If an Excel file has disappeared, you can try the following steps to recover it:
Check the Recycle Bin: The first step is to check the Recycle Bin. If you accidentally deleted the file, it may still be in the Recycle Bin. To check, simply open the Recycle Bin and look for the missing file. If you find it, right-click on the file and select "Restore".
Search for the file: If the file is not in the Recycle Bin, try searching for it. In Windows 10, you can use the search box located in the taskbar to search for files. Simply type in the name of the missing file, and Windows will search for it. If the file is found, you can open it or move it back to its original location.
Check the AutoRecover folder: Excel has an AutoRecover feature that automatically saves a copy of the file every few minutes. If Excel crashes or the file is closed without saving, you may be able to recover the file from the AutoRecover folder. To check the AutoRecover folder, open Excel and go to "File" > "Options" > "Save". The location of the AutoRecover folder should be displayed.
Check the Document Recovery pane: If Excel detects that a file was not properly saved, it will display the Document Recovery pane when you reopen Excel. The pane will display any unsaved files that can be recovered. Simply click on the file and select "Open" to recover it.
Use a data recovery tool: If the above methods do not work, you may need to use a data recovery tool. There are many free and paid data recovery tools available for Windows, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Disk Drill. These tools can scan your hard drive for deleted files and allow you to recover them. However, keep in mind that the success of data recovery depends on many factors, such as the length of time since the file was deleted and whether it has been overwritten.
In summary, to recover a missing Excel file, you can check the Recycle Bin, search for the file, check the AutoRecover folder, check the Document Recovery pane, or use a data recovery tool.