File saved as wrong name, can't retrieve correct data

Hi @Metts518c,

According to your concern, since you mistakenly saved the 2025 file as 2026, your old file has already been overwritten, and all the 2026 data should be deleted now. However, there is a chance that you may recover the 2026 data file only if there is an autosaved copy stored in OneDrive or AutoRecover folder.

You can try following these steps:

1/ Check OneDrive version history

• First, make a copy of the current file under a different name in a different folder, distinguish it completely from other files so you don't lose the current state while trying recovery.
• Since you mentioned "somehow one drive was selected as default", using Version History is the most promising recovery option if the file is truly saved into OneDrive. Go to OneDrive and sign in with the same account that used to save the 2026 file at first. Find the 2026 file then right-click > Version history > look for a version before the mistaken save and restore it.
• For further explanation, OneDrive asked you to sign in again means that the OneDrive web session or local sync session wasn't authenticated at that time even the OneDrive folder exists on your device. To access and restore prior versions, you need to sign in back to OneDrive.

2/ Check AutoRecover folder

• Open Excel and go to File > Open > Recover Unsaved Workbook
• Check the folder and look for any file that look relevant to your lost 2026 file
• If you found the correct file, saved it immediately

3/ Check with File Explorer previous version

• In File Explorer, go to the folder where the workbook was stored.
• Right-click the file or the containing folder > choose Restore previous versions.
• Look for a version dated before the accidental overwrite. If found, choose Restore to… a different location to avoid overwriting again.

Please understand that my initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, you can try these steps and let me know if it works for you.  

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.    

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Based on the described behavior, the file was overwritten and there is no local “undo” once it has been saved. The only supported recovery options rely on OneDrive/SharePoint versioning or backups. Use these paths in order:

1. Check Office Version History (if file is in OneDrive/SharePoint)
   In Excel on Windows, if the file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and AutoSave/Version History is available:
   • Open the current 2026 file.
   • At the top of the window, click the filename, then select Version History.
   • In the Version History pane, review the dates/times for a version that matches when the correct 2026 data still existed.
   • Click Open version to open it in a second window.
   • If it is the correct one, click Restore to roll back to that version.
   Version History only exists if the file was stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and versioning was active. New versions are created periodically (about every 10 minutes) during editing, not on every AutoSave write.
2. Check OneDrive Version History in File Explorer (if using OneDrive sync)
   If the OneDrive sync app is installed and the file is in a synced OneDrive folder:
   • In File Explorer, right‑click the Excel file.
   • Select Version history.
   • In the list, choose a version from before the overwrite and select Restore.
     The selected version becomes the current file; the overwritten one becomes a previous version.
3. Check OneDrive online (if signed in)
   If signed in with a Microsoft 365 or OneDrive account and the file is stored there:
   • Sign in to OneDrive in a browser.
   • Locate the workbook and use its Version history (similar to the File Explorer method) to restore a previous version.
   • Also check the OneDrive Recycle Bin in case a prior copy was deleted instead of overwritten.
4. If the file was only ever on the local PC and not versioned
   If the workbook was never in OneDrive/SharePoint with versioning enabled, and there is no previous version in File Explorer, there is no native Microsoft method to recover the overwritten 2026 data. In that case, only third‑party file recovery tools or external backups (system image, third‑party backup software) might help, and recovery is not guaranteed.

Going forward, to protect against this scenario:

• Store important workbooks in OneDrive or SharePoint so AutoSave and Version History are available.
• Use File > Save a Copy before making major changes when reusing last year’s file as a template.

References:

• What is AutoSave?
• Save, back up, and recover a file in Microsoft Office
• Restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive