How to Recover a PPT File Accidentally Written Over

If you've accidentally saved over (or "written over") a PowerPoint presentation that you've been working on, you've got exactly one shot to recover your original file. PowerPoint saves temporary copies of the original PPT file in the form of hidden files in the same directory that your project is stored in. There is a good chance (though it's not guaranteed) that one of these hidden files will be a version of your PowerPoint project as it existed just before it was accidentally written over.

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Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the directory where your written-over PowerPoint file is being stored. Click "Start" and then "Computer". Then use the window that appears to find the exact folder that contains your PPT file.

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Click "Tools."

Click "Folder Options." Select the middle of the three tabs ("View") from the top of "Folder Options."

Click "Display Hidden Files and Folders." Click "Apply." Return to the folder where your PPT file is being stored. You will now be able to see all of the hidden, temporary versions of your project in the directory.

Open the hidden files one by one until you find the one that most closely resembles the original file over which you saved another file. If you're lucky, you may be able to find the exact file as it was before the accidental save. More than likely, you'll find a version that closely resembles the way the file was before you accidentally allowed PowerPoint to write over it.

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4 Methods To Recover Previous Version Of PowerPoint

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Eleanor Reed

Sep 13, 2024 • Filed to: Recover Files • Proven solutions

If you were working on a PowerPoint presentation on your device, and you accidentally deleted or altered the PowerPoint file, or in some cases, the PowerPoint file got damaged or lost, there is no need to panic since all is not yet lost.

When creating your PowerPoint presentation, copies of your PowerPoint files are backed up to enable you to access them in the future. The previous versions of PowerPoint can be restored, and your PowerPoint presentation can be saved. In this article, you will learn different methods of restoring the previous version of PowerPoint . The various methods for recovering previous PowerPoint versions you will learn include using File Explorer, PowerPoint, System Restore, and the Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery software.

  • Part 1. Recover Overwritten Versions Of PowerPoint Presentations Using The File Explorer
  • Part 2. Recover Previous Versions using PowerPoint
  • Part 3. Recover a PowerPoint PPT File with System Restore

Part 4. Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Using Recoverit Data Recovery Software

Part 1. recover overwritten versions of powerpoint files using the file explorer.

To recover overwritten versions of PowerPoint files on your Windows computer using File Explorer, follow these simple steps.

  • Open File Explorer or Windows Explorer depending on your Windows version, and search the location of the overwritten PowerPoint file.
  • Once you’ve selected the location of the overwritten PowerPoint file, click “Start” and select “Computer.” From the pop-up window to appear, select the overwritten PowerPoint file you want to recover.
  • After selecting the overwritten PowerPoint file, click “Tools” and select “Folder Options.” Next, click “View” to find the hidden PowerPoint files and folders.
  • Click “Display Hidden Files and Folders,” and a list of all your hidden files will appear on your computer screen. Next, click on “Apply.” Next, open the folder containing the PowerPoint file, and select the original file.

Part 2. Recover Previous Versions Using PowerPoint

Follow these simple steps to recover previous versions of your PowerPoint presentation files using PowerPoint.

Step 1. Open the current version of the PowerPoint presentation file, and tap on “File” on the top left of your screen.

restore powerpoint previous version

Step 2. From the list of options displayed at the top of your screen, click "Browse Version History" to locate the previous versions of the PowerPoint presentation file. For older versions of PowerPoint, click on ”Restore” to view the previous versions.

Step 3. From the pop-up window to appear on your screen, select the previous version of the PowerPoint file you intend to restore and click “Open” to view the recovered version of the PowerPoint file.

Part 3. Recover A PowerPoint PPT File With System Restore

In a situation where you may have overwritten a saved PowerPoint document and you need it restored, you can quickly regain your overwritten PowerPoint document using System Restore. Follow these simple steps to recover a PowerPoint PPT file with System Restore.

  • To launch System Restore on your computer, click the “Start” menu and navigate to “Programs.”
  • Next, click on “Accessories” and select “System Tools.” Under System Tools, tap on “System Restore” to begin the process.
  • Once “System Restore” is open, you will see a list of your previously saved files. Select the step before your PowerPoint file was overwritten and click “Next.”
  • To restore your overwritten file, click “Finish.”

Once the process is completed, you will be told to restart your computer. Your PowerPoint file should then be restored to the previous state.

Video tutorial: Recover Unsaved/Deleted PowerPoint

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One of the easiest and most reliable tools used to recover unsaved PowerPoint files is the Recoverit Data Recovery Software . The software allows you to recover PowerPoint files that were lost due to crashing, permanent deletion, virus attack, corruption, overwritten, or unsaved operations.

The Recoverit Data Recovery software is available on Mac and Windows computers and is super easy to use and navigate. The process of recovering unsaved PowerPoint with Recoverit is speedy and very effective.

If you could not save your PowerPoint presentation files due to an abrupt power failure or any other reasons, follow these short and simple steps to recover unsaved PowerPoint using Recoverit software.

Step 1. Launch Recoverit Software

To launch Recoverit on your Windows computer after downloading the software, look for the “Wondershare Recoverit” icon on the desktop and tap on the icon to open. You can alternatively type “Recoverit” on your computer’s search box and double-click the file to open.

If you are using a Mac computer, you can also search for the ”Wondershare Recoverit” icon on your desktop and double-click to open it, or go to “Finder” and select “Applications.” Next, double-click the Recoverit file to open.

computer data recovery

Step 2. Scan The Location of The PowerPoint

Once you’ve launched the Recoverit application, choose the unsaved PowerPoint presentation file's location and click “Start” to begin the scanning process. The process will take just a few minutes to complete.

computer scan

Step 3. Preview And Recover The PowerPoint file

Once the scan is completed, you will find a list of retrievable files, including the PowerPoint presentation file. Preview these files and select those you want to restore. Next, choose a path to save the PowerPoint file and click “Recover” to restore the unsaved PowerPoint file .

ppt preview

The Bottom Line

When creating a PowerPoint presentation file on your computer, many things could go wrong. For example, you can accidentally delete your PowerPoint file, overwrite the PowerPoint file, a virus attack on your computer system, a power outage that leaves your PowerPoint presentation unsaved, etc.

If you experience any of these, there is no need to worry since your PowerPoint presentation file is still retrievable. All you need to do is download Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery software for Mac and Windows devices, follow the three simple steps, and your PowerPoint file will be restored. It is easy, fast, and reliable. You can try it out for free today.

People also ask

Why is there no previous version?

How do I recover an overwritten PowerPoint file?

How can I recover a file I accidentally saved over?

When you accidentally save over a PowerPoint file containing essential data, and you need to retrieve the lost data, you can restore the saved-over PowerPoint file by finding the backed up PowerPoint document from “ Temporary Files ” with these simple steps.

Step 1. Click “Start” and type “CMD” in the search box.

Step 2. Right-click on “CMD” and select “Run as Administrator.” Next, enter Input %Temp%.

Step 3. Locate the old PowerPoint file and copy it to a new location. Next, change the file extension to PPT or PPTX to recover your saved-over PowerPoint file. Once you open the PowerPoint file, you will get the option to restore the file from the last saving.

How do I recover an overwritten PowerPoint in Windows 10?

If you accidentally overwrite a PowerPoint file in Windows 10 and you need to restore the previous version, follow these simple steps.

Step 1. From the File/Folder menu, select “Restore Previous Version.”

Step 2. Click the “Previous Versions” From the previous versions of files listed, select the date when the original file was created.

Step 3. Click the “Restore” button to restore the overwritten PowerPoint file.

Step 4. You will then see a message reading, “The file has been successfully restored to the previous version.” Click ”OK,” and open your recovered file.

Can you recover deleted PowerPoint slides?

There are many ways to recover accidentally deleted PowerPoint slides. You can restore the PowerPoint slides from the recycle bin when the slides have not yet been permanently deleted, and you can restore deleted PowerPoint slides from the AutoRecovery folder if you have already enabled the AutoRecovery function. You can also restore deleted PowerPoint slides with One Drive if your computer is already synchronized with a One Drive account.

If all these methods fail to restore your deleted PowerPoint slides, you can always use the Recoverit Data Recovery software, which is foolproof, fast, and reliable.

What is a PCB file in PowerPoint?

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Requirements, how to see older versions of your powerpoint presentations.

Microsoft PowerPoint lets you view and switch to older versions of your presentations. If you accidentally deleted something important and it got overwritten in PowerPoint, here's how to restore it.

Before you get started, make sure that you have a Microsoft 365 subscription. The ability to view and restore previous versions of PowerPoint presentations can be accessed only through a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Fortunately, this subscription also gives you access to all other Office apps, along with 1TB of OneDrive storage. You can put the cloud storage to good use by automatically saving your presentations to OneDrive.

Also, enabling auto-save on PowerPoint is required for accessing version history. To do so, you'll need to create a new PowerPoint presentation and then turn the "AutoSave" switch on in the document's title bar. When PowerPoint shows you a confirmation pop-up, select "OneDrive."

Related: How to Automatically Save PowerPoint Presentations to OneDrive

Now that you've sorted out the basics, open PowerPoint and load any PowerPoint presentation. There are two ways to check version history here, and we'll show you both.

First, click "File" in the menu bar.

Click File

In the left pane, click "Info."

Click Info

Click "Version History" on the right.

Click Version History

Alternately, you can click the file name at the top of the document that you've opened and select "Version History" from the pop-up menu.

Click Version History

No matter which method you choose, a new pane labeled "Version History" will open up on the right-hand side of your presentation in PowerPoint.

