Retrieving an older version of a file - Microsoft Word

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Retrieving an older version of a file - Microsoft Word

Kyle Merson 0

I have accidentally overwritten a file with an old version. How can I retrieve the older version? (Microsoft Word)

It has not saved to the cloud or any platform like that.
This is very important, my dissertation is due next Friday.

Thanks in advance,

Kyle

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Answer 1

Marcin Policht 106.8K MVP Volunteer Moderator

If you overwrote a Microsoft Word file with an older version and the file was not stored on OneDrive, Google Drive, or another cloud backup service, recovery options depend on how Windows and Word were configured before the overwrite happened.

First, avoid saving or editing the file again. Every new save can reduce the chance of recovering previous data.

Check whether Windows created a previous version automatically. Right-click the file or the folder containing it, select “Properties,” and open the “Previous Versions” tab. If System Restore or File History was enabled earlier, you may see older copies of the file. You can open one to verify it and then restore or copy it elsewhere.

You should also look for AutoRecover copies in Microsoft Word. Open Word, go to “File,” then “Info,” and look for “Manage Document” or “Recover Unsaved Documents.” Sometimes Word keeps temporary versions even after accidental overwrites.

Another option is searching for temporary files on your computer. Open File Explorer and search for files ending in .asd, .wbk, or temporary files beginning with “~”. Word backup files are sometimes stored in locations such as: C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word or C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Temp

If none of these methods work, file recovery software may help. Programs such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, or Disk Drill can sometimes recover earlier file data, especially if the overwritten sectors have not yet been reused. Recovery success is higher if you stop using the drive immediately after noticing the mistake.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Kyle Merson 0 Reputation points

2026-07-05T13:31:40.9833333+00:00

Thank you Marvin. However, I am working on MacBook Air so some of the options you have presented do not appear on my screen. Could you advise possible options for a MacBook?
Marcin Policht 106.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-05T14:57:19.5733333+00:00

It would be helpful if you mentioned this in the original post. On a MacBook Air, recovery options are slightly different from Windows, but there are still several things you can try if a Microsoft Word file was overwritten with an older version.

If you use Time Machine backups, that is the best recovery option. Open the folder where the Word document is stored, then open Time Machine from the menu bar or Applications folder. Use the timeline on the right side of the screen to go back to an earlier date and look for a previous version of the file. You can restore it or copy it to another location.

You can also check whether Word itself stored a recovery version. Open Microsoft Word and go to “File” > “Browse Version History” if the option appears. Even without cloud syncing, Word sometimes keeps temporary recovery information.

Another useful place to check is Word’s AutoRecovery folder. In Finder, select “Go” from the menu bar, then choose “Go to Folder.” Enter:

~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery

Look for files beginning with “AutoRecovery save of”. Copy any promising file to your desktop and try opening it in Word.

You can also search for temporary or backup files. In Finder, use the search function and look for: .wbk .tmp or files beginning with “~$”

If backup creation had been enabled earlier in Word preferences, a .wbk backup file may exist.

If none of these options work, you might need to resort to applications such as Disk Drill or EaseUS Data Recovery for Mac, which can sometimes recover older file data

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin