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Losing a critical document is everyone’s worst nightmare! You may have spent hours or even days preparing a report, but accidentally deleted it and didn’t save the changes. It’s frustrating, especially when you know that the document won’t reappear. However, if you’re a user of Word Mac, you can breathe a sigh of relief. This article will show you how to recover deleted documents on Word Mac.
What’s Needed
To recover your deleted documents on Word Mac, you don’t need to be a genius hacker or invest in software from the dark web. Here are the three things you’ll need to start the recovery process:
– Your Mac computer
– Word for Mac
– A backup file (if you have one)
What requires your focus?
Losing a document can be nerve-wracking, and at that moment, your initial step should be to stay calm and focused. Concentrate on the recovery process, without panicking and making drastic decisions. Attempting to download recovery software immediately can result in the files being overwritten and permanently lost. When you sense that the document is lost, the best course of action is to stop using your computer as soon as possible to prevent the file from being overwritten.
Methods to Recover Deleted Documents on Word Mac
Method 1: Recovering deleted documents from the Recently Deleted Trash folder
Before you completely give up on recovering your document, consider checking the "Recently Deleted" folder in your trash bin. To do this, follow the steps below:
1. Open the trash folder.
2. Look for the "Recently Deleted" folder and open it.
3. Search for the deleted Word document you want to recover.
4. Once found, right-click on the document and select "Put Back."
Pros:
– Quick and easy to perform
– No third-party software needed
Cons:
– Documents can only be retrieved if they have not been cleared from the recycle bin.
Method 2: Recovering earlier versions using Time Machine Backup
Another method to recover deleted documents is to use Time Machine Backup. If you’ve enabled this Mac feature, all your files and folders will be saved on your backup drive. It would be best to follow these steps:
1. Open Finder
2. Select "Applications" > "Time Machine."
3. Using the up and down arrows, navigate to the date and time you want to retrieve the document.
4. Once found, select the file and click "Restore."
Pros:
– The Time Machine saves a record of all files, enabling you to locate and retrieve your documents with ease.
– Quick and easy recovery process.
Cons:
– Need to have previously enabled Time Machine in your Mac
– Backup hardware may fail or require replacement, resulting in permanent data loss.
Method 3: Recovering documents using a data recovery software
If the above methods don’t work, don’t worry; there are still additional methods. You could opt for data recovery software. Various data recovery software is available online that analyze your hard drive and recover all deleted documents, including Word documents. Here are the steps to using Disk Drill:
1. Download Disk Drill software and install.
2. Select "Recover" button next to the hard drive name where the document was saved.
3. Next, Disk Drill will scan the hard drive for lost files for a few seconds or minutes.
4. Once the scanning is complete, select the documents you want to recover by checking the box next to them.
5. Then, click on "Recover" to restore the documents.
Pros:
– Easy to use, requiring minimal technical knowledge.
– It recovers various document types, including Word documents.
Cons:
– Buying the software can be expensive
– It can take longer to scan the entire hard drive.
Why Can’t I Recover my Deleted Word Document?
It’s irritating when a document cannot be retrieved. Here are some common reasons why your Word document may not be recovered and how to fix them.
1. The document has been overwritten
When you overwrite a current file with another file, the previous file is deleted and replaced with the new one. Ensure you have created a backup file or opted for automatic file back up to prevent losing important documents.
2. The document is corrupted
A corrupted document may display an error message when opened or fail to open altogether. This error may occur when there is an unexpected shutdown of the computer, resulting in the file not being saved correctly. Try opening the document on another computer or restoring a previous version using Time Machine.
3. The document has been permanently deleted
Documents that have been permanently deleted cannot be retrieved manually. The preferred recovery method should be using data recovery software.
Implications and Recommendations
Losing a document can be distressing, more so if it’s a critical one. However, there are numerous ways to recover deleted Word documents on Mac. To prevent permanent data loss follow these recommendations:
1. Use Time Machine Backup feature to ensure your files and documents are backed up.
2. Regularly save changes to prevent losing documents accidentally.
3. Before deleting any item, double-check that you no longer need it.
5 FAQs
Q: Is it possible to recover deleted documents on Mac without software?
A: Yes, deleted documents can be retrieved from the Mac trash bin. Follow the steps outlined in Method 1 above.
Q: How long does it take for Disk Drill to recover deleted documents on a Mac?
A: Recover time depends on the size of the document and the hard drive’s speed. Preparing the disk for scanning can take up to 30 seconds.
Q: What is Time Machine Backup?
A: Time Machine is a backup software part of Mac OS. It creates incremental backups of all the data on the Mac.
Q: Can I recover an earlier version of a Word document?
A: Yes, Time Machine Backup allows you to restore earlier versions of Word documents.
Q: Can I prevent future data loss?
A: Yes, you can prevent future data loss by regularly backing up your data and verifying that backups are functioning correctly.
In Conclusion
There you have it, three methods to recover deleted documents on Word Mac. Hopefully, you can reference these methods to retrieve your lost files, reduce stress, and be more aware of data backup precautions to prevent future losses. Remember to always keep your cool and take measures to prevent permanent data loss.