How to Recover Deleted Excel Files: Complete Guide [2026]

Learn how to recover deleted Excel files with our complete 2026 guide, including free recovery tips, advanced methods and professional tools.

1. Introduction

Accidentally deleting an Excel file is one of the most common data loss scenarios on Windows and Mac. Whether you use the Delete key or empty the Recycle Bin, recovery is often possible if you act quickly and stop writing new data to the affected drive.

This guide covers the following three scenarios:

• Accidental deletion — the file was deleted and may still be in a Recycle Bin
• Permanent deletion — the Recycle Bin has been emptied or Shift+Delete was used
• Worksheet deletion — a worksheet tab was accidentally deleted inside an open workbook

2. Method 1: Undo the Deletion with Ctrl+Z

2.1 Recover Deleted Excel File with Ctrl+Z

If you just deleted the file and have not performed any other operations, Ctrl+Z is the fastest recovery method.

Shortcut method:

• Windows: Press Ctrl+Z (repeat as needed to undo multiple deletions)
• Mac: Press Command+Z (repeat as needed)

GUI method:

1. In File Explorer, open the folder where the file was stored before deletion.
2. Right-click any blank area in the folder and select Undo Delete.

2.2 Recover Deleted Worksheet with Ctrl+Z

If a worksheet tab was accidentally deleted and the workbook is still open, press Ctrl+Z immediately to undo the deletion.

Limitations:

1. Some versions of Excel display a warning that “Microsoft Excel will permanently delete this sheet. Do you want to continue?” before the deletion. If you confirmed that prompt, Ctrl+Z will not restore the worksheet.
   
2. Subsequent edits after the deletion consume undo history slots. If many operations were performed after deleting the worksheet, Ctrl+Z may need to be pressed many times, and some operations (such as saving) can clear the undo history entirely.

3. Method 2: Recover from Recycle Bin

3.1 Method 2.1: Windows Recycle Bin

When a file is deleted normally (without Shift+Delete), Windows moves it to the Recycle Bin rather than erasing it permanently. You can recover it form the Recycle bin:

1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop, or search for it in the Start menu:
   
2. Locate your Excel file. Use the search box or sort by Name or Date Deleted to find it faster.
3. Right-click the file and select Restore. The file returns to its original location:

Note: For a network shared drive, you need to check its own recycle bin on the server side instead of the local one.

3.2 Method 2.2: macOS Trash

On macOS, deleted files go to the Trash before permanent removal.

1. Click the Trash icon in the Dock.
2. Locate your Excel file.
3. Right-click the file and select Put Back to restore it to its original location.

3.3 Method 2.3: Cloud Drive Recycle Bin

If the file was stored on a cloud drive, check its own separate recycle bin:

• OneDrive Recycle Bin
• SharePoint Recycle Bin
• Google Drive Trash
• Dropbox Deleted Files
• iCloud Drive Recently Deleted

Note for SharePoint: If the file is not in the end-user Recycle Bin, a SharePoint administrator can check the site collection Recycle Bin or the Preservation Hold Library.

4. Method 3: Re-download/Resend the File

If the deleted file was originally downloaded from the internet or received as an email attachment, re-obtaining it may be faster than any recovery method. Check the following:

• Email inbox and sent items for attachments containing the file
• Check the Downloads folder for a local copy, or browse the download history for a direct re-download link
• Contact the original sender or the website where the file was hosted to request a fresh copy

5. Method 4: Restore from Backups or Copies

Before attempting disk-level recovery, brainstorm all locations where a backup or copy of the file may exist:

• Regular or Auto Backups: If you use any backup software or services, check the backups.
• Cloud drives: OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud Drive — many files sync automatically.
• Other cloud-based services: Many Excel files are automatically saved on cloud services during normal use, such as Google Sheets.
• Shared network drives: The file may have been saved to a team or department folder
• External drives: USB drives or external hard drives where you may have saved a copy
• Other devices: a laptop, home PC, or mobile device that may have synced the file

6. Method 5: Recover via File History/Time Machine

6.1 Recover Deleted File

If File History (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac) was enabled before the deletion, you can restore the folder to a point in time before the file is deleted.

