[7 Solutions] How to Recover Unsaved Word Document on Mac?

by Lorena Hill

Updated on 2023-05-11

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5min read

In today's age, Word documents have become an integral part of people's lives, serving various purposes such as academic assignments, professional work, and personal needs. From school tasks to college research and even job applications, these documents are highly useful tools. Moreover, Word documents continue to play a crucial role in one's career, from creating resumes to fulfilling work-related requirements. Consequently, storing these documents on your Mac is crucial.

However, the valuable documents that you store on your device can disappear in an instant. Accidental deletion is a common reason for data loss, which can affect anyone with a device. It only takes one wrong move to erase the thesis you've been working on for months. Another reason for data loss is a system or program crash. Imagine working on an important document when your computer lags and crashes, leaving you unable to save your work. No matter what issue you are currently experiencing, we recognize that data loss is one of the most distressing occurrences. Nevertheless, there is no need to fret any longer. In this article, we are providing solutions to help you to recover unsaved Word document Mac.

Part 1: Can You Recover Unsaved Word Document on Mac?

The term 'Unsaved' pertains to alterations made in a document that has not been stored yet. These adjustments may involve text, formatting, images, or any other modifications. If you fail to save changes in a Word document, the changes will not be visible upon reopening it. This predicament can be particularly distressing if the document is unintentionally closed without saving, resulting in the loss of all modifications. There are occasions when individuals forget to save changes and ponder if there is a way to retrieve an unsaved Word document on a Mac. However, you can recover unsaved Word document on Mac. Mac's internal storage device saves Word documents as digital files. If you can locate the reference link to the unsaved document, you can likely recover it on Mac Ventura. Nevertheless, you must employ specific data recovery software to assist you in recovering unsaved files on Mac. These tools can search for and access unsaved files on Mac.

After the data recovery software has scanned the unsaved Word document, it can recover the file and restore the unsaved changes.

Part 2: How to Recover Unsaved Word Document on Mac with Eassiy Data Recovery

Eassiy Data Recovery is a user-friendly and effective software tool that can restore various file types including photos, videos, Word documents, Excel sheets, and more. With this software, you can recover unsaved Word documents on Mac. It is designed to recover data from all types of Mac storage devices, such as hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and digital cameras. It can help retrieve lost files that were lost due to emptying the trash bin, a virus attack, an accidental deletion, or an operating system update.

Key Features:

  • The Eassiy Data Recovery program is designed to work seamlessly on both Windows and Mac operating systems.
  • The program allows you to filter your search results based on file type, size, and date, making it easier to locate the exact files you need.
  • Provides both quick and deep scanning options, ensuring a prompt and thorough detection of all recoverable files.
  • This software enables you to recover a variety of files, such as photos, videos, documents, emails, archives, and more.
  • This application is more efficient and effective than other software currently available in the market.

Steps to recover unsaved Word document on Mac with Eassiy Data Recovery

Step 1: To start data recovery, launch Eassiy Data Recovery and choose the data format and the hard drive that you want to scan. If you want to recover specific file categories, simply check the corresponding boxes.

Eassiy Data Recovery step 1 | recover unsaved word document mac

Step 2: Eassiy Data Recovery provides two scanning options: Quick Scan and Deep Scan, catering to different data loss scenarios. Quick Scan automatically starts during the scanning process and is suitable for recent data loss situations. The categorized files by path and type can be reviewed in the scan results.

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Note: If you're not satisfied with the scan results, you can opt for a Deep Scan to uncover more files, but it may take longer to complete.

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Step 3: After displaying all data categories, choose the files that require restoration. Utilize the search bar to locate files by name or path and adjust the preview mode by selecting icons beside the Filter button. Lastly, recover the chosen files by clicking on the Restore button.

Eassiy Data Recovery step 4 | recover unsaved word document mac

Part 3: Recover Word Document Not Saved on Mac with Word App

Frequently, damaged Word documents can be found within the Word app for Mac if it was not properly closed during your last use. Additionally, if the app crashes unexpectedly, it may be capable of recovering opened files as damaged Word documents for further manipulation. Here are the steps to recover Word document not saved on Mac with Word App.

Step 1: Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac and create a new document.

Step 2: Click on "File" on the menu bar and then choose "Open" from the options menu in the Word app for Mac.

Step 3: You should now see the list of available Word files, including the damaged ones.

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Step 4: After selecting a damaged Word file, expand the drop-down menu next to the "Open" option.

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Step 5: Select the option of "Repair" or "Recover Text".

Step 6: Click on the blue "Open" button below and the Word app will repair or recover the text, opening the content in a new Word file.

Part 4: How to Recover Previous Version of Word Document on Mac By Auto-recovery

Recovering unsaved Word documents is possible via Auto-recovery, a feature in Microsoft Word that automatically retrieves your files, even if you haven't saved them. By default, this feature is activated and saves a copy of your work every ten minutes. However, you can adjust the settings to auto-save it every few minutes, longer or shorter. This method is not applicable if the document is already lost, and the Auto-recovery feature was not enabled. In this case, you must move on to the next recovery method. Follow the below steps to recover previous version of Word document on Mac by Auto-recovery.

Step 1: First, you must have to launch a Finder window on your Mac.

Step 2: Choose the entire computer as the location to be searched and type 'AutoRecovery' into the search field. This will generate a list of files starting with 'AutoRecovery save of,' followed by the name of the Word document that you wish to retrieve.

