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Enabling and using AutoRecover

By January 11, 2012July 17th, 2014IT Support in Toronto

Enabling and using AutoRecover

To turn on the AutoRecover feature:

  1. In Word 2010, from the File menu, select Options. Then, from the toolbar on the left, click Save to configure AutoRecover options. Proceed to step 3 below.In Word 2007, from the Office Button menu, select Word Options. Then, from the toolbar on the left, click Save to configure AutoRecover options.In Word 2003, from the Tools menu, select Options... .In Mac OS X versions of Word, from the Word menu, select Preferences... .
  2. In the window that opens, click the Save tab, icon, or list item.
  3. If it is unchecked, check Save AutoRecover info every: , and type a value next to “minutes”. For example, to save your work every five minutes, type  5 .
  4. Click OK to make the change.

If a system or program crash causes your computer to shut down, reboot and open Word normally. Word should recognize that there is an AutoRecovered file that is newer than the last saved version of your document. It will prompt you to open and save the AutoRecovered file.

If the AutoRecover function does not prompt you to open the backup file, you may still be able to recover your work. Search your hard drive for a file called AutoRecovery or *.asd. In Windows, for help searching your hard drive, see In Windows, how do I locate a file if I know its name or its contents? Then follow the appropriate instructions below.

Finding AutoRecovered files in Windows

Note: The folders containing the AutoRecovered files may not be visible. To make them visible, see In Windows, how do I view hidden files?

Word for Windows saves AutoRecovered files with the name AutoRecovery Save of filename.asd, where filename is the name of the document on which you were working:

  • In Windows 7 and Vista, the file is stored in the UsersusernameAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWord folder (username will be replaced by the author’s username).
  • In Windows XP, the file is stored in the Documents and SettingsusernameApplication DataMicrosoftWord folder (username will be replaced by the author’s username).

When you find the file, double-click to open it. Alternatively, from Word’s File menu, choose Open... and browse to the location of the file.

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