Microsoft Word is the top choice for Windows users for reports, articles, drafting emails, and so much more. If you’ve ever experienced the pain of accidentally deleting a Word document, you’re not alone. Thankfully, it’s easier than you might think to retrieve a deleted Word document. Most deleted files sit in the Recycle Bin before permanent deletion, and there’s also a handy AutoRecover function in Word that can help.
Read on to discover how to retrieve a deleted file in Microsoft Word and never lose a document again.
How to Recover Deleted File From MS Word: Check the Recycle Bin
Step 1. Once you realize you’ve deleted a Word document, head to the Recycle Bin. It should appear as a trash can-style icon on your desktop, often in the top left corner by default.
Step 2. Double-click the Recycle Bin. This opens up a File Explorer showing the recently deleted files.
Step 3. Find your deleted file. In this instance, the contents of this folder have been sorted by “Date Deleted,” so the deleted Word document should be right at the top. Right-click on the file and choose the option for “Restore.”
Step 4. The file should restore to wherever it was saved before. If you can’t remember where this is, use the search bar from the Windows home screen. Select the Documents tab, and the file and its file path (location) should appear.
How to Recover Deleted File From MS Word: AutoRecover Files
Step 1. This is the option for when you closed a file without saving it. If you do, immediately close Word and reopen it. Or, if you turned your computer off without saving your files first, switch it back on and reopen Word. Click on “Open” on the left-hand side, and you should see an option for “Recover Unsaved Documents.”
Step 2. Click on “Recover Unsaved Documents” to open a File Explorer window showing any documents that were closed without saving.
Step 3. Double-click the file you want to restore. You will see a banner that says, “RECOVERED UNSAVED FILE.” Make sure you click “Save As” at the end of this banner to ensure the document is correctly saved this time.
Step 4. Choose a location to save your file to and press “Save.”
If neither of these options works, you may be able to retrieve a deleted Word document using a third-party piece of software. Recuva, Glarysoft, and Disk Drill are all popular options, but always check user reviews and ratings before installing any third-party apps on your Windows machine.
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Last updated on 06 February, 2026
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