How To Recover A Deleted Excel File In Windows 10 : Using Previous Versions Feature

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You deleted an Excel file in Windows 10 and the recycle bin is already empty. You might think the file is gone forever, but there are several ways how to recover a deleted excel file in windows 10. This guide walks you through every method, from simple backups to advanced recovery tools.

Accidentally deleting a spreadsheet happens to everyone. Maybe you cleaned up your desktop too fast, or you thought you had a backup. Dont panic. Windows 10 keeps multiple copies of your files in different places, and you can often get your data back.

We will cover five main recovery methods. Each one works in different situations. Start with the easiest and move down the list if needed. The key is to stop using your computer as soon as you notice the file is missing. Writing new data can overwrite the deleted file and make recovery impossible.

How To Recover A Deleted Excel File In Windows 10

Method 1: Check The Recycle Bin Again

You said the recycle bin is empty. But sometimes files hide in plain sight. Open the recycle bin and look at the top right corner. Click “View” and select “Details.” This shows you the original file path and deletion date. If you see your Excel file, right-click it and choose “Restore.”

If the bin is truly empty, dont give up. Windows 10 has a hidden folder called “$Recycle.Bin” on each drive. You can access it by enabling hidden files in File Explorer. Go to the View tab and check “Hidden items.” Then navigate to the root of your C: drive. Look for a folder named “$Recycle.Bin.” Open it and search for your file. This folder stores deleted items even after the bin is emptied, but it gets overwritten over time.

Method 2: Use File History Backup

File History is a built-in Windows 10 feature that automatically backs up your files. If you had it enabled before the deletion, you can recover your Excel file in seconds. Here is how:

  1. Open the folder where your Excel file was stored.
  2. Click the “Home” tab in File Explorer.
  3. Look for the “History” button on the far right. Click it.
  4. A new window opens showing previous versions of the folder.
  5. Use the arrows to scroll back to a date before you deleted the file.
  6. Select your Excel file and click the green “Restore” button.

File History saves copies every hour by default. If you never turned it on, skip to the next method. You can check if it was enabled by going to Settings > Update & Security > Backup. If it says “Automatically back up my files” is on, you are in luck.

Method 3: Recover From Previous Versions

Windows 10 also creates “Previous Versions” of files and folders automatically. This feature works even without File History, as long as System Protection is turned on. Here is the step-by-step:

  1. Navigate to the folder that contained your deleted Excel file.
  2. Right-click the folder and select “Properties.”
  3. Go to the “Previous Versions” tab.
  4. You will see a list of available versions from past dates.
  5. Select a version from before the deletion and click “Open.”
  6. Copy your Excel file from the opened folder to a safe location.

If the Previous Versions tab is empty, System Protection might be disabled. You can enable it for future protection by going to Control Panel > System > System Protection. Select your drive and click “Configure.” Turn on “Turn on system protection.” This creates restore points that also save file versions.

Method 4: Use Excel’s AutoRecover Feature

Microsoft Excel has its own built-in recovery system. Even if you deleted the file from your computer, Excel might have saved a temporary copy. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Excel and go to File > Open.
  2. Click “Recent” on the left sidebar.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and click “Recover Unsaved Workbooks.”
  4. A folder opens showing .xlsb files with names like “AutoRecover save of Workbook1.”
  5. Look for your file by date and time. Double-click to open it.
  6. Save it immediately to a new location.

AutoRecover saves files every 10 minutes by default. You can adjust this interval in Excel Options > Save. The feature works best if you had the file open when it was deleted. If you closed Excel after deleting the file, the AutoRecover copy might still exist in the temporary folder.

You can also check the default AutoRecover location manually. Go to File > Options > Save and look at the “AutoRecover file location” box. Copy that path into File Explorer to browse the folder directly. Look for files ending in .xlsb or .tmp.

Method 5: Use Command Prompt (For Advanced Users)

If the above methods fail, you can try recovering the file using the command line. This method searches for the file in the Master File Table (MFT) of your hard drive. It works best if the file was deleted recently and no new data has been written.

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin).”
  2. Type the following command: chkdsk C: /f (replace C: with your drive letter).
  3. Press Enter. This checks the drive for errors and may recover lost file fragments.
  4. After the scan, type: attrib -h -r -s /s /d C:\*.*
  5. This removes hidden, read-only, and system attributes from all files.
  6. Now search for your Excel file using: dir *.xlsx /s /p
  7. Look through the results for your file name.

This method is not guaranteed. It works better for files that were deleted from the recycle bin but not yet overwritten. If you see your file, copy it to a different drive immediately. Do not save it back to the same drive.

