Where Word stores unsaved documents and how to get them back

When you close Word without saving, the document does not vanish when ready. Word keeps a temporary copy in a hidden folder on your computer, and you can usually recover it within a few days. The exact location depends on whether you are using Microsoft Word on Windows, Mac, or Word Online, and how your computer is set up.

The most direct path is through Word itself: open the program, go to File, then Open, then look for a button labeled Recover Unsaved Documents near the bottom of the screen. This shows you everything Word has cached in the last few days. If that button does not appear, your version of Word may have already cleaned up old temporary files, or the document may have been closed more than the default retention period (usually three to four days).

If Word's built-in recovery does not find what you need, you can search your computer's file system directly. The location varies by operating system and whether you are using a work account or personal account, so the steps below cover the most common scenarios.

Key Takeaways

  • Word stores unsaved documents in a hidden temporary folder for three to four days before deleting them automatically.
  • The fastest recovery method is File > Open > Recover Unsaved Documents within Word itself.
  • If that does not work, you can manually search your computer's hidden folders using the file paths listed below for Windows or Mac.
  • Temporary files are named with random characters and end in .asd, so searching for that file type can help you locate a document you do not remember naming.
  • Once you recover a document, save it when ready to a location you can find again, because temporary copies are not permanent.

Recovering unsaved documents on Windows

On Windows, Word stores unsaved documents in a folder that is hidden by default. To access it, you need to show hidden files first. Open File Explorer, click the View tab at the top, then check the box next to Hidden items. Now you can navigate to the folder where Word keeps temporary files.

The path is usually C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles. Replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows username. If you are using a work computer with OneDrive or SharePoint, Word may also store recovery files in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\16\OfficeFileCache. Look in both locations if the first one is empty.

Files in these folders are named with random characters and end in .asd (which stands for "auto-save document"). Open any .asd file by double-clicking it, and Word will attempt to open it. Once it opens, save it when ready with a real filename in a location you can find, like your Documents folder.

Recovering unsaved documents on Mac

On Mac, the process is similar but the folder location is different. Open Finder, then press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Paste this path: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Autosave Information. Press Enter, and Finder will take you directly to the folder where Word stores unsaved documents.

Like Windows, the files here are named with random characters and end in .asd. Double-click any file to open it in Word. If the file does not open, try right-clicking it, selecting Open With, and choosing Microsoft Word from the list. Once the document opens, save it with a real filename when ready.

If that folder is empty, try this alternative path: ~/Library/process Support/Microsoft/Office/Office AutoRecovery. Some versions of Word use this location instead, depending on when you installed it and whether you have updated recently.

What to do if you cannot find the document in temporary folders

If the unsaved document is not in either the built-in recovery tool or the temporary folders, it may have been deleted already. Word only keeps temporary files for three to four days by default, and some computers are set to clean up temporary files more aggressively. If your computer has automatic cleanup enabled, temporary files may be deleted within hours.

At this point, your options are limited. If the document was important and you need to recover it, you can try using a file recovery tool like Recuva (Windows) or Data Rescue (Mac), which scan your hard drive for deleted files. These tools work best if you act quickly, before your computer overwrites the space where the file was stored. However, there is no may provide they will find the document, and they require some technical comfort to use.

The most reliable prevention is to save documents as soon as you create them, even if they are incomplete. Saving takes seconds and removes the risk of losing work to a crash or accidental close.

How to change how long Word keeps unsaved documents

If you want Word to keep unsaved documents longer than the default three to four days, you can adjust this setting. On Windows, open Word, go to File > Options > Save, and look for the option labeled AutoRecover file location. You cannot change the retention time directly in this menu, but you can change where Word stores these files, which can help you remember to check them.

On Mac, the same settings are under Word > Preferences > Save. Again, you can change the location but not the retention period. The retention period itself is controlled by your operating system's automatic cleanup settings, not by Word. If you want files kept longer, you can disable automatic cleanup in your system settings, though this will use more disk space over time.

A simpler approach is to turn on AutoSave if you are using Word with OneDrive or SharePoint. AutoSave saves your document automatically every few seconds, so you never lose more than a few seconds of work. This is available in Word Online and in the desktop version if your account is connected to OneDrive.

Understanding the privacy side of temporary files

When Word creates temporary unsaved documents, it stores them on your local computer in a folder that only your user account can access (on both Windows and Mac, these folders are protected by user permissions). The content of unsaved documents does not go to Microsoft's servers unless you are using Word Online or have OneDrive syncing enabled.

However, if you are using a work computer or a computer managed by an organization, your IT department may have access to these temporary files as part of their backup or monitoring systems. If you are working on sensitive information, assume that anything you type on a work computer — even unsaved — may be visible to your organization's administrators.

On your personal computer, temporary files are as private as anything else on your hard drive. If someone gains physical access to your computer or installs malware, they could potentially read unsaved documents the same way they could read saved ones. The main privacy difference is that unsaved documents are deleted automatically after a few days, so they do not accumulate on your drive the way saved files do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a document I closed without saving more than a week ago?

Probably not. Word deletes temporary unsaved files after three to four days by default. If your computer has automatic cleanup enabled, the files may be gone within hours. Once they are deleted, Word's built-in recovery tool cannot find them. A file recovery tool might work, but only if the space on your hard drive has not been overwritten yet.

What if the recovered document opens but looks corrupted or incomplete?

Temporary files are sometimes incomplete or partially written, especially if Word crashed or your computer lost power. Open the file and check what is there. If it is usable, save it when ready with a new filename. If it is corrupted, you may need to retype the content or use an earlier version if you have one saved elsewhere.

Does Word keep unsaved documents if I use Word Online instead of the desktop version?

Word Online works differently. It saves your work automatically to your OneDrive or SharePoint account every few seconds, so there is no "unsaved" state the way there is in the desktop version. If you close the browser tab, your work is already saved in the cloud. You can see all previous versions by going to the file's version history.

Will showing hidden files on my computer expose me to security risks?

Showing hidden files does not create a security risk by itself. Hidden files are hidden for organization, not security — they are still protected by your user account permissions. However, once you can see hidden files, be careful not to delete anything you do not recognize, as some hidden files are necessary for your operating system to work properly.

If I recover an unsaved document, can I see when it was last edited?

Yes. Right-click the recovered file (or select it and press Command+I on Mac), then look at the file properties. You will see the date and time it was last modified. This can help you figure out which temporary file is the one you are looking for if there are multiple .asd files in the folder.