Microsoft PowerPoint sorts older versions of the document by date and time here. To load a previous version of the presentation, click the "Open version" button below the version that you need to go back to.

Click Open version

This will open a read-only file that shows an older version of your PowerPoint presentation. Right below the ribbon menu, you'll see a button labeled "Restore." Click it to go back to the previous version.

Click Restore

Note that this will overwrite your PowerPoint presentation. You can always repeat the same steps to visit the modified version of your document in case you want to copy any additional changes to the older version.

If you use Microsoft 365 apps frequently, you might also be interested in knowing how to restore previous versions of Excel workbooks or Word documents .

Related: How to View and Restore Previous Versions of a Word Document

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[Solved] How to Recover Overwritten PowerPoint File in Windows 10, 11?

How to recover overwritten PowerPoint file in Windows 10/11? Get efficient solutions to recover previous version of PPT files or recover unsaved/lost PPT files on this page.

Penny

By Penny / Updated on April 3, 2024

Solution 1. Recover Previous Version of PPT files directly

Solution 2. recover previous version of ppt files via online version history, relevant q&a for powerpoint document recovery, can you recover an overwritten powerpoint file.

I have Windows 10 and Office 365. But I have accidentally overwritten a PowerPoint presentation. I need the old saved version back. How can I do this?

- A user from Microsoft

How to recover overwritten PowerPoint file in Windows 10, and 11? If you’re seeking remedies to recover old PowerPoint files , this post is right for you. Please scroll down.

How to recover overwritten PPT file in Windows 10/11?

How to recover overwritten PowerPoint file in Windows 10 and above? Here, we’d like to introduce two feasible methods to you.

As the title suggests, it’s possible for you to recover overwritten PowerPoint files by restoring the previous version of PPT files.

As long as you’ve activated File History or System Protection of the disk that includes your needed PowerPoint presentations, you can select the old PowerPoint version from all the listed PPT files according to the time and importance.

These steps also apply to recovering overwritten Excel files . Let’s show how it works.

Step 1. Press the “ Win + E ” buttons to open Windows File Explorer.

Step 2. Locate the folder that includes your PowerPoint files. Then right-click on it and click Properties > Previous Version to show all the PPT files versions.

Step 3. “ Restore ” your selected PowerPoint file version to the original location. If you need, right-click on Restore > Restore to another saved path as you like.

How to recover overwritten PPT file in Windows 10, and 11? If you’ve saved the PPT files in OneDrive or a SharePoint Online library, it’s also likely to recover the previous version of PPT files .

Step 1. Open PPT files, then click File > Info .

Step 2. Click “ Version History ” on the right.

Step 3. Click “ Open version ” beneath the PowerPoint presentation version you want to restore.

Step 4. Click “ Restore ” to retrieve your earlier and ready-only PPT files version.

Further reading: How to recover PowerPoint files in Windows?

Since you’ve learned how to recover overwritten PowerPoint files in Windows 10, and 11, let’s read on how to recover deleted/lost PowerPoint files because accidental/intentional deletion is the most common factor among data loss reasons.

Generally general, if you haven’t emptied your Recycle Bin or pressed “ Shift + Delete ” to remove items, you can still recover documents from the Recycle Bin. Otherwise, it’s necessary for you to restore files from backups or seek help from third-party tools.

In this case, we’d show how to recover PowerPoint files via data recovery software like MyRecover .

Let’s have a closer look at its functions.

Why not testify it by downloading this software on your PC now?

Step 1. After running it on your PC, hover the mouse over the partition that contains your needed PPT files. Then click  Scan.

Step 2. Quick Scan and Deep Scan will scan your selected partition automatically. You can also search during scanning.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted files/Other missing files folder, then click “ Recover x files ” to restore your selected PowerPoint files. Please save the retrieved PPT files in a new location.

The above content describes how to recover overwritten PowerPoint file in Windows 10, and 11 and how to recover PowerPoint files respectively. Please select a targeted method to follow. At the same time, there’re other relevant PowerPoint document recovery tips.

Are you wondering how to recover unsaved presentations in Windows? If you’ve enabled the AutoRecover feature, you can recover unsaved PowerPoint files from the default or customized saving backups. If not, open PPT > come to the Welcome page > Recover unsaved presentations. Then select the PowerPoint files version under the Document Recovery section. You can also try to recover files from the temp folder. Press the “Win + E” buttons to open Windows File Explorer. Then go to the following path: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint. In this path, locate the PowerPoint file you want > copy it to a new location > change its extension to ppt/pptx > check if you can open it > save it to another saved path.

If you aim to recover permanently deleted PowerPoint files , as mentioned above, there’s no better way than using a data recovery tool like MyRecover because tools can offer you the maximum potential and minimize restrictions.

Enable AutoSave and AutoRecover in your Microsoft PowerPoint files. Open your PPT files, then click File > Options > Advanced > Save. Then tick Always create a backup copy > Save. Please note that if you modify your PPT files, the copy backup will also automatically save the changes. Use Windows features such as Backup and Restore, Previous Version to make a file or folder backup. Consider using free backup software like AOMEI Backupper to make a file, folder, partition, disk, or system backup.

Penny

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how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

How to Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint File

After hours of piecing together the perfect presentation, disaster happens the next morning as you go present it: It’s gone. No matter how frantically you search File Explorer, your precious PowePoint presentation is gone. Microsoft, though, has your back. As long as you haven’t disabled autorecovery, the file should still be on your machine -- or in the cloud, if you’re an Office365 user. It’s not foolproof, but you can often recover these accidentally deleted files.

Next time, however, you might want to save a redundant copy to the cloud, just in case.

1. Open a blank Microsoft PowerPoint document and click the File tab .

file

2. Click the Options link at the bottom.

options

3. Choose the Save option from the left .

save

4.Once you find the section with a path showing where your autosaved documents go, select and copy it . In my case, it’s here: C:\Users\Bryan\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint\

path

5. Open File Explorer and paste in the copied file path . Hit enter .

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paste

6. Here, we’ll see the last save of the document I was working on, which starts with the name “MYPRESENTATION.” Click it to open the file .

open

7. Right click the Microsoft PowerPoint file, and select Open with .

right clic

8. Choose PowerPoint, and click Ok .

open powerpoint

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How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

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It’s not uncommon to lose hours of work in PowerPoint because of an unexpected system crash, shutdown, or power failure. Microsoft knows that, which is why the program comes with AutoRecover. It’s a feature that helps you retrieve unsaved PowerPoint presentations.

This tutorial will teach you how to use Microsoft PowerPoint’s AutoRecover feature in Windows and macOS, including other tips to recover lost or deleted PowerPoint presentations.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 1

Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations on Windows

Whenever you work on a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 10 and 11, the program’s built-in AutoRecover functionality makes periodic backups to a temporary file once every 10 minutes.

If you forgot to save a Microsoft PowerPoint document because of an unexpected issue, you can get it back. There’s no guarantee it may contain the most recent changes, though.

By default, AutoRecover opens the unsaved presentation when you relaunch PowerPoint after a system or application crash. If you see a Recovered Unsaved File banner, select the Save button inside to save it permanently.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 2

In Microsoft Office 2021 and earlier versions of PowerPoint, a Document Recovery pane should show up to the left of the PowerPoint window, letting you pick the file you want to recover.

If that does not happen, you can view the AutoRecover folder with the following steps:

  • Open PowerPoint and select Open on the Start Screen.
  • Select the Recover Unsaved Presentations button.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 3

  • On the File Explorer pop-up, open the folder related to the PPT file you want to restore.
  • Select the file and choose Open .

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 4

  • Review the presentation and save it to your PC’s hard drive.

If the Recover Unsaved Presentations option is not visible or PowerPoint repeatedly crashes before you can do anything, visit the program’s AutoRecover file location and retrieve the presentation via File Explorer.

  • Open File Explorer.
  • Copy and paste the following into the address bar, replacing <username> with your Windows user name. Then, press Enter :

C:Users <username> AppDataRoaming Microsoft PowerPoint

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 5

  • Copy the unsaved PPT file you want to recover to another directory, then double-click to open it in PowerPoint.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 6

To increase the frequency with which AutoRecover backs up your PowerPoint presentations and improve the chances of retrieving the most recent unsaved changes, you must:

  • Select the File tab and choose Options (or More > Options ).

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 7

  • Select the Save category on the PowerPoint Options sidebar.
  • Modify the box next to Save AutoRecover information every x minutes .

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 8

For example, enter a value of 1 if you want the PowerPoint recovery tool to back up unsaved changes every minute.

Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Files on macOS

Like on Windows, AutoRecover is available on Microsoft PowerPoint for macOS. If you’re working on a PowerPoint presentation on a Mac and experience a sudden crash or shutdown, you should be able to use it to recover the unsaved changes and prevent data loss.

Just re-open PowerPoint. AutoRecover should automatically re-open the presentation you were last working on, allowing you to save the changes permanently.

Suppose that doesn’t happen. Just:

  • Open the Home button and choose Open .
  • Select Recover Unsaved Presentations .
  • Double-click the PPTX file you want to recover.

If the Recover Unsaved Presentations button is not visible, manually visit PowerPoint’s AutoRecover temp folder and retrieve the presentation via Finder.

  • Open Finder and select Go > Go to Folder on the menu bar.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 9

  • Copy the following path and press Return :

~/Library/Containers/com. Microsoft.Powerpoint /Data/Library/Preferences/ AutoRecovery

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 10

  • Copy the file you want to recover to a different location.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 11

Manually recovered AutoRecover backups for the Mac do not have a specified file type, so you must go through the following steps to view them in PowerPoint.

