[Solved] How to Recover Word Files?

How can I recover a Word document?

Word files are essential to many users, especially writers. The most common reason for file recovery is accidental deletion. It might be a problematic issue to retrieve the deleted Word files. This tutorial might assist you to tackle this issue.

How to recover Word files?

“How to recover deleted Word files?” Please don't be in a panic because the progress of information technology generates many new solutions. Maybe one of the following solutions is right for you. Pay attention to the corresponding precautions for these methods and pick up the most suitable one.

Method 1. Recover deleted Word files from Recycle Bin

If your Word files have been deleted recently, you can check your Recycle Bin directly. If you’re not sure, you can also start with Recycle Bin. Perhaps you can restore your recently deleted files from recycle bin. 

Step 1. Double click on the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop.

Step 2. Select your needed Word files in the Recycle Bin.

Step 3. Right-click on your selected Word files, then click “Restore”.

Method 2. Recover deleted Word files with Windows File History

File History is the main feature in Windows 10, first introduced in Windows 8. It allows you to make backups in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders. You can also scan and retrieve different versions of your files, even if these files are lost, damaged, or deleted.

That means you need to enable the File History to make backups before restoring files from your backup. Thus, this approach includes two parts. 

Part 1. Enable your File History by setting up a drive

Step 1. Click the “Winkey/Start” button to start, and click Control Panel > System and Security > File History, then turn on File History.

Step 2. Click Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive, then choose an external drive you want to use.

Step 3. If you want to, you can choose how often you want to save copies of your files and how long to keep saved versions in Advanced Settings.

Part 2. Restore your files with File History

Step 1. In the Windows search box, enter Control Panel and click System and Security.

Step 2. Click “File History”, then select “Restore your files with File History”.

Step 3. Click “Restore personal files”.

Step 4. Enter the file name in the search box and select your needed one.

Step 5. Click the “Restore” button after restoring your needed files or folders to the original location.

If you want to save the recovered files in a different location, right-click “Restore” and select “Restore to”, then you can choose the location you want to save.

Method 3. Recover deleted Word files using Windows Backup and Restore

Besides the File History, you can also use Windows Backup and Restore to recover deleted Word files.  Please note that Windows Backup and Restore only can backup the C drive. That is to say, if your deleted  Word files are not in the C drive, this solution will not work for you. 

Part 1. Steps to make backups using Windows

Step 1. Click the “Winkey/Start” button to start, then select Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore. Then you can select one of these two instructions to follow.

Step 2. If you have never used Windows Backup before, you can click “Set up Backup” and follow the instructions on-screen.

You can also wait for your backup to occur or create a new backup by selecting “Back up now”.

Part 2. Steps to restore files using Windows backup

Step 1. Click the “Winkey/Start” button to start, then select Control Panel > System and Security.

Step 2. Click “Restore my files” to restore your files to the current location.

If you need, you can also click “Restore all users’ files” to restore the files of all users. 

Method 4. Recover deleted Word files with Windows File Recovery

When it comes to how to recover Word files? Someone proficient in the computer may say Windows File Recovery. That’s true. This software has the feature of recovering deleted files with command lines. 

Please notice that the recovered files or folders should be saved in a new location. You’d better have a look at the basic command format: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

Check your file system with the following clicks: Click "This PC", and right-click on the source drive including your Word files before deletion/loss. Then click "Properties". 

Step 1. Download the Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store and install it on your PC.

Step 2. Input the Windows File Recovery in the search bar, and "Run as administrator".

Step 3. Select a corresponding mode. 

File system	Circumstances	Recommended mode
NTFS	Deleted recently	Default
NTFS	Deleted a while ago	Segment, followed by Signature
NTFS	After formatting a disk	Segment, followed by Signature
NTFS	A corrupted disk	Segment, followed by Signature
FAT and exFAT	Any	Extensive

Step 4. You can resemble your command lines with some common switches below. 

Switches	Definition	Supported mode(s)
/n	Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc.	All
/y:	Recover specific extension groups.	Signature
/k	Recovers system files.	NTFS Segment​​​​​
/u	Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin.	NTFS Segment

For example, if you want to recover documents from C drive to E drive, the command line is winfr C: E: /n \Users\ \ Documents\

Step 5. Input “y” to continue, then wait for the recovery process to be finished. Your recovered files will be saved in the target drive.

Alternative way: Free WinfrGUI

“How can I recover a Word document?”  Maybe free WinfrGUI can help you out. This free software not only has invoked all the functions of Windows File Recovery but also provided a user interface for users. 

With the help of WinfrGUI, you could recover Media files, Office files, and Zip files if there's no data coverage. Nevertheless, it cannot retain the original path, and file name for the deleted files. Please note that WinfrGUI is only compatible with Windows 10 and later versions. You can refer to the following steps. 

Step 1. Download and install WinfrGUI on your computer. Then select a partition to scan and another partition to save the recovered files.

Step 2. Select Quick Scan or Deep Scan. Then go to “Advanced Settings” and select documents.

Step 3. Click “Start Recovery” to start the scanning process. After that, you can find your recovered files saved in a new folder of the destination drive.

Method 5. Recover deleted Word files with MyRecover 

Some users intend to maintain the deleted Word files' original file names because it would be an arduous task to open the Word file one by one and check their content. Moreover, the operating system of WinfrGUI has discouraged some users from using it. 

Therefore, an increasing number of those users are seeking a more powerful and more user-friendly data recovery software.  In this case, the newly released by AOMEI Tech, MyRecover could satisfy all your above needs. Apart from that, there are other highlights below.

Want to enjoy the easy-to-follow operating steps and a higher recovery rate now? Don't hesitate to download it! 

Step 1. Install and launch MyRecover on your PC. Then hover the mouse over the disk/partition including your Word files before deletion, and click Scan.

Step 2. The software will run Quick Scan and Deep Scan automatically. After searching, all the deleted Word files and other lost files will be displayed on the windows.

Step 3. Confirm your scanning results and click "Recover x files". Then save your recovered Word files in a new location. 

Wrapping up

How to recover word files? Five methods are in this post for your reference. Recycle Bin can save your deleted files or folders for a limited period. That means you can retrieve your deleted files within these days. So you can check your Recycle Bin first to avoid continuing unnecessary steps.

If you’ve made a backup in advance using Windows File History or Windows Backup and Restore, then you can restore your deleted files or folders with these two methods. If not, you can consider other convenient solutions.

WinfrGUI performs the same functions as Windows File Recovery, but it cannot save the retrieved Word files with the same file names. To some extent, you might be more inclined to MyRecover. So why not try and verify by yourself?