Easy Steps to Recover Saved Over Word Documents

Can I Retrieve a Word Document I Saved Over?

Microsoft Word documents are digital text files created using Microsoft Word, a widely used word processing program developed by Microsoft. These documents typically have a .doc or .docx file extension and are used for writing, editing, and formatting text-based content such as reports, letters, resumes, essays, and more.

Unfortunately, it's surprisingly easy to accidentally overwrite a document during editing—especially when you're focused or working quickly. When this happens, many users wonder if it's possible to recover a previous version of a Word document after it's been saved over. The good news is, depending on how and where your file was saved, there may still be ways to recover word document previous versionand recover lost content.

Methods to Recover Saved Over Microsoft Word Document

Overwriting a Word document by mistake can feel like a disaster, especially when important information is lost. Fortunately, Microsoft Word and modern operating systems offer several ways to help you recover earlier versions of your document (same methods can also applied to recover previous version of excels). Below are five effective methods you can try, each with clear steps to guide you through the recovery process.

1. Check Word Version History

Microsoft Word often keeps a version history that allows you to revert to earlier edits.

Step 1: Open the file in Word in your browser.

Step 2: Choose "File"->"Version History".

Step 3: Choose Browse through the listed versions.

Step 4: Choose one and double click it to preview. Once the target version is confirmed, click "Restore" to recover the selected version.

2. Use Word AutoRecover Feature

Microsoft Word automatically saves temporary versions of your file at regular intervals. If the program or computer didn't shut down properly, or you saved over by mistake, these backups might still be available.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word. Go to "File >Info".

Step 2: Click "Manage Document" and "Recover Unsaved Documents".

Step 3: If available, select the target .asd file (which is an AutoRecover file automatically created by Microsoft Word to temporarily save your work in case of unexpected shutdowns) from the list and click "Open".

Step 4: Save it immediately as .doc or docx with a new name.

3. Search for Temporary Files

Sometimes, temporary or hidden files can still hold earlier content, especially if Word didn't close properly or the system crashed.

Step 1:Press"Windows + R", type "%temp%", then press Enter.

Step 2: Look through the temporary files for recent ".tmp" or unsaved versions.

Step 3: If you find a file that matches your document's date and time, open it in Word.

Step 4: Save it immediately with a new name.

4. Restore withWindows File History

If your system has file backup enabled, such as "File History", you may be able to restore an older version.

Step 1: Click the overwritten Word file in your Windows File Explorer and select "Properties".

Step 2: Go to the "Previous Versions" tab.

Step 3: Select an earlier version from the list.

Step 4: Click "Restore" or "Open" to recover the saved over word document.

Bonus Tip: How to Recover Deleted Word Documents

The section above focused on how to recover a previous version of a Word document that was saved over. But what if you accidentally deleted the entire file? Don't worry! If you're asking "Can I recover a Word document I accidentally deleted? ", keep reading! This section covers exactly that.

1. Try Windows File Recovery Command

For Windows users, Microsoft offers a built-in command-line tool called "Windows File Recovery", which is designed to help recover deleted files, including Word documents, from internal or external drives.

Step 1: Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.

Step 2: Click the Windows Start menu and search for Windows File Recovery. Right click it and choose "Run as administrator".

Step 3: Use a command like:winfr F: E: /Regular /n translationtask.docx

(This command will perform a quick scan of F: drive for the file named "translationtask.docx" and restore it to E: drive.)

Replace F with the drive where the file was deleted, while E with the destination drive. Change the filename as needed.

Step 4: Let the tool scan and recover deleted files to the selected location.Once it completes, you can hit on "Y" on your keyboard to directly access the recovered word document.

2. Use a More User-Friendly Alternative: MyRecover

While Windows File Recovery is powerful, it requires some technical knowledge and works via command-line. If you're looking for a simpler, more intuitive solution, Free MyRecover is a great alternative. It is a professional yet free Windows data recovery tool that supports recovering deleted or lost Word documents with just a few clicks.

Step 1: Free Download and Install: Go to the official website to download and install MyRecover.

Step 2: Launch the Programand Scan the Drive: Open MyRecover and select the drive or partition where the Word document was lost. Click "Scan" button.

Step 3: Select and Recover: After scanning, select what you needby filter or search box, click "Recover".

Step 4: Save to a Safe Location: Choose another different location to save the recovered Word documents.

Final Thoughts

So, to recover saved over Word document, you can try the Version History, AutoRecover feature, or system backup tools. Try each of the methods above based on how your file was originally saved and edited. If you totally delete a Word document from your local storage, there are also two methods available to help.

The MyRecover software also comes with two higher editions (Professional and Technician), offering more advanced features like previewing files before recovery, making rescue bootable media to recover data from crashed computer, and unlimited data recovery quota.