  • Right-click the auto-recovered PPTX file and select Open with > Other .

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 12

  • Select All Applications on the drop-down menu next to Enable .
  • Select Microsoft PowerPoint within the list of applications and choose Open .

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 13

By default, AutoRecover saves your presentations every 10 minutes. If you want to increase the chances of recovering the most recent changes:

  • Open PowerPoint and select PowerPoint > Preferences on the menu bar.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 14

  • Select Save .

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 15

  • Modify the box next to Save AutoRecover information every x minutes and enter a new value—e.g., 1 to make AutoRecover back up your presentation every minute.

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations image 16

Other Methods to Recover PowerPoint Files:

Unsaved PowerPoint presentations aside, you might have to deal with misplaced or deleted PowerPoint files every now and then. When that happens, here are several ways you can try to get them back.

Check PowerPoint’s Recents List

If you can’t remember the location of a PPTX file, just check PowerPoint’s Recent list on the Start Screen. If the presentation is listed there, select to open it.

Use Windows Search or Spotlight

Your PC or Mac keeps an index of whatever’s in its internal storage. If you can remember the file name of a lost presentation (or even part of it), try searching for it through Windows Search or Spotlight Search.

Check the Recycle Bin or Trash

Windows and macOS store deleted items for 30 days, so check the Recycle Bin or Trash if you can’t find a presentation. If the PPTX file is inside, you can restore it to its original location.

Use File History or Time Machine

You should be able to recover a lost PowerPoint file if your PC or Mac is set to back up to an external hard drive. Learn how to retrieve deleted files or previous versions using File History or Time Machine.

Use a File Recovery Tool

If all else fails, use data recovery software to retrieve deleted PowerPoint files. Check our list of top file recovery programs for the PC and Mac .

Don’t Forget to Save or AutoSave Your Presentations

Losing an unsaved PowerPoint presentation can be a frustrating experience, but with AutoRecover, you can recover your work and stop having to start over from scratch.

Regardless, it’s best not to leave things to chance, so remember to always save your work frequently. If you prefer storing your presentations on OneDrive, use the AutoSave feature in Microsoft Office to avoid lost data.

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Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn't hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube. Read Dilum's Full Bio

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How to Recover Deleted/Unsaved PowerPoint Files (Multiple Methods for Windows)

No robots used , our articles are crafted by humans under strict Editorial Guidelines .

In that situation, you can use the methods below to recover the PowerPoint file and save yourself a lot of time.

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Unsaved PowerPoint files

Deleted PowerPoint files

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint File

Forgetting to click the save button when creating a PowerPoint presentation is a fairly common problem, which is why Microsoft made it possible to recover unsaved presentations directly from PowerPoint.

Method #1: Click Recover Unsaved Presentations

As soon as you create a presentation, PowerPoint saves it in a special folder, called UnsavedFiles. The presentation is stored in this folder until you click the Save button and provide your own directory. Here’s how you can recover unsaved PowerPoint presentations that are still located in the UnsavedFiles folder:

  • Launch PowerPoint.
  • Open the File menu and click Open.

powerpoint recover unsaved presentations

  • Open your presentation and save it someplace safe.

If the UnsavedFiles folder is empty, then you need to try the other methods described in this article.

Method #2: Use the AutoRecover Feature

Located inside the Save section of PowerPoint Options is the AutoRecover feature. When enabled, this feature stores information about opened PowerPoint files every X minutes, and when PowerPoint is closed without saving.

powerpoint autorecover feature

The recovery files created by the AutoRecover feature can be found in the following location (USERNAME = your username):

You can recover them from this location by copying the path and pasting it in the File Explorer address bar.

how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

Then, simply move the PPT or PPTX file to a safe location.

Method #3: Check the Temp Folder

Windows allows any application to store temporary inside the following folder:

You can quickly open this folder by pressing Windows key + R on your keyboard and typing %temp% in the Run prompt.

run dialog

Since the Temp folder tends to be rather messy, we don’t recommend you go through it manually. Instead, enter the following search queries in the search box located in the top-right corner of File Explorer:

If these search queries fail to yield any results, then it’s possible that your PowerPoint files are deleted. The good news is that there are several ways to recover deleted PPT files, and we explore them in the next section of this article.

How to Recover Deleted PowerPoint File

The three methods we’ve described so far can help you recover a presentation that was closed without saving, but what about presentations that were saved, only to be deleted? Well, that’s where the following three methods come in.

Method #1: Look Inside the Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin should be the first place you look for lost PowerPoint files:

  • Press Windows key + R to open the Run prompt.
  • Enter: explorer.exe shell:RecycleBinFolder

run dialog in windows

  • Find your PowerPoint file.

ppt file reecycle bin restore annotated

No luck finding your PowerPoint document inside the Recycle Bin? Then it’s most likely permanently deleted .

Method #2: Retrieve Your File from a Backup

It would be beyond the scope of this article to describe all popular backup applications available to Windows users, so we decided to narrow them down to just three:

  • Local backup:
  • OneDrive backup:
  • File History:
  • Connect your backup drive to your computer.
  • Open it using File Explorer.
  • Find your PPT presentation.
  • Copy it to your computer.
  • Open a web browser.
  • Visit:  https://onedrive.live.com/
  • Log in with your username and password.
  • Download it to your computer.
  • Open the Start menu.
  • Type “file history.”
  • Select Restore your files with File History.
  • Navigate to where your PPT file was located and restore it.

Don’t have a backup of your lost PowerPoint file? Don’t despair! There’s still one method that you can try, and it works even if you don’t back up your files.

Method #3: Use Data Recovery Software

Data recovery software can undelete even permanently deleted files, as long as they haven’t been overwritten by new data. Such software applications are available from many different vendors, some of which are targeting enterprise customers, while others are focusing on individual home users.

To recover a PowerPoint presentation with Disk Drill :

windows disk drill installation

  • Add the lost PPT/PPTX file to the recovery queue by clicking the checkbox next to it.

disk drill ppt file recovery

Tips to Avoid Losing PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) Files

Creating PowerPoint presentations is hardly ever fun, but having to recreate a lost presentation from scratch can be a torturous ordeal. Here’s what you can do to avoid losing your PowerPoint files:

  • 💾 Enable AutoSave : If you’re using the latest version of PowerPoint (2016 or 2019) and have a Microsoft 365 subscription, then you can enable the AutoSave feature to save your files automatically, every few seconds, as you work. All you need to do is sign in with your Microsoft account and click the AutoSave button in the top-left corner. Unfortunately, the AutoSave feature is not present in PowerPoint 2003/2007/2010/2013.
  • 💻 Back up your presentations : It’s never a good idea to keep just a single copy of an important presentation. Instead, consider using the 3-2-1 backup strategy , which states that you should always have three copies of your data, stored on two different media, with one copy off-site.
  • ⚡ Buy a UPS : An uninterrupted power supply, or UPS for short, is essentially a battery that sits between your computer and the wall outlet the computer draws power from. In case of a power outage, the UPS quickly turns on to power your computer, allowing you to save your work.
  • 💀 Avoid pirated versions of PowerPoint : Obviously, you should never use a pirated version of any software, but it’s especially dangerous to use a pirated version of PowerPoint and other Office applications because you never know if it hasn’t been tampered with and infected with malware.
  • 🔧 Maintain your system : Unless your operating system is rock-solid, there will always be a chance of PowerPoint crashing at the worst possible moment. That’s why you should avoid installing dubious software applications from the internet. Instead, try to keep your system as clean as possible by following basic system maintenance tips .

How to recover deleted PowerPoint files?

Follow these simple steps to recover deleted PowerPoint presentations:

  • Download, install & run Disk Drill on your PC.
  • Select the disk containing the deleted PowerPoint files.
  • Start the scan & wait for it to finish.
  • Select the PPT files you want to recover & click “Recover”.
  • Choose a safe recovery destination & hit “Confirm”.

How to recover a PowerPoint file after a crash?

To recover a PowerPoint file after a crash, open PowerPoint on your computer, click the File menu > Open > Recover Unsaved Presentations.

Can you recover deleted slides from PowerPoint?

No, even the latest version of PowerPoint doesn’t make it possible to recover deleted slides. The best you can do is restore an older version of the PowerPoint file, which can be easily done using OneDrive.

How to recover a corrupted PowerPoint file?

PowerPoint has a built-in file repair option, and you can access it by opening the File menu and selecting > Open > Browse > Open and Repair (accessible after clicking the small arrow next to the Open button).

How to recover a PowerPoint file that was saved over?

Unfortunately, you can’t recover a PowerPoint file that was saved over unless you have a backup safely stored somewhere on your computer or in the cloud.

In this article, we’ve described multiple methods that you can use to recover deleted and unsaved PowerPoint files, so all you need to do is pick the one that best fits your situation by consulting the Quick Navigation section at the start of this article.

This article was written by David Morelo , a Staff Writer at Handy Recovery Advisor. It was also verified for technical accuracy by Andrey Vasilyev , our editorial advisor.

Curious about our content creation process? Take a look at our Editor Guidelines .

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Have you lost your PPT file due to a system crash or deletion and aren’t sure how to retrieve it? Don’t worry, this is the place for you. Data loss scenarios are quite common, and several methods are available to help recover your PPT file back. Follow our instructions for quick and easy methods to restore your deleted files.

