

In 30 days for Outlook on the web

Restore emails from your Junk Email folder

Recover email that’s been removed from your Deleted Items folder

You can't access the Recoverable Items folder if you're using a mobile browser. To access the Recoverable Items folder, please use a PC or Mac.

If you don't see the deleted messages you want to recover, they have probably been permanently removed from the Deleted Items folder or Junk Email folder. We don't recommend that you use either of these folders to store your messages. If you want to store your messages in folders other than your Inbox, see Working with message folders .

In the left pane, select the Deleted Items folder .

At the top of the message list, select Recover items deleted from this folder .

Select the items you want to recover, and select Restore .

You can only select all if all messages are visible. This is to prevent accidental actions on messages you cannot see.

Ctrl+Click selects individual messages, Shift+Click selects everything between two clicks.

Where do recovered items go?

​​​​​​​     The items you select to recover will be restored to their original folders when possible. If an original folder no longer exists, items will be restored as follows:

Messages go to your inbox.

Calendar items go to your calendar.

Contacts go to your contacts folder.

Tasks go to your tasks folder.

Stop Outlook from emptying your Deleted Items folder each time you sign out

Outlook might empty your Deleted Items folder each time you sign out. To change this:

At the top of the page, select Settings   .

Select Message handling .

Under When signing out , uncheck the box next to Empty my deleted items folder .

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Restore or recover a deleted contact in Outlook

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Restore deleted contacts in Outlook

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