PowerPoint is a popular presentation tool that is widely used in both academic and professional settings. However, it’s not uncommon for users to encounter issues with saving their presentations.
Users may encounter errors while saving their PowerPoint files, which can be frustrating and potentially lead to data loss. One such error is “Error Occurred While PowerPoint Was Saving”. Luckily, PowerPoint has an auto-save feature that can help to mitigate the damage caused by this error.
In this article, we will explore using the “Recover unsaved presentation” and “Autorecover” features to recover your work with minimal loss of data. Let’s dive in!
1. Can You Recover Unsaved Presentation in PowerPoint?
In Microsoft PowerPoint, there is a specific feature that saves recent presentation files even if you do not click on the “Save” button. In case an error occurs while a PowerPoint file is saving, you can use the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” feature to access all unsaved presentations you have worked on.
2. How to Recover Unsaved Presentation in PowerPoint?
Using the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” in Microsoft PowerPoint, you can easily restore a presentation file that failed to save due to an error. There are multiple methods to recover an unsaved presentation file.
Also Read – How to Recover Previous Versions of PowerPoint!
2a. Method-1: Using the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” feature
In Microsoft PowerPoint, the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” feature is available in the “File” menu. To recover a presentation file that failed to save, follow the 5 simple steps.
Step-1: Click on the “File” tab
The first step is to open any PowerPoint presentation file on your device. Then you have to open the “File” menu. In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “File” tab.
Step-2: Click on the “Open” option
The next step is to click on the “Open” option in the sidebar located on the left side of the screen in the “File” menu. This will open the “Open” screen.
Step-3: Click on the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” button
At the bottom of the right column in the “Open” screen, click on the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” button. This will open the pop-up file browser window.
Step-4: Click on the “My Slide Libraries” option
In the “Open” pop-up window, you have to now click on the “My Slide Libraries” option to open the folder containing all recent unsaved presentation files.
Step-5: Click on the “Open” button
The final step is to select the unsaved PowerPoint presentation file that you want to recover from the “My Slide Libraries” folder in the “Open” window. Then all you have to do is click on the “Open” button at the bottom of the window to open the recovered presentation file.
2b. Method-2: Using the “AutoRecover” feature
The “AutoRecover” option in Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to enable the feature to recover unsaved presentation files. To recover a presentation that failed to save using the “AutoRecover” feature, follow the 9 easy steps.
Step-1: Click on the “File” tab
To recover an unsaved PowerPoint presentation file, you have to first open any new or existing presentation file on your device. In the PowerPoint window, click on the “File” tab in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen.
Step-2: Click on the “Options” option
In the “File” menu, you have to now click on the “Options” option. It is the last option at the bottom of the sidebar on the left side of the screen. This will open a dialog box.
Step-3: Click on the “Save” option
The next step is to click on the “Save” option in the toolbar on the left column of the “PowerPoint Options” dialog box.
Step-4: Click on the “Save AutoRecover information” option
In the “PowerPoint Options” dialog box, click on the “Save AutoRecover information every minutes” box in the “Save Presentations” section. Now you can type in your preferred number of minutes before saving auto recovery information.
Step-5: Click on the “AutoRecover file location” box
In the “PowerPoint Options” dialog box, click on the “AutoRecover file location” box and select the location. Then “Right Click” on the box and click on the “Copy” option. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+C” keys on your keyboard to copy the auto recovery file location on your device.
Step-6: Open the “File Explorer” window
The next step is to open the “File Explorer” window to open the local file location containing the unsaved presentation files preserved by the “AutoRecover” feature in PowerPoint.
Step-7: Click on the “Paste” option
In the “File Explorer” window, “Right Click” on the title bar located at the top of the screen. Then click on the “Paste” option in the right-click menu. You can alternatively press the “Ctrl+V” keys on your keyboard to paste the file location. Then all you have to do is press the “Enter” key on your keyboard to open the folder.
Step-8: Open the unsaved presentation file
Now all you have to do is open the unsaved PowerPoint presentation file that you want to recover. “Double Click” on the file in the “File Explorer” window to open the presentation.
Step-9: Click on the “Save” button
The unsaved presentation will open in a new window. Click on the “Save” option which is the purple icon in the top left corner of the screen. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+S” keys on your keyboard to save the presentation file.
3. How to Recover Deleted PowerPoint Presentation?
In Microsoft PowerPoint, you cannot retrieve a deleted presentation file. There is no feature available that restores deleted presentation files like unsaved files. However, you can retrieve a deleted PowerPoint presentation by accessing the “Recycle Bin” on your device.
4. How to Recover Unsaved Presentations in PowerPoint on Mac?
If the Microsoft PowerPoint application crashes before a presentation file is saved, the unsaved presentation file is retained in a local auto recovery file on your device. Using the “Open Recent” feature in PowerPoint on Mac, you can retrieve the unsaved PowerPoint presentation. All you have to do is follow the 3 quick steps.
Step-1: Click on the “File” option
The first step is to open an existing or a new PowerPoint presentation on your Mac device. Then click on the “File” option in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen.
Step-2: Click on the “Open Recent” option
In the dropdown “File” menu, click on the “Open Recent” option. Then click on the unsaved presentation that you want to open from the pop-up menu next to the “Open Recent” option.
Step-3: Click on the “Save” button
The unsaved PowerPoint presentation file will open in a new window. Now all you have to do is click on the “Save” option to save the recovered presentation.