Unexpected system shutdowns can lead to unsaved or lost files, especially when you’re working on important documents. This guide shows you how to recover files after unexpected shutdown using three effective methods on Windows systems. You’ll learn how to check AutoRecover and temporary files, restore previous versions, and use reliable data recovery software when built-in options are not enough.
“I had to work on various projects for school, but the only one I'm SURE didn't save is my Word Document after unexpected shutdown. I'm SOOO angry because I worked the most on it during class and after school. Any help on how to do this.”
Do you experience unexpected shutdown, but don’t save files, such as Word documents, Excel, PDF, DXG, etc., from the program you are working on? Sometimes you might find data loss after computer restart. It doesn’t matter as we’ll show you how to solve it easily and quickly.
You can attempt using the AutoSave feature, data recovery software, and Recycle Bin to recover files after unexpected shutdown.
Recovering unsaved files like Word, Excel, PDF, DXG, etc., as well as lost data after unexpected shutdown are the two issues users care about most, and you can solve them easily and quickly by the provided methods.
For most Microsoft Office applications, following a sudden computer shutdown, the built-in AutoRecovery feature will provide the latest automatic backup files, allowing you to recover and save them when you reopen the application after restarting your computer.
Even if the AutoRecovery prompt does not appear, there is no need to worry—there are other methods to recover unsaved Microsoft Office files.
1️⃣Recover Unsaved Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint When the Computer Shuts Down:
Step 1. Open the program you were using before unexpected shutdown.
Step 2. Go to File > Open >Recent > Documents and select Recover Unsaved Documents.
Step 3. In the UnsavedFiles window, select the Word documents you want to recover and click Open. Note the AutoRecover files use the .asd extension.
Step 4. Check the file and select a new location to save your Word document.
In addition, you can check the temporary folder for unsaved files immediately after restarting your computer. While you are editing a document, Windows automatically creates temporary files to store AutoRecovery information, preventing data loss due to sudden application or system crashes.
2️⃣Recover Unsaved PDF Files After Computer Restarts:
Step 1. Go to the AutoSave path in the following.
Step 2. Find files with the same name but in a different extension.
Step 3. Rename the extension to .pdf and open the file in Adobe.
3️⃣Recover Closed AutoCAD Files without Saving:
By default, the autosave files in AutoCAD is in the Temp folder and automatically save the changes every 10 minutes.
Step 1. Go to the Autosave default folder path (usually C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\Temp) in File Explorer.
Step 2. Find files with the same name and extension as SV$.
Step 3. Change the extension to .dwg and open the file in AutoCAD.
If the important files disappeared after unexpected shutdown, relying on professional data recovery software like MyRecover becomes the most effective solution. The dedicated data recovery programs can scan your storage device at a deeper level and locate lost files that are no longer visible to the system, making them especially useful after data loss events. It’s user-friendly and visual interface allows even beginners to recover files effectively lost due to deletion, corruption, or the unexpected shutdown, etc.
✔ It has a free version that can recover data up to 500MB.
✔ Intelligent use of Quick Scan or Deep Scan to scan and find as many files as possible in less time.
✔ Recover deleted or lost documents (Word, Excel, PDF, AutoCAD files), images, videos, audios, etc., in more than 1000 formats.
✔ Search or filter data quickly through file name, extension, data type, etc.
✔ Preview and recover files while scanning.
✔ Selectively restore files, not all of them.
✔Recover data from specific locations (e.g. Recycle Bin), deleted or lost, formatted, RAW partition, or entire disk in less time.
✔ Work perfectly with NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ReFS file systems.
Now, click the download button to get started.
Launch this Windows data recovery software - MyRecover. By default, it will display the Deleted File Recovery window. Hover the mouse over the drive or partition containing lost files and click Scan. You can also select other options to recover lost data after unexpected shutdown.
MyRecover can automatically scan the selected drive to find deleted or lost files. You can use search & filter features to locate them quickly without waiting for the final result:
Once found, select the desired files by ticking the checkboxes or leaving the unwanted files blank. Then, click the Recover button and select a new location to save the recovered files.
In the worst-case scenario, if Windows fails to boot normally and you cannot access the desktop after an unexpected shutdown, MyRecover Professional and higher editions also allow you to get files a computer that won't turn on normally. Follow these steps:
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on a working computer and prepare a blank USB drive. Insert the USB into the working PC.
Step 2. Run the app and select "PC Crashed Recovery", then click "USB Boot Device" and "Create" to make a bootable media.
