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I inadvertently saved an Excel file as another existing file name. Can I recover the overwritten Excel file?

James McCartney 0 Reputation points
2026-01-17T01:01:00.4066667+00:00

I inadvertently saved an Excel file (Inventory - Allegheny Plum.XLSX) as another existing file name. Can I recover the overwritten Excel file : Bostwick Sales.XLSX?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | iOS
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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.7K Reputation points
    2026-01-17T03:03:04.0833333+00:00

    You posted as iOS which is the Apple operating system for their mobile devices [iPhone & iPad]. No offense. it's just that there is a great deal of confusion among users — are you using one of them or are you using a Mac computer [macOS]? Options vary depending on which is involved as well as where the original file was stored.

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  2. Anonymous
    2026-01-17T02:21:18.3666667+00:00

    Dear @James McCartney,

    Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. I’m happy to assist you.

    If you accidentally saved over a file, here are several recovery options you can try:

    Check Version History

    1. Open the file in Excel.
    2. Go to File > Info > Version History.

    User's image

    1. Review the list of previous versions and select one that was saved before the overwrite.
    2. Click Restore to recover that version.

    Recover Unsaved Workbooks

    1. Navigate to File > Info > Manage Workbook > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.

    User's image

    1. Look for any temporary or unsaved files stored in your cloud location.
    2. Select the file and click Open, then save it to a secure location.

    Use Previous Versions (if File History is enabled)

    Right-click the file in File Explorer.

    1. Select Properties > Previous Versions. User's image Check if there is an earlier version available. Click Restore to revert to that version.

    I hope this information is helpful. Since I do not have access to your device environment, there may be cases where my recommended solutions do not fully resolve the issue or other problems appear. If that happens, please update me right away with any new details or results in the Comment. I will do my best to support you and help find a solution as quickly as possible.

    If you found the answer useful, please click "Accepted Answer" and kindly give it an upvote.

    If you have any follow-up questions, feel free to click "Comment" to continue the discussion.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-01-17T01:01:07.7666667+00:00

    Recovering an overwritten Excel file can be challenging, as the original file is typically replaced when you save a file with the same name. However, there are a few methods you can try to recover the overwritten file:

    1. Check for AutoRecover Files: Excel has an AutoRecover feature that may save a backup of your file. You can check the AutoRecover file location by going to File > Options > Save and looking for the AutoRecover file location. If you find a recent version of your file there, you can open it.
    2. Look in the Recycle Bin: If you deleted the original file before saving the new one, it might be in the Recycle Bin. Check there to see if you can restore it.
    3. Use File History or Previous Versions: If you have File History enabled on your Windows system, you can right-click the folder where the file was saved, select Restore previous versions, and see if an earlier version of the file is available.
    4. Third-Party Recovery Software: If none of the above methods work, you might consider using third-party file recovery software, which can sometimes recover lost or overwritten files.

    Keep in mind that the success of recovery depends on various factors, including how much time has passed since the file was overwritten and whether any new data has been written to the disk since then.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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