How to Recover Unsaved Excel Files on Mac: Step-by-Step Guide

Excel and macOS both include built-in safeguards that protect your work from unexpected crashes, power outages, or accidental closures. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through every proven method for recovering unsaved Excel files on Mac, starting with the easiest, free built-in tools (with step-by-step screenshots) and moving to advanced solutions if the initial methods don't work.

We'll also share expert tips to prevent data loss, backed by Microsoft's official guidelines and real-world user success stories. Whether you're a student, freelancer, or business professional, this guide will give you the confidence to retrieve your unsaved Excel work.

This post offers 6 reliable methods to help you recover unsaved Excel files on Mac and 3 ways to help you recover deleted/lost Excel files on Mac. If you happen to lose an unsaved Excel file or delete it by mistake on a Mac, stay calm and pick up any method to bring your lost Excel file back now.

Can You Really Recover an Unsaved Excel File on Mac

Before diving into the step-by-step methods, let's address the most pressing question: Is it actually possible to recover an Excel file you never saved? The short answer is yes.

Excel for Mac has a built-in AutoRecover feature that automatically saves temporary versions of your open files at regular intervals (by default, every 10 minutes). This means that even if Excel crashes, your Mac shuts down unexpectedly, or you accidentally close the file without saving, there's a high likelihood that a temporary backup exists. Additionally, macOS stores temporary files for active applications, which can be recovered if AutoRecover doesn't capture the file.

The success rate depends on a few factors: whether AutoRecover was enabled (it's on by default in Excel 2016 and later), how long you'd been working on the file before the loss, and whether you've closed other applications or restarted your Mac since the incident (restarting may overwrite temporary files). The key rule here is: act quickly. The sooner you try to recover the file, the higher the chance of success. Avoid opening new applications or saving new files to your Mac, as this can overwrite the temporary data you're trying to retrieve.

Recover Unsaved Excel Files on Mac Without Software (Built-in Methods)

Third-party data recovery tools should be your last resort, not because they're ineffective, but because macOS and Excel offer robust, free built-in solutions that work for most unsaved file cases. These methods are safe, easy to follow, and require no downloads or technical expertise. We recommend trying them in the order listed below, as they're ranked by success rate and simplicity.

1. Recover Unsaved Excel Files from Excel's AutoRecover Folder

Excel's AutoRecover is the first line of defense against losing unsaved files. This feature runs in the background while you work, creating temporary backup files of your open Excel spreadsheets. Even if you never clicked "Save" once, AutoRecover likely has a snapshot of your work stored in a hidden folder on your Mac.

Step-by-Step Guide to Access the AutoRecover Folder:

Step 1. Launch Finder on your Mac.

Step 2. Choose "Go" from the drop-down menu and then go to the Folder.

Step 3. Type the following command and hit Enter:

Step 4. Next, open the AutoRecovery folder and locate the file starting with "AutoRecovery save of." Then, select the item you wish to restore.

Pro tip: How to confirm AutoRecover is enabled?

To avoid future issues, check your Excel settings: Open Excel > Click "Excel" in the top menu bar > Select "Preferences" > Click "Save" > Ensure "Save AutoRecover info every X minutes" is checked (we recommend setting it to 5 minutes for maximum protection).

2. Find Unsaved Excel Files in macOS Temporary Folders

If AutoRecover didn't work, don't panic - macOS stores temporary files for all active applications, including Excel. These files are created when you open a new Excel spreadsheet and are often retained even if Excel crashes or closes unexpectedly. Unlike AutoRecover files, temporary files are stored in system-wide temporary folders, but they're still easy to find with a few simple searches.

Step-by-Step Guide to Find Temporary Excel Files:

Step 1. Go to "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Terminal".

Step 2. Type open $TMPDIR and press "Return" to open the Temporary files folder. Select the folder named "TemporaryItems".

Step 3. Find the unsaved Excel file under "TemporaryItems" and restore it. 

Pro tips: Is the temporary file empty or corrupted?

This can happen if the file was only partially saved before the crash. Try opening it in Excel's "Open and Repair" mode: Open Excel > Click "File > Open" > Select the temporary file > Click the arrow next to "Open" > Select "Open and Repair" > Follow the prompts to fix the file.

No temporary files found?

If you restarted your Mac after the file loss, macOS may have deleted the temporary files (system temporary folders are cleared on restart). Move to the following method if this happens.

3. Recover Unsaved Excel Files Using Time Machine

This method is for a specific scenario: If you previously saved the Excel file (so it's not a brand-new, unsaved file) but then made changes and forgot to save them before Excel crashed or closed. Time Machine is macOS's built-in backup tool, and if it's enabled, it can restore previous versions of your saved files - including the version before you made the unsaved changes.

Step-by-Step Guide to Restore with Time Machine:

Time Machine works by taking regular snapshots of your entire hard drive – including all those hidden system folders and temporary files. So even if the temporary AutoRecover file has been deleted from your Mac, a previous version of it is likely still sitting in a Time Machine backup from before you closed the document. Here is how you can do this:

Step 1. Locate and click the Time Machine icon and choose "Browse Time Machine Backups".

Step 2. Now, you can use the arrow to adjust the time to the point where your files are still there.

Step 3. Choose the file you want to recover and click "Restore" to get it back.

Pro tip:

If you're not sure where you saved the original file, use Time Machine's search feature: While in Time Machine, press Command + F (⌘+F) to search for the file name. This will show you all backups of that file across all folders.

