Written by
Yvonne FengSummary: This post tells you how to recover files when you accidentally click Don't Save on Word Mac. You can find four effective methods here. Furthermore, you will know how to avoid losing files after clicking Don't Save on Mac. Download iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac to get your file back.
I was trying to save my essay, and the file was in "compatibility mode,” so it wasn't working. I decided to copy and paste my work into a new document. But I clicked don't save by accident, and then, in the new document, my copy didn't work. Is there any way to recover this file? - Reddit
Many users have reported that they accidentally clicked Don't Save on Word Mac and then couldn't find their edited Word document. This can be frustrating, but fortunately, reliable methods exist to solve the problem.
So, can you recover a Word document after hitting Don't Save on Mac? The answer is yes, let's explore the solutions together.
Fix1. Recover accidentally clicked Don't Save on Word Mac through AutoRecovery
Microsoft Word has an AutoSave feature that saves file content automatically every 5 to 10 minutes. Even if you haven't manually saved the file, the system may retain a recent version of your edits.
However, if you click “Don't Save”, Word typically deletes the AutoRecovery file, as the system assumes you have chosen to discard the changes. As a result, the chances of recovering the file are low.
Nonetheless, there are instances where the system might not have cleared the AutoRecovery file in time. You can try the following steps to check if it's possible to recover the file using AutoRecovery.
- Open Finder and click Go > Go to Folder in the top menu bar.
- Enter the path: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery and press Enter.
- Look for files named “AutoRecovery save of...” in the folder.
- Open the file and save it as a regular Word document.
Note: The likelihood of recovery depends on whether the file has been cleared. You are advised to act promptly to increase the chances of successful recovery.
Fix2. Recover accidentally clicked Don't Save on Word Mac using professional software
If the above methods fail to recover the unsaved Word document, you can try using professional data recovery tools. These tools perform deep scans of the hard drive to help recover lost files, especially in cases where files cannot be found after the program or system has been completely shut down.
Here, we recommend using iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac, a highly effective data recovery tool. In addition to successfully recovering all recently deleted or permanently deleted files, it also supports recovering data from unreadable, inaccessible, formatted or damaged SD cards, external hard drives, and other storage devices.
Here is how to do it:
- Free download and install iBoysoft Data Recover for Mac.
- After launching the program, select the storage device where your lost Word file is located (e.g., a Mac's internal or external hard drive), and click the "Search for Lost Data" button.
- Your disk will be scanned.
- After scanning, preview the Word file you want to recover and click the "Recover" button.
Note: Please do not save the recovered files to the original location, as this may overwrite the area where the file was previously stored, leading to recovery failure or partial data loss. To ensure the integrity of the data recovery, save the files in a different, secure location, such as an external hard drive or a different disk partition.
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Fix3. Recover accidentally clicked Don't Save on Word Mac from Temporary Files
When you accidentally click Don't Save on Word Mac, your Word document is not permanently deleted right away. The operating system and the application often keep a temporary file in the background. Temporary files store the content of the document you were editing, so there is still a chance to recover your lost document by accessing these files.
Temporary files serve as backups for documents in progress. If a file crashes, is accidentally closed or is not saved, the temporary file can act as a recovery mechanism. Therefore, even if you didn't save the file, you might still be able to recover it from temporary files.
- Open Finder: In Finder, go to the “Go” menu and select “Go to Folder.”
- Access the Temporary Folder: In the dialog box that appears, type /private/var/folders, and click Go.
- Search for Temporary Files: In the folder, browse through different subfolders to look for temporary files that begin with "Word" or other related file names. These files usually have the symbol "~" in the file name.
- Recover the File: After finding the relevant temporary file, you can copy it to your desktop or another location and try opening it in Word.
- Attempt to Recover: Once you open the temporary file, check if it contains the document you lost. If successful, save the file as a new Word document.
Fix4. Recover accidentally clicked Don't Save on Word Mac via Time Machine
If macOS Time Machine backups are enabled, you may be able to retrieve the lost document from an earlier version. This method is best for users who back up their data regularly.
- Plug in your Time Machine backup drive if necessary.
- Open Finder and navigate to the last known location of the document.
- Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select Enter Time Machine.
- Use the timeline on the right to locate the backup version of your document.
- Select the file and click Restore.
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Tips to avoid losing files by accidentally clicking Don't Save on Word Mac
These four methods can help you retrieve unsaved data when you accidentally click Don't Save on Word Mac. To avoid not getting your data back after clicking Don't Save in the future, follow these tips.
- Enable Auto-Save and Version History: By enabling Word's auto-save feature, your work will be automatically saved, preventing the loss of important content.
- Save Manually Regularly: Make it a habit to save your files frequently, especially after making significant changes. You can quickly save a file by pressing Command + S.
- Use Cloud Storage Services: Services like iCloud, OneDrive, or Google Drive ensure your files are backed up in real-time, preventing data loss due to local storage issues.
- Enable File Recovery: On a Mac, you can enable Time Machine to back up your files automatically. This ensures that even if a file is lost or mistakenly deleted, you can recover it through Time Machine.
- Be Careful When Closing Documents: When closing documents or applications, carefully review the prompt box to ensure you select the correct option, avoiding the accidental selection of “Don't Save.”
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