What is the PowerPoint File Type (PPT, PPTX)

PPT stands for the Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation binary format, and it is the main file extension that saves PowerPoint presentations. The software is widely used to design presentations for educational and business purposes. All slides, videos, texts, images, etc., are stored within the PPT file.

What is the PowerPoint File Type

Introduced in 1987 with the release of PowerPoint, the PPT extension used to be the primary file type to save your presentations for versions 2003 and older.

How to Recover Deleted PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) Files

There are many possible fixes to assist you in restoring your lost PPTX files. Go through the table below for an overview of available recovery methods:

Unsaved PPT Files Use the
Go to
Check the
Deleted PPT Files Restore from the

Use
PowerPoint crashed Restore from a
Use the
Go to
Check the
Accidentally closed PowerPoint without saving file Use the
Go to
Operating System Malfunction Recover files with
Recover using
Device corruption/formatting Recover files with
Recover using
Restore from a
Virus attack Recover files with
Restore from a

While these solutions can be convenient, it is also important to keep certain practices in mind while working on your PPTX file. A few tips and tricks that can be helpful in data-loss situations are:

  • 💾 Keep more than one backup of your PPTX file. In case of an unexpected file loss, having backups would ensure a smooth recovery process.
  • ❌ If your device crashes or you want to retrieve your file, avoid writing new data to that drive. It can lead to complications while restoring the desired file.
  • ⏩ Start the data recovery process as soon as you can. The longer you wait to attempt getting the file back, the restoration chances would become more uncertain.
  • 💯 Try the most sure-shot method of file recovery first. It would increase the possibility of successful recovery and might prevent permanent file damage.

Being mindful of these pointers can help avoid severe data loss and make the recovery process quite efficient.

How to Recover PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) Files with Software

Although various data recovery methods are available to help you restore your PPTX files, third-party software is perhaps the most effective. Instead of relying on temporary folders, these solutions can permanently retrieve your files. While it may seem challenging at first, most file recovery software like Disk Drill is relatively user-friendly.

Steps to recover your PPT, PPTX files with Disk Drill:

Install Disk Drill on your Windows device

  • While it is faster than most recovery software, Disk Drill will take some time to scan your device for lost data. You can choose your recovery method — Quick Scan or Deep Scan . ⏯️ You can also pause and resume scans halfway to glance through the files found.

selecting files for recovery in Disk Drill

Recover PPT, PPTX Files from Windows Recycle Bin and Mac Trash

If you wish to retrieve your deleted PPT, PPTX files, there’s a simple solution to help you get them back. You can use the Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash to restore your files to their original location.

Both these folders in your system temporarily store your deleted files. This makes it easy to recover your data without much effort.

Recovering PPT, PPTX files from the Windows Recycle Bin

recycle bin on desktop

  • Once you’ve opened the folder, find and select the PPT or PPTX file you wish to recover.

file restoration from the recycle bin

Recovering PPT, PPTX files from Mac Trash

accessing the trash folder on mac

Restore from a Recent Files Folder

While the Windows Recycle Bin and the Mac Trash folders offer effortless data recovery, they can only recover deleted files — whether accidental or voluntary. However, you don’t necessarily need to download software to retrieve your data. There are other solutions within your system that can help you restore your lost PPT, PPTX files.

Let’s go through both the options one by one:

Recovering Files Using Windows File History

accessing file history on windows

  • Make sure you have turned on the File History option. If not, select an internal or external drive to which you want to backup your information, and turn it on.

recovering files using windows history

  • Go through available backups and locate the PPT or PPTX file you want to recover.

pressing the recover button in file history

Recovering Files Using Mac Time Machine

spotlight searching for time machine

  • Navigate through the folders to locate your PPT or PPTX file from available backups.

restoring files through time machine

Having backups of your data is a valuable practice that always comes in handy in the long run. The techniques mentioned above can assist you with the convenient recovery of your PPT, PPTX files only if you’ve saved them. It may seem like a limitation in comparison with the data recovery efficiency of software. However, there is a bonus feature on PowerPoint that can help recover your lost files.

Recover PPT, PPTX Files using Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is Microsoft’s command-line recovery utility and is available for free download from the Microsoft Store. Since it doesn’t have a graphical user interface, users must enter the corresponding command prompt to recover lost files. This utility supports various file systems and types and is a helpful tool for data recovery. 

Here’s how you can recover PPT, PPTX files with Windows File Recovery:

  • Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store and Install it on your PC.
  • Launch Windows File Recovery and click the Run as administrator option.
  • Once the Command Prompt window opens, enter the command in the following format: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
  • You need to specify a mode in the format mentioned above, according to what’s suitable for your file system. You can use two basic modes to recover files – Regular and Extensive .
  • You can also mention any specific file extensions according to the files you wish to retrieve. For instance, enter a similar command to retrieve PPT, PPTX files: winfr C: E: /extensive /n *.ppt /n *.pptx
  • Note that the source and destination drives must be different. After you’ve entered, Microsoft automatically creates a recovery folder on the destination drive.

recover PPT, PPTX files with Windows File Recovery

Recover PPT, PPTX Files from your Temporary Files Folder

Another method that you can use to retrieve your unsaved PPT, PPTX files is through the temporary files folder. Windows has this temporary folder dedicated to saving files from various applications. Here’s the path to the temporary files folder: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Temp

There are other ways to access this folder as well. Follow these steps to recover your lost or unsaved PPT, PPTX files from the temporary files folder:

open temp folder

  • Once you run the command, the folder window will open in File Explorer. To narrow down your search options, you can filter through the results by using the following extensions – *.pptx, *.ppt, ppt*.tmp . 

find your presentation

Recover PPT, PPTX File from a Local Backup

An easier way to retrieve your PPT, PPTX files is to look for them in a local backup. However, turning to this method will only be feasible if you’ve created backups of your files either on hard drives, or on the cloud. In this article, we shall look at the steps to recover PPT, PPTX files from a local backup:

  • Connect your backup drive to your computer.
  • Open it using File Explorer.
  • Look through the data to find your PPT presentation.
  • Copy it to your computer and access the backed up version. 

Recovering PPT, PPTX Files with PowerPoint Features

Did your presentation disappear? PowerPoint provides features that can help recover your unsaved or deleted files. All versions from 2010 and onwards have the Auto Recovery feature and the Recover Unsaved Presentations option. The former saves the file you’re working on at regular time intervals. Both features help the user ensure they have a place from which they can retrieve their lost files.

Auto-Recovery

If you haven’t saved the PPT or PPTX file you’re working on; PowerPoint creates a temporary folder to save these files. You can navigate to the Auto-Recover File Location and look for your file there. However, to enable this feature, you must ensure that the AutoRecover information option is turned on.

enabling auto recovery on powerpoint

Recover Unsaved Presentations

If PowerPoint or your system crashes while you’re working or before you have the chance to check a saved version, you can use this feature. Once you click on the Recover Unsaved Presentations option, it will open your missing file.

recover unsaved presentations

On Windows: Open File > Info > Manage Versions > Recover Unsaved Presentations .

You can find more information on these features at the Microsoft Community.

How to Open PPT, PPTX on Mac and Windows

Microsoft PowerPoint is the most suitable application to open your PPT, PPTX files. It supports all the texts, transition effects, images, clipart, videos, etc., which are vital assets to format the presentation. It is available on both Windows and Mac operating systems as well as on Android and iOS. You can purchase a subscription to Microsoft 365 from Microsoft’s official website.

accessing ppt files on a MAC

You can also view PowerPoint files in several other presentation programs. Some examples are Apple Keynote, Corel Presentations, or PPTX viewer. If you have a Microsoft Account or a Microsoft 365 account, it will allow you to view and edit your presentations in the web browser.

Programs that Open PPT, PPTX Files

While Microsoft PowerPoint works best, multiple applications can support PPT, PPTX files. You may not be able to edit them using these applications, but you can view them easily. Some programs that support PPT, PPTX files are:

On Windows: Microsoft PowerPoint 354 Corel Presentations 2021 File Viewer Plus

On Mac: Microsoft PowerPoint 354 Apple Preview Apple Keynote

Android: File Viewer by Android Microsoft Office Microsoft PowerPoint Google Drive Google Slides

iOS: Microsoft Office Microsoft PowerPoint Google Drive Google Slides

Tips to Avoid PPT, PPTX File Loss

While it is quite possible to recover your lost PPT, PPTX files conveniently, it is advisable to try and avoid data loss situations. Here are a few tips you can follow to keep your files safe:

  • 💿 Save your work manually – While technological advancements have made it easier to recover files, it is good to keep saving your file manually while working. If the system crashes or an unforeseen problem arises, you can seamlessly get back your precious presentations.
  • 💾 Keep multiple backups – Ensure that you have backups of your files. You can either backup your PPT, PPTX files to a different storage device or use the backup features on your systems. Both Windows and Mac OS offer some advanced features that allow you to back up your files safely.
  • ☁️ Enable AutoRecover and AutoSave – Verify that AutoRecover has been turned on in PowerPoint. This feature can help you recover your deleted or unsaved files without hassle. A lot of users fret that they forgot to save their presentations. This is where the AutoSave option is a real gamechanger: It automatically saves the changes you continue to make onto the OneDrive cloud storage.
  • 🩺 Install a good Antivirus – It is crucial to have reliable antivirus software installed on your computer. It will protect your files from malware and prevent file corruption.
  • 🔋 System and Power compatibility – It is suggested that you ensure your system’s compatibility with the software. With constant technical developments, outdated software versions would not work on newer systems. To avoid data loss due to sudden power outages, invest in an Uninterrupted Power Source (UPS).
  • 🗄️ Separate software from other data – You should keep your software and other data, including your media files and documents on different drives. If this isn’t followed, your system can crash, or you risk disk failure. It can thus result in significant data loss.

