How to Recover a Word Document Saved and Edited from an Email

Word documents edited within emails can sometimes cause confusion, especially when you need to recover the original or a previous version. Here are detailed steps to assist you in recovering your Word document, from checking email attachments to using recovery software.

Steps to Recover a Word Document

1. Check the Email Attachment

Ensure that you still have access to the original email with the attachment:

Locate the Email: Search for the email in your inbox or use the search function in your email client to find the attachment. Download Again: Download the attachment to verify that you have the original version.

2. Look in the Recent Documents

Open Microsoft Word and check the recently opened documents, as these may have the version you need:

Open Word and go to File > Recent > Recent Documents.

3. Search for AutoRecover Files

Microsoft Word has an autorecover feature that saves versions of your document automatically. Here's how to find them:

Open Word and go to File > Options > Save. Note the path under the "AutoRecover Save Location." Use File Explorer to navigate to this location and look for files with an .asd extension.

4. Check Temporary Files

Temporary files can be found in the Temp folder, and might contain your document:

Press Windows R, type temp, and press Enter. Look for files that start with “~” or have a .tmp extension. These might be your document.

5. Use Document Recovery

When Word crashes or closes unexpectedly, check the recovery pane when reopening Word:

6. Check OneDrive or SharePoint (if applicable)

If you saved the document to OneDrive or SharePoint, log into your account and check for the document in the respective folders. You may also find version history options here:

7. Backup Solutions

Check if your document is backed up using tools like Windows File History or third-party backup solutions:

8. Recovery Software

If none of the above methods work, consider using file recovery software to scan your hard drive for deleted or lost files.

By following these steps, you should be able to recover your Word document successfully.

If You Open an Attachment Directly from an Email Attachment Scenario

If you open a Word document directly from an email attachment, Word saves the new version to the mail store via the mail application's API. Therefore, recovery is simply a matter of opening the email and the attachment again.

If during the editing process, Word crashes or something unexpected happens, follow the same recovery steps as mentioned above. If you do not have the original email with the attachment, you are in a challenging situation since the edited document is typically still attached. This is a complex scenario, and there have been documented efforts to help in such situations.

For those who have lost a document, we understand the frustration and offer our best wishes for a successful recovery!