Bring Deleted Files Back to Their Original Location on Mac

Hi, I used AppCleaner to delete some Microsoft Office .plist files. Then, I'd have to offer the product key of Microsoft Office to enter my Word files. But I've already forgotten that. Does anyone know how to bring back the Microsoft Office files deleted by AppCleaner to their original location? They are now in Trash. I've tried "Put Back" but that doesn't work. I've tried placing those files back on the desktop, but that's useless to enter my Word files.

Best Answered by

Connie Yang

Answered on Wednesday, July 26, 2023

The deleted Microsoft Office files you mentioned are the Microsoft Office app's preferences info. Once an app's preference data is removed, the app won't work under the previous setting.

I guess the original locations of your deleted files are:

com.microsoft.office.licensing.plist - perhaps belongs in /Library/Preferences
com.microsoft.office.plist - perhaps belongs in ~/Library/Preferences
com.microsoft.office.setupassistant.plist - perhaps belongs in ~/Library/Preferences
MicrosoftOffice.mdimporter -- this a folder perhaps belongs in /Library/Spotlight

You can open Finder and click on Go on the upper menu bar > Go to Folder. Then enter /Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Preferences to find the two folders and put the Microsoft Office .plist files back to their original location. After that, you can access your Word files and go on using Microsoft Office as before. Good luck!