This information can help you avoid losing your data. However, if a data-loss situation arises, the methods mentioned above can help you recover files or other data.

How to recover unsaved PowerPoint files in Windows 11?

PowerPoint comes ready with features that actively work to keep a record of your presentations, even if you haven’t saved it yet. To do this, PowerPoint takes regular snapshots of your file, which allows you to recover it in the event of sudden power or application failure.

To recover an unsaved PowerPoint file, follow these steps:

  • Open PowerPoint .
  • Click File , then Open . At the bottom of the recent files list, click Recover Unsaved Presentations .
  • Select the unsaved presentation file in the UnsavedFiles folder, then click Open .

Once opened, save the presentation file like normal.

Where are PowerPoint AutoSave files stored?

If you’re not a Microsoft 365 user, the AutoSave feature that automatically saves your presentation almost immediately after any change won’t be available to you. Instead, you must rely on the AutoRecover feature.

AutoRecover, when enabled, will automatically make a copy of your file every 10 minutes by default. The path to this AutoRecover folder is typically C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\PowerPoint\ , but the below instructions will show you how to find the exact location for you.

  • Click File , then Options .
  • Click Save .
  • Copy the path in the AutoRecover file location box and open it in File Explorer .

How to recover unsaved PowerPoint files on OneDrive?

If your PowerPoint presentation crashes before you get a chance to save it in OneDrive, you may still be able to recover it from a version that was automatically saved. To do so, follow these steps.

  • Click File , then Open .
  • Click Recover Unsaved Presentations .
  • Select your unsaved presentation and click Open .

Going forward, if you’re a Microsoft 365 user, consider saving your file in OneDrive immediately after creating it. This way, the AutoSave feature will be enabled from the beginning, which will save your file every few seconds.

How do I recover PowerPoint history?

Follow these steps to recover PowerPoint file history:

  • Open the file you want to view.
  • Click File > Info > Version history . 
  • Select a version to open it in a separate window.
  • If you wish to restore a previous version you’ve opened, select Restore .

Where are temporary PowerPoint files stored?

Temporary PowerPoint files are stores under the following path: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Temp

Follow these steps to recover temporary PPT, PPTX files:

  • Press Win + R and type in %temp% in the Run prompt.
  • You can filter through the results in File Explorer by using the following extensions – *.pptx, *.ppt, ppt*.tmp . 
  • If the presentation is located within the temporary files folder, it should show up in the results and you can recover it.

How to recover PowerPoint files that were not saved on the iPad?

All PowerPoint presentations are saved automatically on iOS devices. In the event that the AutoSave feature was manually disabled, there will be no way to recover an unsaved presentation.

how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

Joshua Solomon

Technology, SaaS, and digital marketing are Joshua's go-to niches. He understands the need for simple and easy-to-read articles on the internet. As technologies grow in complexity, guides and how-to pieces must remain com...

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Brett Johnson

This article has been approved by Brett Johnson, Data Recovery Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Brett has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Systems and Network, 12 years of experience.

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how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

Recover your Microsoft 365 files

When a Microsoft 365 app closes unexpectedly before you save your most recent changes, the next time you open the app,  Document Recovery automatically opens to help you get your file back.  Document Recovery lists any files you had open that were recovered from the most recent time you saved them, the most recent time they were AutoSaved (if your file is on OneDrive or SharePoint and you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber), or the most recent time they were Auto Recovered.  

To see the entire Document Recovery pane, hover over the right edge of the pane until you see an arrow pointing left and right. Then click the arrow and drag it to the right to widen the Document Recovery pane.

Tip:  If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, the safest way to work is to store your files on OneDrive or SharePoint and use  AutoSave.

How do I decide which files to save?

If you see multiple files listed in the Document Recovery pane and you're not sure which ones to save, look for the date and creation time of each file, which appear under the file name. If you see multiple versions of the same file, you'll probably want to open the one with the most recent time because it will have the most recent changes. You can click each file to open the document and review it, or click the down arrow to the right of any file in the Document Recovery pane and then select one of the following, depending on the options you see:

Open  or View  to review the file

Save As to save the file

Delete to delete the file

Close  to close the file

Show Repairs  to see if any file errors were detected and repaired

AutoRecovered file listed in the Document Recovery pane

After opening any file in the list, you can continue working in it or save it. When you have recovered all the documents that you want to save, click  Close , and then select one of the following options: 

Yes, I want to view these files later (safest option) -  Select this option if you are not sure whether you need the data in the recovered versions of the files.

No, remove the files. I have saved the files I need - Select this option if you are sure you don't need the data in the recovered versions of the files.

If you click Close without reviewing all recovered files, you'll see an option to view them again later. The next time you open the application you'll have the option to save or remove those autorecover files.

What is AutoSave?

How do I turn on AutoSave?

Post a question in the Microsoft Answers Community

Contact technical support.

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How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint

Get that PowerPoint presentation back

how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

  • Western Governors University
  • AutoRecover
  • Alternate Method
  • Recover Deleted Presentation
  • Enable AutoSave
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

  • File > Open > Recover Unsaved Presentations .
  • Or: File > Info > Manage Presentations > Recover Unsaved Presentations .
  • Check your Recycle Bin and automatic backup folders for deleted presentations, or use recovery software.

This article explains how to recover an unsaved PowerPoint. These instructions apply to PowerPoint 2019, 2016, 2013, and Microsoft 365 .

How Do I Recover a PowerPoint That Was Not Saved?

There are a few ways to recover an unsaved PowerPoint. If one method doesn't work, you should try the other options outlined below.

PowerPoint has a feature called AutoRecover which periodically stores data from your presentations. In newer versions of PowerPoint, you can access AutoRecover files from within PowerPoint:

Go to the File tab.

Select Open .

Select Recover Unsaved Presentations at the bottom of the list of recent files.

Select your presentation to open it. If you don't see it, move on to the next section to try a different method.

Alternate Way to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint

Depending on your version of PowerPoint, the steps for recovering unsaved presentations might be different:

Select Info .

Select Manage Presentations > Recover Unsaved Presentations .

Select your presentation to open it.

If you don't see the Recover Unsaved Presentations option in PowerPoint, you might find your presentation in the following folder on Windows:

On Mac, you can find AutoRecover data in this folder:

Copy and paste the above file path in the File Explorer or Finder address bar; then press Enter to open the folder. Replace User with your Windows or Mac username.

If you still don't see your file, try looking in the following folder on Windows:

Alternatively, press Windows key + R to bring up the Run command and enter %temp% in the Run prompt to open the Temp folder. To find your presentation, search for ppt files.

How Do I Get My Deleted PowerPoint Presentation Back?

If you previously saved a presentation and it got deleted, there are a few things you can try to recover your PowerPoint.

First, check your Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash folder. Depending on how long ago a user deleted it, you may be able to restore files from the Recycle Bin or recover files from the Trash on Mac . If successful, the file should return to its original folder.

If you use automatic backup software , check your backup folders. You can also restore your file using recovery software like Recuva or Disk Drill .

Enable PowerPoint AutoSave

PowerPoint includes an AutoSave feature that backs up your work every few seconds. Select the AutoSave toggle switch in the upper-left corner of your presentation to turn it On , or go to go to File > Options > Save and check the AutoSave box.

To recover an unsaved Word document , go to File > Manage Documents > Recover Unsaved Documents . If you see the document listed, select it. Or, search for a backup of the file by going to File > Open > Browse . You can also use Windows Explorer to search for recovered or temporary files.

To recover an unsaved Excel file , if you have AutoSave enabled, view the Document Recovery interface when you launch Excel. In the section called Available Files , you'll see all your autosaved workbooks and document files. To recover a file, select the arrow next to the file details and choose Open .

To recover a deleted or unsaved Notepad file, go to your Windows 10 search function, type %AppData% , and press Enter . The Roaming folder will open. Search for files that end in .txt to find your unsaved Notepad file.

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Methods to recover overwritten or previous PowerPoint file

Anju Chaudhary

Read time: 5 minutes

Suppose you accidentally overwrite a previous PowerPoint presentation. In that case, you’ll need to be familiar with effective methods to recover the previous version of your PPT presentation, which we’ll discuss in this blog. Additionally, our blog provides solutions for addressing other PowerPoint-related issues, such as repairing corrupt MS PowerPoint files.

If your PPT file gets overwritten, you can try a few methods, hoping for the best.

  • Using file versions

First, open File Explorer to find the file and then, from its Properties, reach out for its previous version as below:

  • In the Search box at the Start, type File Explorer and hit Enter.
  • Scroll for your desired .ppt file and right-click on it. Select Properties.

Select Previous Version Tab

  • Select the file you wish to get the previous version of. Click Restore or Copy.
  • Choose a location where you wish to save your restored previous version file.
  • Recover from PowerPoint
  • Open PowerPoint.
  • Open File>Info.

Recover Unsaved Presentations

  • If the unsaved presentation exists, then it will open.
  • From there, you can restore unsaved presentations.

Click Recover Unsaved Presentations

  • Using the volume shadow copy feature

If the list of Previous Versions does not show any files, you can utilize the Volume Shadow Copy feature provided by Microsoft in Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 10. This feature creates periodic copies of your files on the same disk where the original files are located, referred to as ‘Shadow Copies’ by Microsoft. If you ever delete or make changes to your current files, you can retrieve previous versions from these Shadow Copies.

