recover duplicate excel files that asked me to be saved for future viewing

When Excel shows the Document Recovery pane and asks whether to “view these files later,” those recovered copies are stored so they can be reopened the next time Excel starts. To get them back:

1. Open Excel.
2. If Excel previously crashed or was closed unexpectedly, the Document Recovery pane should appear automatically on the left.
   • If the pane is narrow, hover over its right edge until the left–right arrow appears, then drag to widen it so all files are visible.
3. In the Document Recovery list, look for the duplicate or auto-recovered versions of the workbook.
   • Check the date and time under each file name to identify the version that was saved “for future viewing.”
   • If there are multiple versions, open each one to compare and decide which to keep.
4. For the version to keep, choose Open (or View) and then Save As to save it as a normal workbook.
5. After saving the needed copies, select Close in the Document Recovery pane.
   • If prompted, choose Yes, I want to view these files later (safest option) if still unsure, or No, remove the files. I have saved the files I need once everything is saved.

If the file was never saved at all before Excel closed, another way to look for unsaved workbooks is:

1. In Excel, go to File > Info.
2. Under Manage Workbook, select Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
3. Select the file and click Open, then use Save As to store it permanently.

To reduce the risk of losing work in the future, ensure AutoRecover is turned on and, if using Microsoft 365 with OneDrive or SharePoint, consider turning on AutoSave.

References:

• Video: Recover Office files
• Recover your Microsoft 365 files
• Save, back up, and recover a file in Microsoft Office
• Recover an earlier version of an Office file
• Privacy supplement for Excel