How do I find a document that disappeared?
Ava Robinson
Published Apr 03, 2026
The good news is, this problem is so common that Microsoft has made it easy to recover unsaved Word documents:
- In MS Word, click the File Tab in the upper left.
- Click Manage Document and select Recover Unsaved Documents from the drop-down list.
- Check for your missing file in the dialog box.
What does it mean when it says Cannot locate Internet server or proxy server?
The error means that the request failed, but it never states why it failed. The workaround is to use a ShellExecute() on the URL. This allows the operating system to start the URL on the default browser. If the default browser isn’t restricted by the proxy server, the proper page is displayed.
How long does Word keep unsaved?
These file locations cannot be changed, and the files are only stored for four days after they’re created.
How do I recover a previous version of a Word document?
Click File > Info. Under Manage Documents, select the file labeled (when I closed without saving). In the bar at the top of the file, select Restore to overwrite any previously saved versions. Tip: You can also compare versions by selecting Compare instead of Restore.
How long are AutoRecover files kept?
TECH. The AutoRecovery feature of Microsoft Word 2013 automatically saves your document every 10 minutes by default. A lot of hard work can potentially be lost in those 10-minute intervals, but Word enables you to change this time to a more suitable value.
How do I recover an unsaved WPS document?
Open WPS Office and click on the main WPS menu | Tools | Options. In the resulting window, click on the General and Save section. Under the Recover options, click the browse button and then navigate to and select wps_backup within the Dropbox folder. Click OK and the option will be saved.
Why can’t I open hyperlinks in Word?
File -> Options -> Mail -> Editor Options -> Advanced, Check to make sure there is a check in the box for press CTRL + click to follow hyperlink. Close Outlook and try on hyperlink.
How do I recover a Word document that was drafted?
How to Recover a Draft in Word 2016
- Press Ctrl+O to summon the Open screen.
- Ensure that Recent is chosen as the file location.
- Click the Recover Unsaved Documents button, found at the bottom of the list of recent files.
- Click to select a document to recover.
- Click the Open button to open and recover the document.
How do I recover a Word document that I saved over?
If you’ve saved the file
- Open the file you were working on.
- Go to File > Info.
- Under Manage Workbook or Manage Presentation, select the file labeled (when I closed without saving).
- In the bar at the top of the file, select Restore to overwrite any previously saved versions.
How do I recover lost files when I move?
How To Recover Lost Files While Moving?
- Step 1: Download and install Remo Recover software on Windows or Mac system to recover lost files during transferring to another device or disk.
- Step 2: Launch the tool and click the Recover Files option to recover data lost while moving.
How can I retrieve overwritten files?
To recover an overwritten file on Windows PC:
- Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder where the file was located in.
- Right-click anywhere inside this folder and select Properties from the context menu.
- Select the Previous Versions tab and look for an earlier version of the overwritten file.
How do I recover an overwritten word document 2016?
If it’s possible that you made a change in the document and then closed it without saving, anytime the last 4 days, then click File > Open and click the “Recover Unsaved Documents” button at the bottom of the list of recent documents. This will show you all the unsaved documents, and you can pick one.
How do I restore my temp files?
How to Recover a . tmp File
- Click “Start.”
- Click “Search.”
- Click “For Files or Folders…”
- Click “All Files and Folders.” Type the name of the . TMP file you want to recover into the box you see on screen. Then, click the green button. This will search every directory on your computer for the file you’ve specified.