Word keeps copies of unsaved documents for a set number of days

When you close Word without saving, the program does not when ready delete your work. Word automatically saves a temporary copy of every document you open, even if you never manually save it yourself. This temporary file sits in a hidden folder on your computer and stays there for a limited time — usually between three and four days, though this varies depending on your Word settings.

The recovery process is straightforward: you tell Word to show you these temporary files, find the one you need, and open it. From there you can save it as a regular document file. This works whether you accidentally closed the file, your computer crashed, or the power went out while you were working.

The catch is timing. Once the temporary file expires, it is gone. If more than a few days have passed since you last worked on the document, recovery may not be possible through this method.

Key Takeaways

  • Word stores unsaved documents in a temporary folder for three to four days by default, even if you never manually saved them.
  • You can recover an unsaved document by opening Word, going to File > Info > Manage Documents, and selecting "Recover Unsaved Documents".
  • The recovered file will open in Word, but you must save it as a new document to keep it permanently — opening it does not automatically save it.
  • If the temporary file has expired or you cannot find it through Word's recovery tool, check your computer's Recycle Bin or Trash folder in case the file was deleted.

Recover an unsaved document in Word on Windows

Open Microsoft Word on your computer. You do not need to open any specific document — just launch the program itself. Once Word is open, click the File menu in the top left corner.

From the File menu, click Info. You will see a list of options on the left side of the screen. Look for an option that says Manage Documents or Recover Unsaved Documents — the exact wording depends on which version of Word you have. Click on it.

Word will open a folder window showing all unsaved documents it has stored. Look through the list for the document you need. The file names will show the date and time Word saved them. Click on the document you want to recover, then click the Open button.

The document will open in Word. At the top of the window, you may see a yellow banner asking if you want to save this recovered version. Click Save As to save the document with a new name and location. If you do not see this banner, use File > Save As to save the document yourself. Without this step, the document will close without being saved again.

Recover an unsaved document in Word on Mac

Open Microsoft Word. Click the File menu at the top of the screen, then look for an option called Open Recent. Click on it to see a dropdown menu.

At the bottom of the Open Recent menu, you should see an option that says Recover Unsaved Documents. Click on it. A window will open showing Word's temporary files.

Find the document you need in the list — files are labeled with their names and the date they were saved. Click on the document, then click Open. The document will open in Word.

Save the document when ready by pressing Command + S or using File > Save As. Choose a location on your computer and give the file a name. This converts the temporary file into a permanent document that will not be deleted.

What to do if you cannot find the document in Word's recovery tool

If the document does not appear in Word's recovery list, the temporary file may have expired. Word typically keeps unsaved documents for three to four days, but this depends on how often you use Word and your computer's settings. If more than four days have passed, the temporary file is likely gone.

Check your computer's Recycle Bin (on Windows) or Trash (on Mac) to see if the document file itself was deleted. If you remember the file name, search your entire computer for it — the file might be in a folder you do not remember. On Windows, use the search box in the taskbar. On Mac, use Spotlight search by pressing Command + Space and typing the file name.

If the document was never saved to begin with and the temporary file has expired, recovery through Word is not possible. This is why saving your work regularly — even with a temporary file name — protects you from total loss.

Change how long Word keeps unsaved documents

By default, Word keeps unsaved documents for three to four days. You can change this setting to keep them longer if you want more time to recover a file.

On Windows, open Word and go to File > Options. Click Save in the left menu. Look for a setting that says Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving. Make sure this box is checked. Below that, you may see an option to adjust how long Word keeps these files — if your version of Word shows this option, you can increase the number of days.

On Mac, open Word and go to Word > Preferences. Click Save. Look for the same checkbox about keeping the last autosaved version. Mac versions of Word typically do not let you adjust the number of days, so the setting is either on or off.

After you change these settings, click OK or Save to explore them. From that point forward, Word will follow your new settings for any documents you open.

Prevent unsaved work from being lost in the future

Word's automatic recovery is helpful, but it is not a substitute for regular saving. The safest approach is to save your document manually every few minutes while you work, especially if you are writing something important.

Use Ctrl + S on Windows or Command + S on Mac to save quickly without opening any menus. Many people set a habit of saving after they finish a paragraph or a section. This way, even if Word crashes or your power goes out, you lose only a few minutes of work instead of hours.

If you use Microsoft 365 (the subscription version of Office), you can also turn on AutoSave for documents stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. AutoSave stores a new version of your document every few seconds automatically, so you never lose more than a minute or two of work. To turn on AutoSave, save your document to OneDrive first, then look for the AutoSave toggle at the top of the Word window.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Word keep unsaved documents?

Word keeps unsaved documents for three to four days by default. The exact length depends on your Word version and settings. After this period, the temporary file is deleted and cannot be recovered through Word's recovery tool.

Can I recover a document if my computer crashed while I was working?

Yes. Word saves temporary copies of open documents even while you are actively working on them. When you restart your computer and open Word, you should see a recovery option or a notification asking if you want to recover the document. Click yes and save the recovered file when ready.

What is the difference between recovering an unsaved document and opening a recent file?

A recent file is one you previously saved to your computer — Word remembers it and shows it in your recent list. An unsaved document is one you never saved at all, so Word only has the temporary copy. The recovery tool finds these temporary copies, while the recent files list shows documents that were already saved.

If I recover an unsaved document, is it automatically saved?

No. Recovering the document opens it in Word, but you must manually save it yourself using File > Save As or Ctrl + S. If you close the document without saving, you will lose it again.

Can I recover a document that was deleted from my computer?

If you deleted the saved file itself (not just closed it without saving), check your Recycle Bin or Trash folder first — you may be able to restore it from there. If the file is not in the Recycle Bin, Word's unsaved document recovery will not help, because that tool only stores temporary copies of documents you had open in Word.