Frequently Asked Question

Lost work because an Office app closed, your computer restarted, or you saved over something by mistake? Don't panic. Office has built-in recovery tools, and files saved in OneDrive keep a full version history. Try these in order.

If an app closed before you saved (Document Recovery)

1. Reopen the same app (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint).
2. If a "Document Recovery" pane appears on the left side, click each recovered file to preview it.
3. When you find the version you want, save it right away using "File" then "Save As" and give it a clear name.

If you don't see the recovery pane (search for AutoRecover files)

1. Open the same app, click "File," then click "Open."
2. Scroll to the bottom of the recent files list and click "Recover Unsaved Documents" (in Excel it's "Recover Unsaved Workbooks"; in PowerPoint, "Recover Unsaved Presentations").
3. A folder of unsaved files opens. Open the one you want, then immediately use "File" then "Save As" to save it to a safe location.

If the file is saved in OneDrive (get an earlier version)

1. Open the document, then click "File" then "Info."
2. Click "Version History" (you can also find this near the file name at the top of the window).
3. A list of earlier versions appears, each with a date and time. Click one to open and preview it.
4. If it's the version you want, click "Restore" to make it the current version, or use "Save As" to keep it as a separate copy.

Another way to reach version history (from the browser)

1. Go to https://office.com and sign in with your full Jersey College email and password.
2. Open OneDrive, then find your file.
3. Right-click the file (or click the three dots next to it) and choose "Version history."
4. Click any earlier version to preview, then restore or download it.

Important tips

• Save early and often. Press Ctrl + S (Command + S on a Mac) regularly so there's always a recent saved copy.
• The best protection is saving your files to OneDrive. When a file lives in OneDrive, it saves automatically and keeps a full version history you can roll back to.
• AutoRecover is a safety net, not a replacement for saving. It only keeps temporary copies, and they can be removed once you close a file normally.
• If you deleted a file by accident, check the Recycle Bin on your computer, or the Recycle Bin inside OneDrive at https://office.com, where deleted files are held for a limited time.

If you're still having trouble, contact the Jersey College Help Desk at 201-645-1164 or itsupport@jerseycollege.edu.