Have you ever found yourself in the frustrating situation of working on an important document only to have your computer unexpectedly shut down or the application crash — leaving you with the panic-inducing realization that you forgot to hit save? We’ve all been there. But, fear not. This article will guide you on how to find and recover unsaved Word documents quickly and effectively.
There are several ways with which you can retrieve the Word document without having to worry about starting a new document, such as using the manage document feature, Word’s AutoRecover feature, and so on. We will explain each method in depth in a step-by-step format. Let’s begin with the most common way.
1. Use the Manage Documents Feature on Microsoft Word
This is a simple way to retrieve unsaved Word documents. In this method, we will use Microsoft Word’s Manage Documents feature, which provides users with tools to track, organize, and recover unsaved or previous versions of their documents. Follow the below-mentioned steps.
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Word , and click Open.
Step 2: Click the File tab on the Ribbon.
Step 3: On the next screen, click Info.
Step 5: Click the Manage Documents chevron (arrow) icon. From the drop-down menu, choose ‘Recover Unsaved Documents.’
That’s it. You should be able to recover a Word document that was not saved. If you think this method didn’t work, or if you want to know another way to find an auto-saved Word document, move on to the next method.
2. Search for Temporary Files
Temporary files, often overlooked but crucial, are intermediary versions of documents created by Microsoft Word. By navigating through temporary storage locations, you can restore a Word document that was not saved. Here’s how to locate temporary files on our desktop:
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type .tmp or ~, then tap on the Enter button.
Step 2: Click the Documents tab.
Step 3: Scroll through the search results list. Do this to locate the names of files that correspond with the recent dates and times you worked on the document.
Step 4: If you identify the file, launch Word and click on the File tab.
Step 5: Click on Open and select the Folders tab.
Step 6: Navigate to the location of the .tmp file that you found earlier and select it to open the file.
There you have it. The document that was not saved should be recovered. If you can’t, maybe the next method will help you out.
3. Using the Task Manager
You can use the Task Manager on Windows to recover an unsaved file. However, this requires ending every Word-related process and restarting Word. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Task Manager , and click Open.
Step 2: Under the Processes tab, right-click on Microsoft Word and select End task.
Additionally, scroll down and check for Word-related processes under the background processes section. If a process is displayed, right-click and select End Task.
Step 3: Now, launch Word again to check if the missing file is displayed under the Document Recovery pane. This panel is lodged to the left of the Word window.
Step 4: If there are files in the recovery pane, double-click on them to open.
Also Read : Best ways to create a fraction in Microsoft Word
4. Search For the .WBK or .ASD Extension
This method involves searching for files with the .WBK (short for Word Backup) or .ASD (short for AutoRecover) extensions. These file formats are integral components of Microsoft Word’s backup and recovery mechanisms. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Within the Windows search bar, type. wbk or .asd, and tap on the Enter key.
Step 2: Check the search results to see if you have any files represented this way:
- Backup copy: Backup of + Name of the missing file.
- Autosaved file: .asd extension.
Step 3: Double-click the file name to open it.
How to Enable AutoRecover and AutoBackup on Microsoft Word
AutoRecover and AutoBackup is a feature in Microsoft Word that automatically saves a copy of your document at regular intervals, providing a safety net in case of unexpected disruptions such as power outages or system crashes and helping you find and recover unsaved Word documents. Follow the below-mentioned steps.
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Word , and click Open.
Step 2: Click the File tab on the Ribbon.
Step 3: Select Options.
Step 4 : Under Word Options, go to Save and check the box next to ‘Save AutoRecover information every * minutes’ and ‘Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving.’
Step 5 : Click OK.
With this, you have customized the AutoRecover feature. To set AutoBackup on your Word, continue with the below steps.
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type Word , and click Open.
Step 2: Click on File.
Step 3: Select Options.
Step 4: Click on Advanced.
Step 5: Scroll down to the menu titled Save and ensure you tick the box with the statement ‘Always create a backup copy.’
