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Do you want to recover deleted Word documents? Searching for a dependable recovery tool? Don’t miss reading through this guide, as it lists a top-rated utility for Word recovery.
Microsoft Word plays a key role when your job requires frequent writing. It not only helps students to prepare their assignments, but it is equally popular for writers to create books and for entrepreneurs to prepare business plans and financial reports. The ease of use has made Word a number one choice for millions of people worldwide.
Just like other document files, Word documents can be deleted or lost unintentionally. Thousands of similar cases happen every day. If your document gets deleted all of a sudden, it definitely gives you a severe shock due to the fear of losing data inside the file. But don’t worry if your file is just deleted and you are looking for how to recover deleted Word documents, as this brief presents 4 efficient ways, and the best free data recovery software to restore your lost stuff.
Part 1. Can I Recover Deleted Word Documents?
Yes, recovering your deleted Word documents is absolutely possible at any time. Both built-in features and third-party solutions are available in the market.
Pre-built solutions offer limited functionalities, whereas third-party tools are often diverse in nature, as presented below. They are usually equipped with a wide range of recovery scenarios instead of offering one or two only.
Part 2. How To Recover Deleted Word Documents? 4 Proven Ways
Now that you know, you can find the permanently or temporarily deleted Word files. It is time to explore the ways you can adopt to retrieve the deleted Word documents. The list below presents four effective methods to get this job done quickly.
Method 1: Recover Deleted Word Documents From The Recycle Bin
Is your Word file just deleted unintentionally? Looking for the quickest way to get your lost document back? There is nothing better than checking your Recycle Bin folder first. The reason behind this fact is that every deleted file goes to the Recycle Bin if you use a Windows computer. It only happens if your document is not deleted permanently using the “Shift + Delete” keys.
To recover deleted Word documents, you just need to follow a few steps presented below.
Step 1: Double-click on the Recycle Bin folder’s icon.
Step 2: Once you enter the Recycle Bin folder, look for the documents you want to restore.
Step 3: As soon as you find the documents you wish to retrieve, press right-click and select the “Restore” option.
Method 2: Use Wondershare Recoverit – The Most Reliable Method
If your deleted Word documents are not present in the Recycle Bin folder, it means they are deleted permanently. In that case, a third-party data recovery tool can lend a helping hand. This is where Wondershare Recoverit comes in handy.
With Recoverit, you can restore 1000+ file formats utilizing any of the 500 different recovery scenarios. Interestingly, there is no limitation on recovering data from specific storage devices, as this software is highly compatible with more than 2000 devices. More importantly, Recoverit comes with a 95% data recovery rate, which is the highest in the industry.
Let’s take a look at the steps required to recover deleted Word documents with Recoverit.
Step 1: Make sure Recoverit is installed on your device before you proceed. Then, open this utility and choose the disk where your Word documents were deleted or lost.
Step 2: As soon as you select the drive containing your deleted Word documents, an auto scan will be initiated. This process will start searching for the Word documents you wish to retrieve.
Step 3: Double click on the file once the scanning gets finished. It will help you determine if Recoverit has found the right files.
Step 4: Now, hit the “Recover” button if the file seems good. You will need to select one location to save the recovered Word file.
Method 3: Retrieve Deleted Word Documents From Cloud Backups
Cloud data storage services are pretty common these days. You can keep a copy of your data in the cloud and retrieve it whenever needed. Microsoft has launched OneDrive as a data storage service. It comes pre-installed with the latest Windows (10 and 11).
You can keep your data in OneDrive and save space on the hard disk. You can access OneDrive data from any device you want. All you need is to sign in with your Microsoft account. Follow the steps listed below to recover deleted Word documents from cloud storage.
Step 1: Visit the official website of OneDrive and enter your Microsoft account credentials to sign in.
Step 2: Now choose the “Recycle Bin” folder. Remember, it is different from the Windows Recycle Bin, as presented above.
Step 3: It is time for you to select the Word documents you want to get back.
Step 4: Tap on the “Restore” button. You will find it in the top menu, adjacent to “Delete.”
These four steps will help you find the deleted Word files in no time.
Method 4: Recover Deleted Word Documents From Previous Versions
This is another wonderful method to recover deleted Word documents using the “Previous Versions” option. Suppose you are working on a Word document, and your computer shuts down all of a sudden. You will now be concerned about losing the entire file. Right? Well, this is where the previous version feature plays a key part. Try following the steps below to retrieve your lost Word file with this method.
Step 1: Once you turn on your computer, go to the folder or location where your Word document was stored.
Step 2: As soon as you find the file you want to restore, press right-click and hit the “Restore previous versions” option, as shown below.
Step 3: Now, you will see a list of the previous versions of this document. Simply choose the latest (or any) version, and you are done.
Part 3. How To Keep Your Word Files Away From Getting Deleted In The Future?
Now that you know how to find deleted Word documents. You will never want to lose them in the future again. For this, you have to follow a set of tips given below.
- The data from the Word documents are often lost when you make some changes. The use of tracked changes and versioning help you keep a record of everything you update. This way, the chances of losing data or files getting deleted are reduced greatly.
- Creating Word backups on different locations is something you should never miss. It completely protects your data and keeps it away from losing. In addition, you should have a habit of saving your Word document after every few minutes.
- Turning on the AutoRecover feature keeps your document safe in case of sudden shutdowns, computer crashes, and other similar events. You can recover the document after turning your computer on.
- Save your Word files on a different drive compared to where your operating system is installed or stored. The reason behind this fact is that virus infections and system failure affect the drive with your OS first. Simply put, avoid putting extra data on the hard drives.
Final Words
Word is an excellent file format that enables millions of people from around the world to complete their writing tasks. It is equally popular among students, professionals, and entrepreneurs. From assignments to books and financial reports to business plans, you can prepare everything with Microsoft Word.
Along with the diverse range of benefits, it is a fact that Word documents may get deleted or lose some data stored on them. But this is not a big deal these days, as top-grade tools like Wondershare Recoverit help you recover deleted Word documents safely and efficiently.
It does not matter whether you have a Mac or Windows device; you can use Recoverit on both operating systems without any restrictions. Try its free trial first, and then purchase the premium package if you are satisfied.