6.1.1 Windows File History

Note: File History must be turned on before the file is deleted. Go to Control Panel -> File History to verify.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder that contained the deleted file.
2. Right-click the folder and select Properties.
3. Click the Previous Versions tab. A list of available backup snapshots appears.
   
4. Select a version dated before the file was deleted.
5. To preview the content, expand Open and select Open in File History.
6. Click Restore to restore the entire folder.

6.1.2 macOS Time Machine

1. Open the folder where the deleted file was stored.
2. Open Time Machine from the menu bar or Applications.
3. Use the timeline on the right or the arrows to navigate back to a point when the file existed.
4. Select the file and click Restore.

6.2 Recover Deleted Worksheet via File History

If a worksheet was deleted and the file was subsequently saved, you can recover it by restoring a prior version of the entire workbook that still contains the deleted sheet. This works for files on both the local drive and the cloud drive:

• Windows File History: Follow the steps in Section 6.1.1, but apply them to the Excel file itself rather than its parent folder. Select a version dated before the worksheet was deleted.
• macOS Time Machine: Follow the steps in Section 6.1.2, but apply them to the Excel file itself rather than its parent folder. Select a version dated before the worksheet was deleted.
• Google Drive Version History
• OneDrive Version History
• SharePoint Version History
• Dropbox Version History
• SharePoint Version History

7. Method 6: Recover via AutoRecover

If Excel had an AutoRecover snapshot of the file before it was deleted, you can recover the file from the snapshot.

7.1 Via File -> Open

1. Open Excel and click File -> Open -> Recent.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the list and click Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
3. In the Open window, select your file and click Open.
4. Save the recovered file immediately using File -> Save As.

7.2 Check the AutoRecover Folder Manually

If the above step returns no results, search the AutoRecover folder directly.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type %AppData%\Microsoft\Excel\, and press Enter.
2. Click the Date Modified column header to sort files by newest first.
3. Check all .xlsb and .xlsx files, and any subfolders that may contain them.
4. Open candidate files to identify your lost workbook.
5. If a file cannot open, change its extension to .xlsb or .xlsx tentatively and try again.
6. Immediately save the recovered file with File -> Save As.

8. Method 7: Recover from the Auto Backup File

If the Auto Backup option was previously enabled for the workbook, Excel creates a .xlk backup file in the same folder each time the file is saved. So you can recover the deleted Excel file from the backup:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the same folder as the original Excel file.
2. Look for a file named Backup of [your filename].xlk.
3. Double-click to open it and click Yes to dismiss the format warning.
4. Use File -> Save As to save a permanent copy to a safe location.

9. Method 8: Check the TemporaryBackupFile Folder

Some users have successfully recover deleted Excel files from a dedicated TemporaryBackupFile folder:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Excel\TemporaryBackupFile.
2. Look for a file with today’s date prepended to your original file name.
3. If a file cannot open, change its extension to .xlsb or .xlsx tentatively and try again.
4. Open it and use File -> Save As to save a permanent copy to a safe location.

10. Method 9: Check the UnsavedFiles Cache Folder

Office maintains a dedicated UnsavedFiles cache folder that may contain recoverable copies of the deleted Excel files:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles.
2. Click the Date Modified column header to sort files by newest first.
3. If a file cannot open, change its extension to .xlsb or .xlsx tentatively and try again.
4. Open any relevant file and save it immediately with File -> Save As.

11. Method 10: Search the Temp Folder

If all above methods fail, you may also recover the deleted Excel file from the operating system’s temporary files folder.

Windows:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
2. In the File Explorer search box, type *.tmp or ~$* and sort results by Date Modified.
3. Look for a candidate file larger than 0 KB that was created during your work session.
4. Make a copy of the file, then change the copy’s extension to .xlsx.
5. Open the copy in Excel.
6. If the file opens successfully, save it immediately with File -> Save As.

