Complete loss of Excel Workbook

Frank Granziera 0 Reputation points
2026-09-09T23:28:50.0933333+00:00

Good morning.

I had an Excel workbook on the system called 'day share trading'. I used it regularly.

Yesterday I went to use it, and it has completely disappeared, including the short cut. i have looked in the recycle bin etc., followed all the recommended recovery procedures, but it is completely gone from my system.

How can I find it?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows
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  1. Kai-H 26,135 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-10T09:19:13.39+00:00

    Hi, Frank Granziera

    Since both the workbook and its shortcut disappeared, the original file may have been deleted, moved by security software, or removed from local storage. The best remaining options are Windows-level recovery methods.

    Besides the solutions provided by the Q&A Assist, here are some suggestions you can try:

    Check File History. Open Control Panel > System and Security > File History > Restore personal files. Browse to the folder where the workbook was previously stored, select an earlier date, and restore it if available. File History can recover earlier copies only if it was already enabled.

    Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection history. Check whether the workbook was quarantined or removed. If it is listed and you are certain it is safe, select Restore. Protection History normally retains events for two weeks.

    If the workbook was stored locally, minimize use of the computer and try Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store. Save recovered files to a different drive, such as a USB drive. Continued computer use can overwrite deleted data and reduce the chance of recovery.

    If none of these finds the workbook and no backup exists, recovery cannot be guaranteed.

    Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-09T23:29:09.1033333+00:00

    Try this path in order, since the workbook name is known and the Recycle Bin has already been checked:

    1. In Excel, check File > Open > Recent.
      • If day share trading appears there, open it and save it immediately to a known folder.
    2. Search OneDrive on the web.
      • Sign in to the OneDrive website and use Search everything.
      • Search not only for the exact file name, but also partial terms such as day, share, or trading.
      • Then check Recycle bin on the left side of the OneDrive website and restore the file if it appears there.
      • If more than one Microsoft account is used on the PC, check whether the file was saved under another account.
    3. Search local storage on the PC.
      • Use File Explorer to search the computer for Excel files.
      • Check common folders such as Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and any synced OneDrive folders.
      • Also check the PC’s Recycle Bin again in case it was moved rather than deleted.
    4. Check for an unsaved or recovered workbook in Excel.
      • Go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
      • If the workbook is listed, open it and use Save As to save it.
    5. If the workbook opens but appears damaged, use Excel repair.
      • Go to File > Open.
      • Select the workbook if found.
      • Select the arrow next to Open, then choose Open and Repair.
      • Choose Repair first. If that fails, choose Extract Data.
    6. If the workbook was open recently and became corrupted before saving, revert to the last saved version.
      • In Excel, select File > Open.
      • Double-click the workbook name.
      • Select Yes to reopen the last saved version.
    7. Check Excel save and recovery locations.
      • Go to File > Options > Save.
      • Review the AutoRecover file location and the default local save location, then look in those folders.

    If the workbook still cannot be found after these steps, the remaining supported options are limited to any copy in OneDrive, an unsaved AutoRecover copy, or an earlier Office recovery version.

    For future protection, Excel can be set to:

    • Always create backup from File > Save As > Browse > Tools > General Options
    • Save AutoRecover information every from File > Options > Save
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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