Step 3. Wait for the process finished. Plug the USB bootable media in the crashed computer and enter BIOS/UEFI by pressing F2, F12, Del, or Esc.
Step 4. In the BIOS menu, change the boot menu as the USB drive first. Save the changes and restart your computer.
Then, your PC will enter the interface of MyRecover, you can follow the steps described earlier to recover the files you want.
Sometimes, the files may be in the Recycle Bin instead of lost after unexpected shutdown. So if you can’t find files in the original location, it’s always worth checking the Recycle Bin.
Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin folder.
Step 2. Find the files you want to recover, right-click them, and select Restore. The files will be restored to the original location.
Unexpected shutdowns not only disrupt your workflow but can also signal deeper issues. It's essential to address the problem after recovering data from crashed hard drive/computer. Here are 4 practical methods to fix unexpected shutdowns.
Although Fast Startup helps your computer boot up faster, it may cause continuously random shutdowns. Here's how to turn off this feature in Windows 10:
Step 1. Press Win and search for the Control Panel. Launch it. Select Power Options.
Step 2. Click " Choose what the power button does".
Step 3. Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable".
Step 4. Uncheck "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" and click "Save changes".
Unexpected shutdowns can result from virus attacks. Use Windows Security (Windows Defender) or a reliable third-party antivirus program to scan your system.
Step 1. Press Win, search for "Windows Security", and open it.
Step 2. Switch to the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab and click on "Scan Options".
Step 3. Choose "Full scan" and click "Scan now". This process may take several hours, so be patient.
The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows utility that scans and repairs corrupted files. It can help prevent unexpected shutdowns. Here's how to use it:
Step 1. Type cmd in the search box and choose "Run as administrator".
Step 2. Type sfc /scannow and press "Enter". It will scan all the corrupted system files and replaces them. Then, restart your computer.
Outdated drivers could be the culprit behind random shutdowns. Regularly updating your drivers in Device Manager may solve the "Windows unexpected shutdown" issue.
Step 1. Press the "Win + X" to open Device Manager, right-click your clicking hard drive and select "Properties" > Switch to the Details tab, choose "Hardware Ids" and click "OK".
Step 2. Copy the first result, paste it into your browser, and search for it. The top search results will show the exact name and manufacturer of your GPU.
Step 3. Visit the GPU manufacturer's website and download the updated driver. Then, install the driver and restart your computer.
Yeah, many reasons for unexpected shutdowns and data loss, whether unsaved or lost, are something you don't want. Well you can do some things for effective prevention:
This article describes 3 effective methods and guide you on how to recover files after unexpected shutdown step by step. The AutoSave feature does a major work in recovering unsaved Word, Excel, PDF, etc., while powerful data recovery software MyRecover can recover lost or missing data after unexpected shutdown. With its Professional edition, you can enjoy more advanced features.
Please be sure the AutoSave feature is activated to reduce data loss. In addition, creating backup copies can do more than just save changes; it can also backup all data at once instead of individual files. You can even set a daily, weekly, or monthly backup schedule.
Q1: How to recover files if computer shuts down?
Start by reopening the application to check for AutoRecover files, especially in Word or Excel. Then look for temporary files or previous versions in Windows. If these methods don’t work, use data recovery software like MyRecover to scan the affected drive and retrieve lost or deleted files caused by the unexpected shutdown.
Q2: How do I recover a file I accidentally closed without saving?
Reopen the application and check the AutoRecover or Document Recovery panel. In programs like Word or Excel, you can also go to "File" > "Info" > "Manage Document" to find unsaved files. Act quickly, as temporary files may be overwritten if the system continues running.
Q3: How to get files from a computer that won't turn on?
Remove the hard drive and connect it to another working computer using a USB adapter or enclosure. Then access the files directly or use data recovery software to scan the drive. Alternatively, if you are worried that removing the hard drive may cause unnecessary damage, creating a bootable drive with MyRcover can help you recover all the data you need from unbootable computer.
Q4: How to find files that were not saved when Windows shutdown?
Open the relevant application and check for AutoRecover files. You can also navigate to the AutoRecover file location or use the "Recover Unsaved Documents" feature. Temporary files stored in system folders may also contain unsaved data if they haven’t been overwritten yet.
Q5: How to access files without booting Windows?
Connect the disk to another computer externally. This allows you to browse and copy files without starting Windows. However, for non-professional users, it is recommended to create a bootable drive using MyRecover or other reliable tools to regain access to your files, because any physical damage caused during the process of removing and reconnecting the hard drive can be devastating to the data stored on it.