While this feature is enabled by default, it is exclusive to Windows Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise editions. To access Shadow Copies, you must disable UAC (User Account Control), and its functionality can be executed – including the access and extraction of files – with full administrative privileges only.

Note: It’s important to note that because the original files and Shadow Copies are stored on the same disk, any corruption or damage to the disk can result in the loss of both files. Therefore, Shadow Copy should not be considered a substitute for a proper backup.

  • Using system restore

To recover a file using System Restore, follow the steps given below:

  • Go to Start.
  • Open Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore.

selected event

  • Select the relevant event. Click Next. Click Finish.
  • Restart your computer. Files will be restored.
  • Recover files from temp files

As soon as you begin working on a presentation, PowerPoint automatically creates a temporary file. In addition, these temporary files cannot be overwritten. The PowerPoint files can still be recovered even after they have been overwritten and saved using Temporary files. Follow the steps below to recover overwritten files from Temporary files.

  • Open File Explorer and paste the location of the temporary files.
  • In Windows 10, the default temporary files location is: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles\
  • Choose the file you need and save it to your desired location.
  • Using third-party tool

The manual methods described above are not always foolproof. To address this issue with a high level of certainty, you may want to consider using a reliable software tool. One such tool is Kernel for PowerPoint Repair . This powerful and user-friendly tool is designed to recover and repair PPT/PPTX files in a variety of scenarios, including corruption, deletion, and inaccessibility, regardless of the extent of damage or corruption. It can even recover password-protected PPT files with ease.

All in all, we have discussed the best solutions to recover overwritten or previous PowerPoint files. With our stepwise assistance, we hope you will be no longer stuck with any related issues. Carry out the solutions as per your convenience. If you want to switch to automated solutions, you can use Kernel for PowerPoint Repair tool. This tool has got better support for PPT, PPTX, PPS & PPSX formats along with a comprehensive preview of recovered data. For more details about the tool, you can check out the trial version today.

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Kernel for PowerPoint Repair

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Recover an Overwritten PPT Presentation in Windows

Last updated on July 13th, 2024

If you saved a PowerPoint presentation over an existing document then there are some ways to recover your overwitten presentation.

1. Recover overwritten versions of PowerPoint presentations using the File Explorer

One method is to open Explorer and then navigate where you have saved the document. Here you can right click over the file and then choose Properties.

Now, change the tab to Previous Versions and here the files should appear.

how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

Then, click Restore. Or you can choose to Copy and you will be asked to specify a location for the file.

This method works either in Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8 or Windows XP, and it is independent of the version of PowerPoint.

2. Using ShadowExplorer to recover lost PowerPoint files

If your list of Previous Versions is empty, just like the example above, then you may try an additional solution.

ShadowExplorer allows you to browse the Shadow Copies created by the Windows Vista/7 Volume Shadow Copy Service. It’s especially thought for users of the home editions, who don’t have access to the shadow copies by default, but it’s also useful for users of the other editions. Here are some of the features that you can find in ShadowExplorer.

  • Show available point-in-time copies
  • Browse through Shadow Copies
  • Retrieve versions of files and folders

Shadow Copies and ShadowExplorer are free but are no a replacement for regular backups. This is very important and can’t be stressed enough. A Shadow Copy is kept on the same disc as the original data. In case of a disc failure all data is lost, including the Shadow Copies. ShadowExplorer is a good addition to regular backups, but not a replacement.

You can download ShadowExplorer from here:  shadowexplorer.com

3. Recover Previous Versions using PowerPoint

If you are unable to recover your presentations using the previous methods, you may try this functionality in PowerPoint. Go ti File -> Info and then click on Manage Versions. Here you will need to click on Recover Unsaved Presentations .

Example how to recover overwritten PPT presentation

We explain this same procedure in our article how to recover PowerPoint file .

An unsaved presentation will be opened in case it exists and then you can restore the versions.

We will send you our curated collections to your email weekly. No spam, promise!

how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint

How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint

Cover for How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint

Losing unsaved information when making PowerPoint presentations can result in a massive loss of time and effort in an instant. You can use different methods to recover unsaved PowerPoint presentations and file versions. In the methods listed below, you can learn how to recover unsaved PowerPoint files and return them to specific file versions.

Method 1: Recover PowerPoint Files Offline

If your system or PowerPoint app randomly crashes, you are usually provided with the option to recover an unsaved file version. If such an option does not occur, you can recover your files using a recovery file. For this purpose, you should first ensure that file recovery is enabled in PowerPoint.

Enable File Recovery in PowerPoint

To enable file recovery, go to File -> Options . In the dialog box that opens up, configure your recovery settings.

Accessing PowerPoint options

You can set your newly created files and the PowerPoint templates you are editing to be saved after a set period of time (e.g., every 1 minute), enable recovering the last version of the file if PowerPoint is closed without saving the presentation, pick the default file location for saving the recovered files, and choose to keep copies of the files online or offline.

PowerPoint recovery options - Customize how PowerPoint documents are saved dialog box

Autorecover PowerPoint Files

To recover a PowerPoint file, go to File -> Open and click Recover Unsaved Presentations or via File -> Info -> Manage Presentations -> Recover Unsaved Presentations .

How to recover unsaved presentations in PowerPoint - Recover Unsaved Presentations in PowerPoint

Select the file version to recover from the list to autorecover PowerPoint.

Recover .pptx from temporary folder in PowerPoint

Method 2: Recover PowerPoint Files using OneDrive

Enable autosave for powerpoint files to onedrive.

The new version of PowerPoint comes with an AutoSave option where your presentations can be autosaved to OneDrive. You can enable autosave using this option or enable OneDrive via File -> Save As .

Autosave to OneDrive option in PowerPoint - Recover PowerPoint files using OneDrive

If you aren’t logged in, you will be asked to Sign in and select OneDrive to save the file automatically online.

Sign in to OneDrive to turn on AutoSave in PowerPoint

Recover AutoSaved Files from OneDrive

You can recover files by going to File -> Home and selecting the file name from the list.

File recovery from OneDrive

The autosaved version of the file can also be found online by logging into your OneDrive account and searching for the file, by going to recent files, or via My Files -> Documents .

Locating autosaved file in OneDrive - Recover .pptx using OneDrive

Method 3: Recover a File Version in PowerPoint

Sometimes, you don’t need to recover an unsaved file but a specific file version of the PowerPoint file. To recover a file version, go to File -> Info -> Version History .

Accessing Version History in PowerPoint

This will display the versions available for the file for recovery in PowerPoint.

Browsing Version History in PowerPoint -  PowerPoint Version History showing Modified by

You can also recover file versions by logging into OneDrive and selecting Version History via right-click context menu.

Version History in OneDrive

Other Methods for Recovering Unsaved PowerPoint Files

There are also several methods that might be useful to autorecover PPT. These methods might be used when you have exhausted the means to recover PowerPoint files through conventional means.

Restore PowerPoint from Recycle Bin: Sometimes, a file might be accidentally deleted and placed in the Recycle Bin. Restoring a file from there might be your best option at times to recover an accidentally deleted file.

Restore PowerPoint using System Backup: Restoring a system backup might be viable if you have lost an important PowerPoint file due to an operating system reload or if the file might be saved in an older backup.

Recover PowerPoint using Data Recovery Software: There are a wide number of data recovery software that can be used to find and restore permanently deleted files from your hard drive. Some examples include EaseUS free data recovery software, Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery, and Recuva.

Restore PowerPoint using Cloud Storage App: If you’re unfamiliar with OneDrive, you might use alternative cloud storage apps such as Google Drive, Box, or Dropbox to save files. If you have a PowerPoint saved to these apps which were deleted or are missing, you can look to recover it via your cloud drive by logging into your cloud storage account and sifting through deleted files.

Temp Folder: you can also recover an unsaved PowerPoint via the Windows Temp folder by going to Windows+R and entering %temp% in the dialog box. This folder is usually located at C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Temp .

Final Words

To ensure that you can recover PowerPoint files, it is advised to enable autosave either offline or online via OneDrive. This will ensure that you can recover your PowerPoint file and a specific version according to need. Suppose you are unable to recover your PowerPoint files using conventional methods. In that case, the options available require a bit of heavy lifting, such as restoring a system backup, using data recovery software, or sifting through the Windows Temp folder. If you’re really lucky, restoring the file via the RecycleBin might be all you need to do.

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PowerPoint Tips  - Recover Unsaved Presentations

Powerpoint tips  -, recover unsaved presentations, powerpoint tips recover unsaved presentations.

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PowerPoint Tips: Recover Unsaved Presentations

Lesson 7: recover unsaved presentations.

/en/powerpoint-tips/spell-check-and-thesaurus-shortcuts/content/

Recover unsaved presentations

Sometimes you don’t get the chance to save your presentation before your computer crashes or you lose power. Thankfully, PowerPoint can help you recover unsaved presentations .

Watch the video below to see how you can restore your work.

  • If PowerPoint recovers any unsaved files when you open it, a Document Recovery window will appear.
  • Click on the file to open it and then close the window.
  • If the Document Recovery window does not appear, click on the File tab in the PowerPoint menu.
  • Select Open at the bottom of the recent presentations.
  • Click on Recover Unsaved Presentations .
  • Select the unsaved file that you want to recover and open it.

