How to Restore Deleted Excel Files: Recycle Bin, Undo, AutoRecover, and Recovery Options

Accidentally deleting an important Excel spreadsheet can feel like a disaster, but in many cases you can restore deleted Excel files quickly. The best method depends on how the file was deleted (normal delete vs. permanent delete), where it was stored (local drive vs. cloud sync), and whether Excel saved an AutoRecover copy. This guide walks through the most reliable ways to recover an Excel file on Windows and Mac.

Fast answer: Can I restore deleted Excel files?

Yes. You can often restore deleted Excel files by retrieving them from the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac), using Undo (Ctrl+Z) immediately after deletion, or recovering an unsaved version using Excel AutoRecover. If the file is not in the bin, you may still recover it using Previous Versions, hidden AutoRecover folders, cloud version history, or file recovery tools.

Method 1: Restore from Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac)

If you deleted the file normally, it is usually moved to the system bin.

• Windows: Open Recycle Bin, locate the Excel file, right-click it, then select Restore.
• Mac: Open Trash, find the spreadsheet, right-click (or Control-click), then choose Put Back.

Tip: Sort by date deleted to find the most recently removed files faster.

Method 2: Use Quick Undo (Ctrl+Z) right after deleting

If you deleted the Excel file from File Explorer or Finder moments ago, Undo may bring it back.

• Windows: Click inside the folder you deleted from, then press Ctrl+Z.
• Mac: In Finder, use Command+Z immediately after deletion.

This works best when you have not performed many other actions after the deletion. If you restarted your PC or continued heavy file operations, Undo may no longer be available.

Method 3: Recover using Excel AutoRecover (Unsaved or closed by mistake)

Excel AutoRecover is designed to help you retrieve work after crashes, power loss, or closing without saving. It can also help you find a recent version if the file disappeared unexpectedly.

• Open Excel and go to File > Info.
• Select Manage Workbook (or similar option depending on your Excel version).
• Look for entries under AutoRecover and open the most relevant version.
• Save it immediately with a new name and location.

Where AutoRecover files live: AutoRecover data may be stored in hidden system folders. If you are manually searching, you may need to enable viewing hidden files.

Method 4: Show hidden files to locate AutoRecover or temporary Excel files (Windows)

If you suspect the file exists but you cannot see it, enable hidden items and search again.

• In Windows, search for File Explorer Options and open it.
• Go to the View tab.
• Enable showing hidden files (and apply changes).

After that, search your PC for common Excel-related file patterns like .xlsx, .xls, and sometimes temporary or recovered versions that Excel generates.

Method 5: Restore Previous Versions (Windows) or Version History (cloud storage)

If the file is not in the Recycle Bin, you might still recover an earlier version.

• Windows Previous Versions: Right-click the folder where the file was stored, choose Properties, then look for Previous Versions (availability depends on File History, Restore Points, or backups).
• OneDrive/SharePoint: Use Version History for the file to restore an earlier copy.
• Dropbox and other sync tools: Check Deleted files and Version history. Note that retention windows can vary by plan, and some services may not allow recovery after a set number of days.

Method 6: When the file is not in the bin (permanent delete)

If you used Shift+Delete on Windows, emptied the Recycle Bin/Trash, or deleted from a device that bypasses the bin, recovery is harder but sometimes still possible.

• Stop using the drive to reduce the chance of overwriting recoverable data.
• Check backups (File History, Time Machine, corporate backups, external drives).
• Consider a reputable file recovery tool if no backup exists.

FAQ: Common questions about restoring deleted Excel files

• Why is my deleted Excel file not in the Recycle Bin? It may have been permanently deleted, removed by a sync service, deleted from a location that does not use the bin (some external drives), or the bin may have been emptied.
• Can Excel recover a file I never saved? Often yes, via AutoRecover or the Document Recovery pane, but it depends on whether AutoRecover was enabled and the time interval.
• How can I prevent losing Excel files again? Keep AutoRecover enabled, save to OneDrive or a backed-up location, and use version history where available.

Bottom line: Start with the Recycle Bin/Trash, then try Undo, then move to AutoRecover and version history. If the file is permanently deleted, act quickly and rely on backups or recovery tools to maximize your chances of restoring the Excel spreadsheet.