How to Recover Overwritten Excel File with No Previous Version

Last updated: September 21, 2023

The article provides some methods on how to recover an overwritten Excel file with no previous version. This is a pretty important topic because you may accidentally overwrite your dataset file with the wrong data. And for that reason, you need your previous data back by recovering the previous file.

In the following image, we have a dataset on some products. Say you put some new data but after that, you forgot to save the file. The following description will show you the path to how to recover it.

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version


1. Turning on AutoSave and Using OneDrive to Recover Overwritten Excel File with No Previous Version

The best way to recover an overwritten Excel file is to turn on the AutoSave mode and create a temporary copy of the file in OneDrive. Let’s follow the process.

Steps:

  • First, turn on the AutoSave mode.

  • Put some new data that you want in the Excel worksheet.

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

  • Now, close the Excel Workbook without saving.
  • After that, open the workbook.

You will see that your new data is not in the workbook.

  • Now, open the Office Application. In the Recent Tab, you will see the temporary files of your Excel Workbook. As I worked several times on this file, there are multiple temporary files. But, the one that I selected contains a new entry of data.

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

  • After that, you will get your overwritten data. Now Save it to keep the information of the data.

Thus, you can recover an overwritten Excel file with no previous version by creating temporary files in OneDrive.


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2. Using Built-in Tool to Recover Overwritten Excel File with No Previous Version

Another way to recover an overwritten Excel file is to use the built-in tool from the File Tab. Let’s go through the description below.

Steps:

  • First, turn on the AutoSave mode.

  • Put some new data that you want in the Excel worksheet.

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

  • Now, close the Excel Workbook without saving.
  • After that, open the workbook again.

You will see that your new data is not in the workbook.

  • Go to File >> Info >> Manage Workbook >> Recover Unsaved Workbooks

  • The Open window will appear. Go to the OneDrive location where your temporary file is stored. For me, the name of the temporary file is Recover Overwritten Excel File (6).

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

After that, you will see the overwritten file again.

Thus you can recover your desired Excel file with no previous version.

Read More: How to Recover Previous Version of Excel File


3. Using Version History to Recover Overwritten Excel File

We can also use Version History to recover an overwritten Excel file. Let’s follow the process below.

Steps:

  • First, turn on the AutoSave mode.

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

  • Go to File >> Info >> Version History 

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

  • Put some new data that you want in the Excel worksheet.

  • Now, close the Excel Workbook without saving.
  • After that, open Excel from the Taskbar.
  • Open the file that is located on your OneDrive.

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

  • After that, you will get your overwritten Excel file. Now Save it to keep the information of the data.

how to recover overwritten excel file with no previous version

Thus, you can recover an overwritten Excel file.


Practice Section

Here, I’m giving you the dataset of this article so that you can practice on your own.


Download Practice Workbook


Conclusion

In the end, you will have some basic ideas of how to recover overwritten Excel files with no previous version. If you have any better methods or feedback, please share them in the comment box. This will help me enrich my upcoming articles.


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Meraz Al Nahian
Meraz Al Nahian

Hello, Nahian here! I do enjoy my efforts to help you understand some little basics on Microsoft Excel I've completed my graduation in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from BUET and I want to be a successful engineer in my life through intellect and hard-work, and that is the goal of my career.

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