Updated 2026-05-22 · Document Recovery

Document Recovery Checklist: What to Try First

When a document disappears, the order matters. Start with the least destructive recovery options, save copies before restoring, and avoid writing new data to the same drive if the file was deleted locally.

1. Identify the Problem

Ask what happened:

The file was never saved.
The app crashed.
The file was deleted.
The file was overwritten.
The file is missing from a cloud drive.
A shared file is no longer accessible.

2. Check App Recovery

For Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, reopen the app and check for Document Recovery. Then check the app's unsaved file recovery option from File > Info.

3. Check Cloud Recovery

If the file was in OneDrive, SharePoint, or Google Drive, check the web recycle bin or Trash. If the file exists but the contents changed, use version history instead.

4. Check Local Backups

Look in Recycle Bin, File History, backup software, email attachments, and external drives.

5. Try File Recovery Tools Last

Use file recovery tools only after easier options fail. If a file was deleted locally, stop using that drive as much as possible to reduce overwrite risk.

6. Save a Separate Copy

Whenever you recover something, save it as a separate copy first. Compare the contents before replacing the current file.