We also recommend saving the recovered file in order to prevent losing it in the future. Keep this shortcut in mind next time you have computer trouble, and hopefully, your hard work won't be lost!

Now let’s go over the steps for compressing media files in PowerPoint. 

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How to Recover Unsaved PPT in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

Recovering an unsaved PowerPoint (PPT) in Windows 11 might seem like finding a needle in a haystack, but it’s actually quite simple. By using AutoRecover, temporary files, or previous versions, you can easily retrieve your work. Below, I’ll guide you through each step for a smooth recovery process.

How to Recover Unsaved PPT in Windows 11

First, we’ll explore the different ways to recover your unsaved PowerPoint. Follow these steps, and you’ll have your presentation back in no time.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint

Launch PowerPoint on your Windows 11 device.

Once PowerPoint is open, it will automatically try to recover any unsaved files. Look for a Document Recovery panel on the left side of the screen.

Step 2: Check the Document Recovery Panel

If PowerPoint found any unsaved files, they will be listed here.

Click on the file you want to recover. This will open the unsaved file in PowerPoint, allowing you to save it immediately.

Step 3: Use the "File" Tab

If you don’t see the file in the Document Recovery panel, click on the "File" tab.

In the "File" tab, select "Open," then "Recent," and finally "Recover Unsaved Presentations" at the bottom of the list.

Step 4: Browse for AutoRecovered Files

A window will appear showing all the unsaved files PowerPoint could recover.

Select the file you need and click "Open." This will open the file, and you can save it properly from here.

Step 5: Check Temporary Files

If the previous steps didn’t work, search your computer for temporary files.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder: C:Users[YourUsername]AppDataLocalMicrosoftOfficeUnsavedFiles. Look for PowerPoint files in this location, and open them to check if they are the ones you lost.

After you complete these steps, your unsaved PowerPoint should be recovered, and you can continue your work without losing any progress.

Tips for Recovering Unsaved PPT in Windows 11

  • Always save your work frequently to avoid data loss.
  • Enable AutoRecover in PowerPoint by going to "File" -> "Options" -> "Save" and setting the AutoRecover interval to 10 minutes or less.
  • Use cloud storage options like OneDrive for real-time saving and backup.
  • Check the recycle bin for accidentally deleted files.
  • Maintain regular backups on an external drive or another safe location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does autorecover save files in powerpoint.

AutoRecover saves files at intervals set by the user, typically every 10 minutes by default. You can adjust this interval in PowerPoint’s options.

Can I recover a deleted PowerPoint from the recycle bin?

Yes, if you accidentally deleted a PowerPoint file, you could recover it from the recycle bin unless it has been permanently deleted.

What if I can’t find the AppData folder?

The AppData folder is hidden by default. You can make it visible by going to File Explorer, selecting "View," and then checking the "Hidden items" box.

Are AutoRecover files saved indefinitely?

AutoRecover files are temporary and will be deleted if you close PowerPoint normally without saving your work.

Can I use third-party software to recover unsaved PowerPoint files?

Yes, but it’s usually best to try the built-in methods first. Third-party software can be helpful but might not always be reliable.

  • Open PowerPoint.
  • Check the Document Recovery Panel.
  • Use the "File" tab.
  • Browse for AutoRecovered files.
  • Check temporary files.

Recovering an unsaved PowerPoint in Windows 11 doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By following the outlined steps and utilizing built-in features like AutoRecover and temporary file locations, you can easily find and restore your lost work. Always remember to save your work frequently and consider setting up automatic backups to prevent future data loss.

Stay diligent, and make use of the tips provided to ensure your PowerPoint presentations are always safe. If you often find yourself in this situation, it might be worth looking into additional resources or tools to help streamline your workflow and backup processes.

Matt Jacobs Support Your Tech

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint

How to Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint Presentation

Profile Robert A.

Last update: March 22, 2023

PowerPoint is very popular presentation software. It can be disastrous to lose or delete an important PowerPoint file. Fortunately, there are ways to get lost PowerPoint presentations back. Read on to see how you can recover your valuable data.

Ways to Recover Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

There are multiple ways to recover deleted or lost PowerPoint files. Let’s take a look at the various methods you can use to get back deleted or unsaved PowerPoint files.

Method 1: Use Operating System Features

The first place to look for any lost files is in the special folders that the Windows and Mac operating systems provide to temporarily store deleted items.

To recover a PowerPoint presentation from the Windows Recycle Bin , follow these steps:

  • Open the Recycle Bin by clicking on its icon.
  • Find the file you wish to restore.
  • Click or tap on Restore to recover the file to its original location.

Restore PowerPoint files from Recycle Bin

Mac users can use the Trash to recover recently deleted PPT files with these steps:

  • Open the Trash by clicking on its icon.
  • Locate the item you want to recover.
  • Right-click on the PowerPoint file and click Put Back.

Put back presentation from Mac Trash

Method 2: Try Native PowerPoint Features

PowerPoint provides two powerful native methods of recovering data. You can use the PowerPoint Autorecover feature or the Recover Unsaved Presentation feature. Here’s how they work.

AutoRecover – PowerPoint automatically saves files temporarily via the AutoRecover feature. Recovering them requires navigating to the appropriate folder and searching for your file. To see where PowerPoint is storing the files, use the following steps in PowerPoint.

  • Open File > Options > Save.
  • The file is specified in the AutoRecover file location field.

Restore PowerPoint files using AutoRecover

You can also  enable or disable AutoRecover  from this window and modify the elapsed time between automatic saves of your PowerPoint files.

Recover Unsaved Presentation  – If PowerPoint crashes before you have a chance to save your presentation, you can use this feature to recover your work. Just follow these steps:

  • Open the File tab in PowerPoint.
  • Select Recent.
  • Click on the Recover Unsaved Presentation icon on the bottom-right of the window.

Recover Unsaved Presentation

Recover from temporary PowerPoint files  – You may be able to manually save files that have been temporarily saved by the application. Look in these locations for your operating system if you have lost a PowerPoint file.

  • Windows – C :\ Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temp
  • Mac – /Users/<username>/Library/Containers/com.Microsoft.Powerpoint /Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery

Method 3: Use PowerPoint Recovery Software

In cases where the previous recovery methods are not successful, specialized software may help you restore a lost PPT file. Data recovery software works by taking advantage of the way modern operating systems delete data. When a file is deleted on a Windows or Mac machine, the data is not immediately removed from a disk-based storage device. The operating system disables logical access to the deleted data but it remains on the disk until it is overwritten by new information.

Our editorial team has extensively used licensed copy of Disk Drill data recovery software, which has proven to be a reliable solution for various data loss situations. The steps with other recovery applications will be similar to the following procedure that we use with Disk Drill for Windows.

  • Download and install the software. Don’t use the disk that contained the lost PowerPoint files or you risk overwriting them.
  • Launch the application and select the disk with the missing PowerPoint presentations from the list of available devices.

Start the scanning procedure in Disk Drill

  • Click the  Recover  button to сhoose a safe storage location that is not on the disk being recovered.

Recover PowerPoint files to a new location

There are many data recovery software solutions available for Mac and Windows computers. Some are freeware applications while others are commercial products. When you are tasked with recovering a lost PowerPoint file, you want to choose the right software tool. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your choice.

Freeware solutions such as Disk Drill data recovery software provide more features than free alternatives.The only real benefit of free tools is the price. The features included with a commercial solution are generally far superior to free alternatives. When faced with a data loss situation, you want to use the best tool available, and a paid/freeware solution will give you a better chance of successful recovery.

Method 4: Recover PowerPoint Presentation From a Backup

If you are following accepted best practices and backing up your computer regularly, you may have a copy of the lost PowerPoint available on backup storage media. Whatever tool you choose to use for making backups, the recovery process is essentially the same and will follow these general steps.

  • Connect the storage media containing the backup files to your computer.
  • Start the backup and recovery application.
  • Search for the PowerPoint presentation you want to recover.
  • If found, restore the file to your computer.

The fact that the last resort may be to use a backup copy to recover your files demonstrates the importance of making it a regular practice to back up your data. Take the time to do it. Someday you will be very happy that you did.

Why Do PowerPoint Files Get Deleted?

Just as with any other type of file living on your computer or laptop, there are many ways that PowerPoint presentations can be lost or deleted. Here are some of the most common reasons you might lose one of these important files.

  • Human error is involved in a large majority of data loss incidents. It’s very easy to inadvertently delete the wrong file and then empty the Trash or Recycle Bin. You may also accidentally format a drive or partition that contained some PowerPoint files.
  • An infection with a virus or malware can be responsible for the loss of data on a Mac or Windows 7/8/10/11 machine. Files may be randomly deleted or the filesystem can become corrupted depending on what type of malware has entered your system.
  • Physically damaged disks will often exhibit lost and deleted data. Disks can be damaged due to simple wear and tear or by treating them badly and exposing the devices to excessive moisture or heat.

Protecting Your PowerPoint Files

There are several measures that you can take to protect your PowerPoint files.

Verify that you have the AutoRecover enabled in PowerPoint. This feature offers a quick way to recover unsaved or deleted PowerPoint files on your Mac or Windows computer. To enable this feature, click on File > Options > Save and make sure the AutoRecover checkbox is selected.
As previously mentioned, having a backup of your PowerPoint presentations available can save the day in the event of a data loss. Make it a regular habit to backup all your files. It’s an easy way of protecting your valuable work.
Keeping an updated and reliable antivirus tool running on your computer is an essential form of protection for all your files. With the prevalence of malware circulating on the web, it’s crazy not to protect your system with antivirus software.
Reduce the probability of human error by double checking your work before any activity that can potentially destroy data. This includes deleting files and emptying the Trash or Recycle Bin. Slow down and make sure it’s safe to act before clicking that button.
If you hear strange noises coming from your hard drive or start experiencing missing or corrupted files, your disk may be telling you it’s getting ready to fail. Make a backup of the data as soon as possible. Creating a byte-level backup that can be used to recover deleted data is recommended in this situation.

