How to Recover PowerPoint File Not Saved/Deleted/Lost

User Cases

Can I Recover a PowerPoint I Didn’t Save?

You may feel annoyed when you close PowerPoint but do not save the newly created file or accidentally delete it. Don’t panic! You can recover the unsaved or deleted PowerPoint file with different tools. There are some scenarios that you may encounter:

This post will list all the solutions shown above with specific steps. No matter whether your PowerPoint files are unsaved or deleted, try the solutions to find them!

How to Recover PowerPoint File Not Saved

If your aim is to recover unsaved PowerPoint files, these 3 ways you can try. You can take advantage of the PowerPoint AutoRecover feature to find the drafts or go to the Temp folder to find your folder. Otherwise, if you enabled Auto-save to OneDrive/SharePoint before, you may find the file in the cloud.

Method 1. Use the PowerPoint AutoRecover Feature

If PowerPoint closed unexpectedly or you forgot to save your presentation, the AutoRecover feature may help you restore unsaved PowerPoint. This tool temporarily saves copies of your files, allowing you to restore them even after a crash or shutdown.

Step 1. Open PowerPoint and click the “File” icon in the upper-left corner.

Step 2. Check “Recent” to find your file, scroll down the page to the bottom, and click “More presentations”.

Step 3. Tap the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” button at the bottom.

Step 4. Find your file in the pop-up window that shows the drafts and double-click on your file to open it.

Method 2. Search for AutoRecover Files Manually

If PowerPoint doesn’t show you AutoRecover files directly, you can realize the unsaved PowerPoint recovery manually. This lets you check for any files that might have been temporarily saved before a crash or shutdown.

Step 1. Enter “Win+R” on your keyboard, press “%APPDATA%\Microsoft\PowerPoint” (or %temp%), and click “Enter” on your keyboard.

Step 2. Look for the .asd or .tmp files to find your PowerPoint file.

Step 3. Double-click on the file to open it and choose another location you are more familiar with to save it.

Method 3. Check OneDrive/Cloud Auto-Save (If Enabled)

Step 1. Go to OneDrive/SharePoint online.

Step 2. Search for the .pptx or .ppt files to see whether your file is saved on the cloud.

How to Recover PowerPoint File Deleted

Another situation is that you delete the PowerPoint file but now you need it. Due to this reason, you can follow the 2 methods below, including how to easily restore permanently deleted files or find the backups on your computer. Before all the steps, you can quickly check your Recycle Bin to see if the file is there. If you accidentally empty the recycle bin, try the following ways!

Method 1. Use Data Recovery Software

If you permanently delete the PowerPoint files, the most convenient way to restore them is with the help of recovery software, for example, MyRecover. It can quickly scan your disk to help you locate the deleted file, and then you can restore it with up to a 99% success rate. The filename will not be changed after restoration, so you can find it easily.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer.

Step 2. Open MyRecover and go to “Deleted Files Recovery”.

Step 3. Put your cursor on the disk where you save the file before and click “Scan“.

Step 4. When the scan is finished, open “Deleted Files” or “Recycle Bin” to find your PowerPoint file.

Step 5. Select the deleted PowerPoint file and tap “Recover”. Then, choose a place to store this file (better another disk to avoid corruption) and finish this recovery.

Method 2. Find Backups in Windows File History or Mac Time Machine

The following recovery methods will only work if you have already set up a backup system before the data loss occurred. If you’ve previously enabled features like Windows File History or Mac Time Machine, you’re in luck—they can help you retrieve lost or deleted PowerPoint files quickly and effectively. Let’s take a look at how you can do that.

Windows File History:

Step 1. On Windows 11, enter “File History” in the search bar, and then you will be sent to Control Panel. On Windows 10, enter "Restore your files in File History" in the search bar to enter the panel.

Step 2. Use an internal or external hard drive as the backup destination if this feature was not enabled before.

Step 3. Look through the file to find the backup of your PowerPoint file. Once it is found, click the recover button (a green button) and then this file will be restored to the original location.

Mac Time Machine:

Step 1. Press “Command + Spacebar” and enter “Time Machine” in the search bar.

Step 2. Browse the files to find your deleted PowerPoint file.

Step 3. When your desired file is found, click the “Restore” button to get it back.

How to Recover Lost PowerPoint Files

If the PowerPoint files you want to restore are neither unsaved nor deleted, they are just overwritten or corrupted. These 2 ways can do you a favor.

Method 1. Try Open and Repair

If your PowerPoint cannot be opened, you can utilize the “Open and Repair” feature to repair it.

Step 1. Open PowerPoint and click the “File” button.

Step 2. Choose “Open” to locate the corrupted file.

Step 3. Select “Open and Repair” and let PowerPoint repair this file so that you can open it.

Method 2. Restore the Previous Version on the Cloud

If you sync PowerPoint with OneDrive or SharePoint, you can restore the file from the previous version on the cloud.

Step 1. Open the OneDrive app in File Explorer.

Step 2. Navigate to your desired file and right-click on it.

Step 3. Choose “Version History” in the dropdown menu. Then, you can see the previous version of this file.

Step 4. Choose your preferred version and click the 3-dot icon beside it. Then, tap “Restore” to restore the old version of this file.

Conclusion

How to recover PowerPoint file not saved, deleted, or lost? This post gives you multiple solutions to address your problem. Choose the one that best meets your needs and follow the steps now!

If you want to recover a file that is permanently deleted, use MyRecover! It can quickly scan your disk to find the deleted file and then you can restore it with a click! Moreover, if you want to get unlimited usage for one company, you can subscribe to the Technician Edition which can be shared with unlimited PCs.