When Built-in Methods Fail: Recover Excel File with Data Recovery Software

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac provides a specialized, effective, and safe method for macOS users to recover unsaved Excel files. Its ability to locate hidden temporary data, coupled with powerful reconstruction algorithms and a user-friendly preview system, makes it an excellent tool for rescuing invaluable, unsaved work from being permanently lost.

Other than unsaved Excel files, this Microsoft data recovery tool can also restore unsaved Word documents on Mac and fix errors like cannot save Excel files on Mac.

Download the software and follow the 3-step guide below to get your lost Excel files back on Mac:

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.

Hope this video guide can make it easy for you to follow suit and recover Excel file not saved on Mac:

• 00:16 What causes Excel files not saved on your Mac
• 00:38 Method 1. Recover TMP Folder
• 01:06 Method 2. Recover from AutoSave
• 02:05 Method 3. Use Recovery Software

 

EaseUS specializes in recovering office files, including unsaved Excel spreadsheets. It can scan for temporary Excel files, AutoRecover backups, and residual data from unsaved files. The interface is user-friendly (perfect for beginners), and it offers a "Preview" feature so you can check if the file is recoverable before purchasing. Remember to sahre this tool with users who are facing the same unsaved Excel file error and help them retrieve their precious data:

Extra Tips: Why Do Excel Files Become Unsaved on Mac

Understanding the root cause of unsaved Excel file loss can help you avoid it in the future. Here are the most common reasons Excel files are lost or unsaved on Mac, along with expert prevention tips:

Common Causes of Unsaved Excel File Loss:

• 1. Excel crashes or freezes: This is the most common cause. Excel may crash due to outdated software, insufficient RAM, or conflicting applications (e.g., antivirus software blocking Excel's temporary files).
• 2. Accidental closure: Clicking "Don't Save" when closing Excel (by mistake) or closing the window without saving.
• 3. Power failure or Mac shutdown: A sudden power outage or forced Mac restart (e.g., due to a frozen system) can prevent Excel from saving your work.
• 4. AutoRecover is disabled: If you previously turned off AutoRecover (not recommended), Excel won't create temporary backups.
• 5. Insufficient storage space: If your Mac's hard drive is whole, Excel can't create temporary AutoRecover files.
• 6. Corrupted Excel preferences: Damaged Excel preference files can cause AutoRecover to fail.

1️⃣Restore Deleted Excel Documents with Data Recovery Tool

You can retrieve the unsaved Excel file using either of the two approaches mentioned above. But you can't use them to recover lost Excel files due to accidental deletion, hard drive formatting, system crash, or storage device corruption. Then, what to do in this kind of circumstance? Don't worry. Here comes EaseUS Mac File Recovery Freeware. As a leading data recovery tool, it allows you to fix Excel won't open on Mac and perform Office document recovery, email recovery, photos recovery, and other data recovery.

Install it and follow the following tips to restore deleted or lost Excel files on Mac in 3 simple steps. 

Step 1. Scan for lost documents

Select the location where your important Word/Excel/PPT/Numbers/Pages documents were lost and click "Search for lost files".

Step 2. Find lost documents on Mac

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately start a scan on your selected disk volume. Meanwhile, the scanning results will be presented in the left pane. Select "Documents" and you can quickly filter the DOC/PDF/PPT/XLS files you've lost earlier.

Step 3. Recover lost/deleted documents

Select the target files and preview them by double-clicking them. Then, click "Recover" to get lost documents back at once.

After this, you'll get the lost Excel file back and resume your work. You can also apply this Mac data recovery software to restore deleted photos, music, videos, or other data on Mac for free.

2️⃣Recover Deleted Excel Files from Trash

Recovering a file you've accidentally deleted is straightforward if it's still in the Trash. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Click the Trash icon in the Dock, then open the Mac Trash folder.

Step 2. Locate the deleted files you want to recover, then click them. Choose "Put Back" to restore them to the original location.

3️⃣Recover Deleted Excel Files from iCloud

If you regularly back up your files using online storage services like iCloud, OneDrive, or SharePoint, you can also easily restore deleted Excel files. Here we will take iCloud as an example:

Step 1. Visit the iCloud website and log in to your account.

Step 2. Go to iCloud Drive and select Browse.

Step 3. Find the Excel file you want to recover and click "Download a Copy".

Or, you can directly go to the iCloud Dirve to better locate your missing files.

The Bottom Line

This post provides you with three ways to recover unsaved Excel on macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and more. I hope these solutions work for you. Additionally, EaseUS data recovery software for Mac is effective at recovering data from hard drives, SD cards, SSD, and other devices. Try this tool to recover deleted files on Mac.

Recover Unsaved Excel Files on Mac FAQs

Read the questions and answers below to get better help recovering unsaved Excel files on Mac.

1. Where are Excel autosave files stored on Mac?

There is an AutoRecovery folder for Microsoft users. When you forget to save files or delete Excel files, you can find the Excel files this way:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true

2. How to recover deleted Excel files on Mac?

The easiest way to recover deleted Excel files on Mac is using free data recovery software for Mac:

• Download and run EaseUS Mac data recovery software
• Open the software and select the drive and click Search for lost files
• After the scan, select the Excel files
• Preview the Excel files and recover the data

3. How do you recover unsaved Excel files after clicking don't save on a Mac?

Three ways to recover unsaved Excel files:      

• Run Excel data recovery software
• Check the autosave folder
• Check your backup folder

4. How to recover overwritten Excel files?

Follow these steps to recover overwritten Excel files:

• Open Excel, and click File > Info > Manage Workbook.
• Click Recover Unsaved Workbooks from the drop-down menu.
• Select the unsaved file and click the Open button.
• Then, choose Save As from the File menu to save it.