The information presented in this section should help you protect your PowerPoint presentations and recover them if you are impacted by a sudden data loss. Here are a few more points of interest regarding recovering deleted PowerPoint files.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i recover a powerpoint that i have overwritten.

Once you have saved a PowerPoint over an older copy, the best way to recover it is with a backup. Windows users may also be able to use the Restore Previous Version feature that also depends on restore points being saved by the operating system.

How can I recover deleted PowerPoint files from an iPad?

Data recovery software can be used to restore a PowerPoint file deleted from an iPad. Connect the iPad to your computer and let the recovery software scan it as it would any other disk-based device.

How can I recover a file if PowerPoint crashes?

Use the Recover Unsaved Presentation feature to recover files that you were working on when PowerPoint stopped responding or crashed. Alternately, you can use PowerPoint’s Autorecover feature which can be configured to automatically save presentations on a time-frame of your choosing.

robert agar

  • 12 publishings

Robert is a freelance writer and technology enthusiast who graduated from Pace University in New York with a degree in Computer Science in 1992. He is a former computer specialist at IBM. During his long career in IT, he has worked for a number of major service providers in various roles related to data storage, management, and protection.

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Yevgeniy Tolkunov

  • Frisco, Texas, United States

Yevgeniy Tolkunov is Hardware Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Yevgeniy has a Master's Degree in Physics, Information Technology; 15+ years of experience.

IMAGES

  1. How to recover PowerPoint file saved by AutoRecover

    how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

  2. How to Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint Presentation

    how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

  3. 2 Methods to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint File

    how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

  4. How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

    how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

  5. 3 Ways to Recover Unsaved or Deleted PowerPoint Presentation

    how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

  6. How to Recover Unsaved Powerpoint (.PPT) Files: Easy to Follow Guide

    how to recover a powerpoint presentation that was saved over

VIDEO

  1. How to RECOVER unsaved & lost PowerPoint Presentations

  2. How To Recover Deleted PowerPoint Slides? Ways To Retrieve & Restore Deleted Slides In PowerPoint!

  3. How to add saved PowerPoint template to existing presentation

  4. How to Recover Corrupt .pptx file of PowerPoint 2007 Using SysInfo PPTX Repair

  5. Easy PowerPoint Presentation Idea 💡🤗 #powerpoint #viral

  6. 7 Easy Ways to Repair a Corrupt PowerPoint Presentation File

COMMENTS

  1. Recover your PowerPoint files

    Click the Recover Unsaved Presentations button at the bottom of the screen to navigate to the folder where AutoRecover files are stored. ... To see the entire Document Recovery pane, hover over the right edge of the pane until you see an arrow pointing left and right. ... Under the Save Presentations heading, ...

  2. How to Recover a PPT File Accidentally Written Over

    Step 1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the directory where your written-over PowerPoint file is being stored. Click "Start" and then "Computer". Then use the window that appears to find the exact folder that contains your PPT file. Video of the Day.

  3. 4 Methods To Recover Previous Version Of PowerPoint

    Step 1. Open the current version of the PowerPoint presentation file, and tap on "File" on the top left of your screen. Step 2. From the list of options displayed at the top of your screen, click "Browse Version History" to locate the previous versions of the PowerPoint presentation file. For older versions of PowerPoint, click on ...

  4. How to View and Restore Old Versions of PowerPoint Files

    First, click "File" in the menu bar. In the left pane, click "Info." Click "Version History" on the right. Alternately, you can click the file name at the top of the document that you've opened and select "Version History" from the pop-up menu. No matter which method you choose, a new pane labeled "Version History" will open up on the right ...

  5. [Solved] How to Recover Overwritten PowerPoint File in Windows 10, 11?

    Press the " Win + E " buttons to open Windows File Explorer. Step 2. Locate the folder that includes your PowerPoint files. Then right-click on it and click Properties > Previous Version to show all the PPT files versions. Step 3. " Restore " your selected PowerPoint file version to the original location. If you need, right-click on ...

  6. How to Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint File

    Open a blank Microsoft PowerPoint document and click the File tab. 2. Click the Options link at the bottom. 3. Choose the Save option from the left. 4.Once you find the section with a path showing ...

  7. How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

    Open PowerPoint and select Open on the Start Screen. Select the Recover Unsaved Presentations button. On the File Explorer pop-up, open the folder related to the PPT file you want to restore. Select the file and choose Open. Review the presentation and save it to your PC's hard drive.

  8. Recover an earlier version of an Office file

    If you've saved the file. Open the file you were working on. Go to File > Info. Under Manage Workbook or Manage Presentation, select the file labeled (when I closed without saving). In the bar at the top of the file, select Restore to overwrite any previously saved versions. Tip: In Word, you can also compare versions by clicking Compare ...

  9. How to Recover Deleted/Unsaved PowerPoint Files (Windows 10)

    Suitable solutions. Unsaved PowerPoint files. Method 1: Click Recover Unsaved Presentations Method 2: Use the AutoRecover feature Method 3: Check the Temp folder. Deleted PowerPoint files. Method 1: Look inside the Recycle Bin Method 2: Retrieve your file from a backup Method 3: Use data recovery software.

  10. How to Recover Unsaved Powerpoint (.PPT) Files: Easy to Follow Guide

    If your PowerPoint presentation crashes before you get a chance to save it in OneDrive, you may still be able to recover it from a version that was automatically saved. To do so, follow these steps. Open PowerPoint. Click File, then Open. Click Recover Unsaved Presentations. Select your unsaved presentation and click Open.

  11. Recover your Microsoft 365 files

    You can click each file to open the document and review it, or click the down arrow to the right of any file in the Document Recovery pane and then select one of the following, depending on the options you see: Open or View to review the file. Save As to save the file. Delete to delete the file. Close to close the file.

  12. How can I recover an earlier version of a Powerpoint presentation if

    1. If your PowerPoint has AutoRecover is enabled, you can go to the AutoRecover file location to check if there exists. Refer to this article. Note: AutoRecover version will be deleted once PowerPoint is closed normally. 2. Check any possible location you have the file saved before. Regards, Ryan.

  13. How to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint

    In newer versions of PowerPoint, you can access AutoRecover files from within PowerPoint: Go to the File tab. Select Open. Select Recover Unsaved Presentations at the bottom of the list of recent files. Select your presentation to open it. If you don't see it, move on to the next section to try a different method.

  14. Methods to recover overwritten or previous PowerPoint file

    In the Search box at the Start, type File Explorer and hit Enter. Scroll for your desired .ppt file and right-click on it. Select Properties. Select the Previous Version Tab. Select the file you wish to get the previous version of. Click Restore or Copy. Choose a location where you wish to save your restored previous version file.

  15. Recover an Overwritten PPT Presentation in Windows

    1. Recover overwritten versions of PowerPoint presentations using the File Explorer. One method is to open Explorer and then navigate where you have saved the document. Here you can right click over the file and then choose Properties. Now, change the tab to Previous Versions and here the files should appear. Then, click Restore.

  16. How to Recover Unsaved PowerPoint Presentations

    To recover a PowerPoint file, go to File -> Open and click Recover Unsaved Presentations or via File -> Info -> Manage Presentations -> Recover Unsaved Presentations. Recover Unsaved Presentations in PowerPoint. Select the file version to recover from the list to autorecover PowerPoint. Recover .pptx from temporary folder in PowerPoint.

  17. PowerPoint Tips: Recover Unsaved Presentations

    Steps. If PowerPoint recovers any unsaved files when you open it, a Document Recovery window will appear.; Click on the file to open it and then close the window. If the Document Recovery window does not appear, click on the File tab in the PowerPoint menu.; Select Open at the bottom of the recent presentations.; Click on Recover Unsaved Presentations.; Select the unsaved file that you want to ...

  18. How can I recover a power point presentation I delete by mistake?

    If so, you may copy and save it to a different location, then change the file extension from ".tmp" to ".ppt" or ".pptx". 3.If you have enabled the "File History" or "Previous Versions" feature on your computer, you may be able to recover an older version of the PowerPoint presentation. Right-click on the folder where the presentation was ...

  19. How to Recover Unsaved PPT in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

    In the "File" tab, select "Open," then "Recent," and finally "Recover Unsaved Presentations" at the bottom of the list. Step 4: Browse for AutoRecovered Files. A window will appear showing all the unsaved files PowerPoint could recover. Select the file you need and click "Open." This will open the file, and you can save it properly from here.

  20. How to Recover a Deleted or Unsaved PowerPoint Presentation

    To recover a PowerPoint presentation from the Windows Recycle Bin, follow these steps: Open the Recycle Bin by clicking on its icon. Find the file you wish to restore. Click or tap on Restore to recover the file to its original location. Mac users can use the Trash to recover recently deleted PPT files with these steps:

  21. I can't find my unsaved powerpoint presentation in autorecover after

    This will open the Temp folder. -In the Temp folder, look for files with the ".tmp" extension that were created around the time that you were working on your PowerPoint presentation. -Look for a file that has a name similar to the name of your presentation or starts with "ppt". You can sort the files by date to help narrow down your search.