Step 6: Select OK to save changes.
If the AutoRecover file isn’t in the Document Recovery pane, you can check the temporary files folder on your computer. The location varies based on your operating system. You can search for “.asd” files, which are AutoRecover files, using your file explorer.
Yes, some third-party tools specialize in recovering unsaved documents. However, use caution and ensure you download such tools from reputable sources to avoid malware or security risks.
Using Microsoft Windows Recovery Tool
If you’ve forgotten to save your Word document, you should be able to find and recover unsaved Word documents using any of the methods described above. However, if you accidentally delete a file and it is not in the Recycle Bin, you can use the Microsoft Windows Recovery Tool to restore it.
Was this helpful?
- Access the print queue on your computer and manually clear any stuck print jobs that might be causing the issue.
- Ensure you have the latest printer drivers installed. If not, update them or reinstall the drivers to resolve compatibility issues.
- Use your computer’s built-in printer troubleshooter tool to detect and fix common printer problems.
Preliminary Fixes
- Check Printer Connection : You should first try power cycling both your computer and printer. Refreshing the connection between your devices may solve this problem much quicker than you had anticipated.
- Check Pages and Ink : If your printer has run out of pages or ink, you may receive the ‘documents are waiting’ error. You should refill the ink or add more pages to your printer for a smooth operation.
- Check your Printer Status : Ensure your printer’s status is not set to offline. This will make the printer undetectable for your computer. As a result, your PC won’t be able to communicate with the printer.
Fix 1: Run the Printer Troubleshooter
Step 1: Navigate to Settings . Then, open the System and select Troubleshooters .
Step 2: Select Other troubleshooter . Now, Run the printer troubleshooter from the following menu and follow the on-screen instructions.
If the troubleshooter cannot solve your problem, try restarting the Print Spooler service.
Fix 2: Restart the Print Spooler
Step 1: Press Windows + R to open a new Run window.
Step 2: Then, type services.msc and press Enter .
It opens the services menu.
Step 3: Scroll down to Print Spooler .
Step 4: Right-click on the service and select Stop .
The service should no longer be running now.
Step 5: Now, launch File Explorer and go to the following path.
C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers
Step 6: Delete the content of the folder. By doing that, you’ll delete the printing queue.
Note : Don’t delete the folder itself.
Step 7: Restart your computer.
Step 8: Go back to Print Spooler and restart the service.
Step 9: Set the Startup Type to Automatic .
If the steps above are too complicated, complete the same task from the Command Prompt menu.
Step 1: Launch the Command Prompt as admin.
Step 2: Run these commands and press Enter after each one.
net stop spooler
del /Q %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*.*
net start spooler
Check if the error is gone. If this doesn’t resolve, check out the next fix.
Fix 3: Reinstall the Printer Drivers
If your print drivers got corrupted, are missing, or are running outdated drivers, you may not print your documents. That’s why you need to update your drivers. Or reinstall them if they get corrupted.
Step 1: Launch the Device Manager . Then, go to Print Queues and expand the list.
Step 2: Select Update driver and check if the problem is gone.
If it persists, select Uninstall device to remove your current print drivers. Restart your computer. Your device will automatically install the latest print drivers.
Check if your printer still says documents are waiting to be printed.
Fix 4: Remove and Add Your Printer
If nothing worked, maybe re-adding your printer to your computer will do the trick. It’s a handy way to fix the printer ‘documents waiting’ error.
Step 1: Head to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners menu.
Step 2: Select your preferred printer.
You can check the printer’s details. You can run the troubleshooter from the same menu too.
Step 3: Click Remove .
Now, go back and select Add device . Once Windows detects your printer, click Add device .
You may need to cancel documents waiting to print and try again.
If the printing error only appears while using Google Chrome , check our dedicated guide to troubleshoot it. Before you rush to the nearest store to print your documents and files, use the tricks above to fix the problem.
