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Where Are Unsaved Microsoft Word Files Stored on Mac?

Emily Harris

Every Mac user has likely encountered the dreaded situation of accidentally closing Microsoft Word before saving a document. Whether caused by a crash, power outage, or simple oversight, losing unsaved work can be frustrating and potentially devastating. Fortunately, Microsoft Word on Mac includes several built-in and automatic recovery systems to help you retrieve your unsaved files. Being aware of where these files are stored and how to access them can be a lifesaver.

Understanding Word’s AutoSave and AutoRecovery Functions

When creating or editing a document using Microsoft Word on macOS, the application utilizes a feature called AutoRecovery. AutoRecovery automatically saves a version of your document at set intervals. This means that even if you haven’t saved a document manually, there’s a good chance you can still recover the latest draft.

This isn’t the same as the AutoSave feature available with Microsoft 365, which continuously saves a document in real-time to OneDrive or SharePoint. AutoRecovery, by contrast, works by temporarily storing versions of the document in a local folder on your Mac.

Where Are Unsaved Microsoft Word Files Stored on Mac?

To find unsaved Word documents on your Mac, it helps to understand the specific folders where these files are stored. Below are the most common locations where you can find AutoRecovered documents:

1. Accessing the AutoRecovery Folder

The most reliable location to check for an unsaved Word file is the AutoRecovery folder. Here’s how to navigate to it:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. In the menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder.
  3. Type the following path and press Enter:
    ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery

This folder contains AutoRecovery files with the “.asd” or “.wbk” extension for Word documents. If Word crashed or was force-closed, you might find your unsaved file here.

2. Checking the Temporary Items Folder

The Temporary Items folder is another place where Word might stash unsaved data. It’s harder to access but may hold crucial information:

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    open $TMPDIR
  3. In the window that opens, navigate to:
    TemporaryItems or TemporaryItems > Word Work File D

If you find something resembling your document, copy it to your desktop and change the extension to “.docx” to try opening it with Word.

3. Searching Recent Folders and Using Document Recovery

After a crash, Word often attempts to recover your recent documents automatically. The next time you open Word, you may see a panel on the left side of the screen labeled “Document Recovery.” This area displays any unsaved files that were saved as AutoRecovery versions but never officially saved by the user.

If that panel doesn’t appear, you can also go to:

4. Looking Inside the Trash

Sometimes files win up in the Trash accidentally. If you think you lost a document, it’s worth opening the Trash and scanning for recently deleted Word files. You can sort the Trash by “Date Modified” to make this easier.

5. Enable and Configure AutoRecovery Settings

To make sure this doesn’t happen again, it’s essential to confirm that AutoRecovery is enabled (it’s turned on by default). Follow these steps in Word:

  1. Go to Word > Preferences.
  2. Select Save.
  3. Check the box next to “Save AutoRecovery info every…” and specify the time interval.

Setting the interval to 5–10 minutes is a good balance between performance and document backup frequency.

What About Files Not Even Named or Saved Once?

If you’ve opened a new document, begun typing, and never even saved it once (not even as “Untitled”), the file may still be recoverable—but it’s less certain. Microsoft Word still attempts to save temporary data into the AutoRecovery folder. Search inside that folder for files that begin with “AutoRecovery save of” and have a recent date/time stamp.

You can try opening these files in Word, even if the filename isn’t familiar. If they appear blank or corrupted, try different viewer tools or open them with TextEdit to extract partial content.

Using Time Machine to Restore Lost Documents

If all else fails and you use Time Machine for backups, you can try restoring lost Word files from a backup point.

This method can help especially if the file was saved even once and then lost due to a system crash or deletion.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Data Loss

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I recover a Word document if I never saved it?
A: Yes, you may be able to recover it using Word’s AutoRecovery feature. Check the AutoRecovery folder for recent files even if they were never formally saved.
Q: What is the AutoRecovery folder path on Mac?
A: It is usually located at:
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery
Q: How often does Word save AutoRecovery data?
A: By default, Word automatically saves AutoRecovery data every 10 minutes. You can adjust this interval in Word’s Preferences > Save settings.
Q: What happens if I close Word without saving?
A: When you reopen Word, it may try to recover your document using the last AutoRecovery version. Check the Document Recovery panel for available files.
Q: Can I use Time Machine to recover Word documents?
A: Yes, as long as Time Machine was enabled before the file was lost. Navigate to the previous folder path and use Time Machine to restore it from backup.

Understanding the mechanisms behind Word’s data recovery on Mac can prevent panic when things go wrong. With the right tools and knowledge, it’s often possible to recover unsaved or lost documents and continue your work seamlessly.

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