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Excel is an essential application that has become a part of everyone’s life. It simplifies tasks and saves a lot of time. However, what if you stumble upon a situation where you accidentally overwrite an Excel file and couldn’t undo your actions? This could lead to frustration and stress, but luckily, there are several methods to recover overwritten Excel files on Mac. In this blog post, we will discuss four cool methods that can help you recover your files with ease.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
To recover your overwritten Excel files on Mac, you’ll need a few things:
- Your Mac computer
- The overwritten Excel file
- An external storage device (Optional)
What Requires Your Focus?
Before you begin the process of recovering an overwritten file, it’s essential to focus on a few things:
- Do not close or modify the file after overwriting it
- Avoid installing new applications that save data to the disk where the overwritten file is located
- Don’t copy any new files to the disk where the overwritten file is located
Following these steps can increase your chances of successfully recovering your overwritten Excel files.
Different Methods to Recover Overwritten Excel Files on Mac
Here are four cool methods to recover your overwritten Excel files on Mac:
Method 1: Restoring the Previous Version via Time Machine
Time Machine is a built-in backup feature for Mac, which allows you to restore previous versions of files. If you have enabled Time Machine on your Mac and made backups of your Excel files, then you can use this method to restore the previous version of your overwritten file.
Steps:
1. Locate the overwritten Excel file and right-click it.
2. Select "Time Machine" from the dropdown list.
3. Time Machine will open and show you a timeline on the right side of your screen.
4. Scroll through the timeline to find the previous version of your file.
5. Select the previous version of your file and click on "Restore."
Pros:
– Easy to use if you have enabled Time Machine backups
– Quick way to restore your previous version
– You can access multiple versions of the same file
Cons:
– Time-consuming if you do not have regular backups
– You need an external hard drive to use Time Machine
Method 2: Using AutoRecover
AutoRecover is a feature in Excel that automatically saves unsaved documents at specified intervals. If your Excel application is crashed, or you accidentally close it before saving the file, this feature may come in handy.
Steps:
1. Open Excel and go to "Preferences."
2. Click on "Save."
3. Check the box "Save AutoRecovery info every __ minutes," and set the interval time.
4. Then, check the box "Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving."
5. Go to "File" > "Open Recent."
6. Find your overwritten file, and you may recover the previous version from the "Recovered" files list.
Pros:
– Automatic recovery if you forget to save your file
– No need to have any backups for this method
– Can restore files that were unsaved before Excel crashed
Cons:
– May not be helpful if the file wasn’t being edited at the time of the crash
– Autosaved files may not contain the latest data you have entered
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Data Recovery Tool – Disk Drill
Disk Drill is a third-party data recovery application that can help you recover lost or deleted files, including overwritten Excel files.
Steps:
1. Download, install and launch Disk Drill on your Mac.
2. Select the disk where the overwritten file was located.
3. Click on "Recover" and wait for Disk Drill to scan your disk for deleted files.
4. Once the scan is complete, select the overwritten file that you want to recover.
5. Click on "Recover" and choose a location to save the recovered file.
Pros:
– Disk Drill can recover files that were lost due to various reasons, including accidental deletion, formatting, and other causes.
– Easy to use, even for non-technical users
– Can recover multiple file types, not just Excel files
Cons:
– Disk Drill is not a free application, and you need to purchase a license before you can recover your files
– The scan may take a long time if you have a large disk
Method 4: Use Online File Recovery Services – EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is an online file recovery service that can help you recover overwritten Excel files.
Steps:
1. Go to EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard’s website.
2. Select the disk where the overwritten file was located.
3. Click on "Scan" to start the scan process.
4. Once the scan is complete, preview the scanned files, and select the overwritten Excel document you want to recover.
5. Click on "Recover" and choose a location to save the recovered file.
Pros:
– EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can be used without installation, as it’s an online service
– The process of recovering the file is straightforward
– You can preview the scanned files before restoring them
Cons:
– You need an internet connection to use this service.
– Recovered files may be incomplete or contain errors
Why Can’t I Recover Overwritten Excel Files on Mac?
Here are a few reasons why you may not be able to recover overwritten Excel files on Mac and their fixes:
1. You did not have any backups.
Fix: Enable Time Machine backups or use an online file backup system.
2. You saved the file before realizing that it was overwritten.
Fix: Use one of the methods mentioned above to attempt file recovery immediately.
3. You did not use the correct file extension.
Fix: Ensure that you use the ".XLS" or ".XLSX" file extension when saving Excel files, as using a different file may cause Excel to overwrite the file.
Implications and Recommendations
Accidentally overwriting an Excel file can cause panic and frustration, and lead to loss of valuable data. It’s essential to focus on avoiding similar situations by using the methods mentioned above to recover your files. We recommend enabling Time Machine backups, using AutoRecover feature, or investing in a reliable data recovery application.
5 FAQs about Recovering Overwritten Excel Files on Mac
Q1: Can I recover an Excel file that was overwritten months ago?
A: It’s possible, but the chances of success are low. We recommend trying the above methods first and recovering files as soon as possible.
Q2: Can I use more than one method at the same time?
A: Yes, you can. However, it’s essential to focus on one method at a time to avoid complications.
Q3: How to prevent overwriting Excel files?
A: Always double-check the file name and location before saving. Use time-stamped file names to avoid confusion.
Q4: Can I recover an Excel file if the disk is damaged or corrupted?
A: It’s possible if you use a data recovery tool. However, there are no guarantees that all data will be recovered.
Q5: Is it possible to recover files deleted from the trash bin?
A: Yes, it is possible. You can use third-party data recovery tools like Disk Drill or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
In Conclusion
Accidentally overwriting files can be a stressful situation, but it’s not the end of the world. Using the methods mentioned above, you can recover your Excel files with ease on Mac. We hope this blog post was informative and helped you with your data recovery needs. Keep backing up your files, so you don’t face such situations in the future.