Mac:

1. Open Terminal (use Spotlight to find it).
2. Type open $TMPDIR and press Enter.
3. In the Finder window that opens, navigate to the TemporaryItems folder.
4. Look for your Excel file and open it to verify its contents.
5. Save a permanent copy immediately.

12. Method 11: Search the Whole Computer

Instead of checking individual folders one by one, you can also search the entire computer for Excel or temporary files created during your work session:

1. Open File Explorer and click This PC in the left panel to search across all drives.
2. Click the search box in the top-right corner and type *.xlsx OR *.xlsb OR *.xls OR *.tmp, then press Enter.
3. Sort results by Date Modified to bring the most recent files to the top.
4. Do not open Excel while reviewing results, as that may trigger a cleanup of AutoRecover and temporary files.
5. Copy any promising file to a separate folder before opening it.
6. For .tmp files, change the extension to .xlsx.
7. Open the file in Excel. If it opens successfully, save it immediately with File -> Save As.

13. Method 12: Use Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is a free command-line tool from Microsoft that can recover permanently deleted files:

1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
2. Press the Windows key, type Windows File Recovery, and open the app. Select Yes when prompted.
3. Enter a recovery command in the following format:
   winfr source-drive: destination-folder [/mode] [/switches]Use Regular mode for recently deleted files on NTFS drives:

   winfr C: E:\Recovery /regular /n *.xlsx /n *.xls

   Use Extensive mode for files deleted long ago or on non-NTFS drives:

   winfr C: E:\Recovery /extensive /n *.xlsx /n *.xls

4. Type Y when prompted to confirm and start the scan.
5. After the scan completes, open the destination folder and check the recovered files.
6. Some files may have lost their original names; open each one to verify its contents.

14. Method 13: Use Professional File Recovery Software

When all the above methods fail, professional data recovery software such as DataNumen Data Recovery can help you recover the deleted Excel files:

1. Start DataNumen Data Recovery.
2. Select the source drive where the deleted file was stored in the past, then click OK to scan.
3. In the scan results, click the File Type tab in the left panel.
4. Select Spreadsheet Files to filter results, or select MS Excel XLSX Files for more specific results.
5. Review the candidate files listed in the results panel.
6. Check the files you want to recover and click Recover.
7. Choose a recovery destination on a different drive to avoid overwriting data, then click OK.

15. Repair Corrupt Recovered Excel Files

Recovered files — particularly those retrieved from temp files or data recovery scans — may be corrupt and fail to open in Excel. In such cases, DataNumen Excel Repair can repair these files:

1. Close Excel and any other application that may have opened the source file.
2. Start DataNumen Excel Repair.
3. Select the corrupt Excel file.
4. Set the output fixed file name.
5. Click Start Repair.
6. After the process completes, open the output file to verify the recovered data.

16. How to Prevent Future Loss

The following measures significantly reduce the risk of permanently losing an Excel file you delete by mistake:

• Enable AutoRecover with a short interval. Go to File -> Options -> Save. Make sure Save AutoRecover information every [n] minutes is checked and reduce the interval to 1–2 minutes.
  
• Enable Auto Backup. Open the workbook, go to File -> Save As -> Tools -> General Options, and check Always create backup. Excel will create a .xlk backup file in the same folder on every save. Note: this is a per-file setting and must be enabled individually for each workbook, or use a VBA script to batch enable multiple files:
• Enable File History. Connect an external drive and go to Control Panel -> File History to enable automatic backups of personal files at regular intervals.
• Follow a regular backup strategy. Apply the 3-2-1 rule: maintain at least three copies of critical files, stored on two different types of media, with one copy offsite or in the cloud.
• Avoid Shift+Delete. Always use the standard Delete key to send files to the Recycle Bin instead of permanently bypassing it.
• Use antivirus software. Malware can silently delete or corrupt files. Keep antivirus definitions up to date to prevent malware-related data loss.

17. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I recover a deleted Excel worksheet (tab) rather than an entire file?

A: If the workbook is still open, use Ctrl+Z immediately (Section 2.2). If the file has been saved and closed, use Windows File History or cloud Version History (Section 6.2) to restore a prior version of the workbook that still contains the worksheet. An AutoSave snapshot (Section 7) or auto backup (Section 8) may also contain an earlier version with the worksheet.

Q: My file was permanently deleted and the Recycle Bin is empty — can it still be retrieved?

A: Yes, provided the disk space has not been overwritten. Stop using the affected drive immediately and try Windows File Recovery (Section 13) or professional data recovery software (Section 14). Recovery success decreases as the drive continues to be used.

Q: The deleted file was on a network drive and isn’t in my local Recycle Bin. Where do I look?

A: Files deleted from network shares do not go to the local Windows Recycle Bin. Check the network share’s own recycle or trash folder. If it is not visible, contact your IT administrator — the network server may have a server-side recycle bin that requires admin access to retrieve files from.

Q: How long do I have before a permanently deleted Excel file becomes unrecoverable?

A: There is no fixed window. On an HDD, deleted data can persist for days or weeks if the drive is not heavily used. On an SSD with TRIM enabled, the data may be erased within minutes. Act immediately and avoid writing any new data to the affected drive.

Q: I overwrote my Excel file by saving changes. Can I get the old version back?

A: Go to File -> Info -> Manage Workbook to check for AutoRecover snapshots (Section 7). For files on OneDrive or SharePoint, use Version History (Section 6.2). If Windows File History was enabled, restore a Previous Version of the file (Section 6.1.1).

Q: Are third-party recovery tools safe to use?

A: Reputable tools operate in read-only mode during scanning and do not modify the source drive. Always save recovered files to a different drive — not the original — to avoid overwriting other recoverable data.

Q: What should I do immediately after deleting an Excel file?

A: Stop using the affected drive immediately, as any new data written to it may overwrite the data section of the deleted file and make recovery impossible. Check the Recycle Bin first (Section 3). If the file is not there, work through the methods in order from Section 4 onward. Do not install software, download files, or run disk cleanup tools on the affected drive during the recovery attempt.

Q: My recovered Excel file is corrupted and won’t open. What are my options?

A: Use Excel’s built-in Open and Repair function first: go to File -> Open -> Browse, select the file, click the dropdown arrow next to Open, and choose Open and Repair. If that fails, use DataNumen Excel Repair (Section 15) for a deeper repair of the file structure.

18. Conclusion

To recover deleted Excel files, start with the fastest methods: Ctrl+Z (Section 2) and the Recycle Bin (Section 3). If those fail, check whether a copy of the file exists elsewhere before attempting disk-level recovery (Sections 4–5). Use File History or Time Machine next (Section 6), then work through the AutoRecover and temp file methods (Sections 7–12). For permanently deleted files with no backup, use Windows File Recovery (Section 13) or a professional recovery tool such as DataNumen Data Recovery (Section 14). If the recovered file is corrupt, DataNumen Excel Repair (Section 15) can restore it. To avoid repeating this situation, enable the prevention measures in Section 16 — particularly AutoRecover with a short interval, Auto Backup, and a cloud or external drive backup strategy.

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About the Author

Shou Sheng is a Microsoft Office specialist with over 10 years of hands-on experience in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint troubleshooting across enterprise and educational environments. He has helped thousands of users recover lost work, resolve file corruption issues, and optimize their Office workflows.

Through his technical writing, Shou is committed to translating complex Office troubleshooting into clear, actionable steps for users of all skill levels. He keeps up with the latest developments in Microsoft 365 and continuously tests methods against real-world file corruption scenarios to ensure accuracy.

Have questions about this guide or need additional help with Office issues? Shou welcomes feedback and suggestions for improving these troubleshooting resources.