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Step 3: Double-click the file that needs to be retrieved. Doing so will open the file using Microsoft Word.

Step 4: Click on the File menu, select 'Save As,' and choose a new name for the document. Pick a folder where it will be stored and click on the 'Save' button.

By Auto-recovery step 4 | recover unsaved word document mac

Part 5: Mac Word Recover Unsaved Document via OneDrive

Backing up your files using online storage services is a good practice, as it makes recovering lost or deleted Word documents much easier. Developed by Microsoft, OneDrive is a cloud-based service that enables users to host and synchronize files, providing access to them from anywhere with an internet connection. It allows users to store and access files and folders on the cloud, making it easy to collaborate and share files with others. You can easily recover your unsaved document if you have backed it up on OneDrive. Here are the steps to Mac Word recover unsaved document via OneDrive.

Step 1: Navigate to the OneDrive website and log in using your Microsoft account credentials.

via OneDrive step 1 | recover unsaved word document mac

Step 2: Navigate to the navigation panel and choose the Recycle bin.

Step 3: Choose the desired Word document for recovery and then click on the Restore button.

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Part 6: Microsoft Word Recover Unsaved Document on Mac from Temporary Folder

Temporary Files, or Temp Files for short, are used by your system to store data while applications are running or generating permanent files. Applications like Word create temp files as a precautionary measure to prevent data loss. These files can be useful for recovering lost information or data on your Mac. However, it is important to note that using the Terminal to access Temp Files can be risky if you are not familiar with the process. One mistake could potentially cause problems for your Mac, so caution is advised. Follow the below steps to Microsoft Word recover unsaved document on Mac from a temporary folder.

Step 1: Open the Finder and navigate to "Applications" > "Utilities". Next, double-click on "Terminal".

from Temporary Folder | recover unsaved word document mac

Step 2: Open Terminal and navigate to $TMPDIR to access the TMP folder where unsaved files are stored.

Step 3: Navigate to the "TemporaryItems" document within the TMP files and open it. From there, right-click on the unsaved Word files that you wish to retrieve and choose "Open with..." > Microsoft Word.

Step 4: To save the Word document, go to the File menu and select "Save As". Then, choose a new destination to save the file.

Part 7: Recover Don't Save Word Document Mac Using Trash

Occasionally, you may accidentally delete a document when attempting to free up space on your Mac. This can result in the unintentional removal of important files. However, this situation is not as dire as it may seem. The deleted document may still be retrievable from the Trash. Here are the steps to recover don't save Word document Mac using Trash.

Step 1: Click on the Trash can icon located in the Dock to open it.
Step 2: Upon opening the Trash, you will see all the deleted content. Look for your document and click on it. By pressing the Space Bar, you can preview the document.
Step 3: If you cannot find your document, search for a folder named 'Recovered Items' within the Trash. Your file may have been saved there.
Step 4: If the document is located in the 'Recovered Items' folder, right-click on it and select "Put Back". This action will return the file to its original folder, allowing you to resume work on it.

Using Trash | recover unsaved word document mac

Part 8: Word Recover Unsaved Document on Mac with Time Machine Backup

Using a Time Machine backup may be a viable option for recovering deleted Word documents on Mac. However, it is important to note that this method requires you to have been using Time Machine to create backups of your Mac. If you have not been doing so, it may be worth starting now, as backups can be a reliable way of recovering lost data. Follow the below steps to word recover unsaved document on Mac with Time Machine Backup.

Step 1: Attach the storage device containing the Time Machine backup files to your Mac or MacBook.

Step 2: Launch a Finder window and navigate to the directory where the Word file was originally stored.

Step 3: Initiate the Time Machine by selecting the Time Machine icon from the menu bar.

with Time Machine Backup step 3 | recover unsaved word document mac

Step 4: Browse through the backups and snapshots using Time Machine's timeline and arrows to find the Word document you wish to recover.

Step 5: Choose the file you wish to recover and then click the Restore button. Your Word file will be reinstated to its original location in the selected folder.

Eassiy Data Recovery step 5 | recover unsaved word document mac

Part 9: FAQ for Mac Recover Deleted Trash

1. What is Mac Word Recovery File Location?

The location of Mac Word Recovery Files refers to the specific folder where Microsoft Word for Mac saves a duplicate of your unsaved documents automatically in case the application suddenly closes or crashes. Typically, the recovered files are stored in the "Autorecovery" subdirectory inside the "Document Recovery" directory. You can access the "Document Recovery" folder by following this path:
/Users/<Username>/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/. Keep in mind to replace "<Username>" with your user account name on your Mac.

2. Is it possible to retrieve a Word document that has been overwritten on a Mac?

Certainly, there exist various approaches to retrieve an overwritten Word file on Mac:

  • Employ Time Machine backup
  • Resort to iCloud backup
  • Execute data recovery software.

3. What are the ways to avoid the loss of Word documents from your Mac in the future?

Regularly saving your Word documents is an effective method of safeguarding your files. But if you're not in the habit of saving files frequently, you can utilize the Autosave feature. This option automatically saves your Word document based on your preferred frequency of changes.

Conclusion

This article covered the topic of recovering unsaved Word document on Mac, equipping you with the necessary knowledge to retrieve lost files. Additionally, Eassiy Data Recovery offers top-notch restoration services for all types of devices. Therefore, if you have accidentally lost any of your Word files, you can rely on Eassiy Data Recovery Software.

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