Method 6: Use Third-Party Recovery Software

When all built-in options fail, third-party tools can often recover deleted files. These programs scan the raw sectors of your hard drive and rebuild deleted files. Here are the top free and paid options:

  • Recuva – Free version works well for Excel files. Scan your drive and filter by “Documents” to find .xlsx files.
  • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Paid but has a free trial that recovers up to 2GB. Very user-friendly.
  • Disk Drill – Offers a preview feature so you can see file contents before recovery.
  • PhotoRec – Completely free and open-source. Works on all file types, not just photos.

To use any of these tools, follow this general process:

  1. Download and install the software on a different drive than the one you are recovering from.
  2. Launch the program and select the drive where your Excel file was stored.
  3. Start a deep scan. This can take 30 minutes to several hours.
  4. After the scan, search for your file name or filter by file type (.xlsx or .xls).
  5. Preview the file if possible, then select it and click “Recover.”
  6. Save the recovered file to a different drive to avoid overwriting.

Important: Do not install the recovery software on the same drive where the file was deleted. This can overwrite the very data you are trying to recover. Use a USB drive or a different partition.

Method 7: Check OneDrive Or Cloud Backups

If you use OneDrive, your Excel files might be synced to the cloud. Even if you deleted the local copy, OneDrive keeps deleted files in its recycle bin for 30 days. Here is how to check:

  1. Go to onedrive.live.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.
  2. Click “Recycle bin” in the left sidebar.
  3. Search for your Excel file. If found, select it and click “Restore.”
  4. The file will be restored to its original location on your computer.

OneDrive also has a “Version history” feature. Right-click any file in OneDrive and select “Version history.” You can restore an earlier version of the file, even if it was not deleted but overwritten. This works for up to 25 versions of the same file.

If you use other cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox, check their trash folders too. They usually keep deleted files for 30 days as well. Google Drive keeps them forever in the trash unless you manually empty it.

Prevention Tips For The Future

Recovering a deleted Excel file is stressful. Here are simple habits to avoid this situation again:

  • Enable File History in Windows 10. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup and turn it on.
  • Save your Excel files to OneDrive or another cloud service. This gives you automatic backups.
  • Use Excel’s AutoSave feature. In Excel 365, toggle AutoSave on in the top left corner.
  • Create regular manual backups. Copy important files to an external drive or USB stick.
  • Enable System Protection. This creates restore points that include file versions.
  • Be careful when deleting files. Always double-check before pressing Delete or Shift+Delete.

One more tip: If you use Shift+Delete to permanently delete a file, it skips the recycle bin entirely. In that case, jump straight to the command prompt or third-party software methods. The file is still recoverable if you act fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Recover A Deleted Excel File After Emptying The Recycle Bin?

Yes, you can. The file is not erased from your hard drive immediately. It is marked as deleted and the space is available for new data. Use File History, Previous Versions, or third-party recovery software to get it back. The sooner you act, the better your chances.

How Long Does It Take To Recover A Deleted Excel File?

It depends on the method. Using File History or Previous Versions takes less than 5 minutes. A deep scan with recovery software can take 1-3 hours for a large drive. The command prompt method is fast but less reliable. Start with the quickest options first.

What If I Overwrote The Deleted File With New Data?

Overwriting reduces your chances of recovery significantly. If you saved a new file with the same name or wrote data to the same disk sector, the old file is likely gone. However, you can still try third-party software that scans for file fragments. Some tools can recover partial data.

Does Windows 10 Automatically Backup Excel Files?

Only if you enable File History or System Protection. By default, Windows 10 does not automatically backup your files. You must turn on these features manually. Excel’s AutoRecover is enabled by default but only saves temporary copies while the file is open.

Can I Recover A Deleted Excel File From A USB Drive?

Yes, the same methods apply. File History and Previous Versions work only on internal drives. For USB drives, use third-party recovery software like Recuva or Disk Drill. Do not use the USB drive after deletion to avoid overwriting the file.

What Is The Best Free Software To Recover Deleted Excel Files?

Recuva is the most popular free option. It has a simple interface and recovers Excel files reliably. PhotoRec is also free and works on all file types, but it has no graphical interface. For beginners, Recuva is the best choice. The free version recovers unlimited data.

Final Thoughts

Losing an Excel file feels like a disaster, but Windows 10 gives you multiple chances to get it back. Start with the recycle bin, then move to File History and Previous Versions. If those fail, use Excel’s AutoRecover or command prompt. As a last resort, third-party software can often save the day.

Remember to act quickly and avoid writing new data to your drive. The more you use your computer after deletion, the harder it becomes to recover the file. With the steps in this guide, you now know exactly how to recover a deleted excel file in windows 10. Keep a backup habit going forward, and you will never have to panic again.