Many productivity and creative applications can save recovery or autosave data while a document is open. If the application closes unexpectedly, it may offer a recovery step the next time you start it. The app’s own instructions are usually the safest first option.
Start with the original application
Open the program that was editing the file. Follow its recovery prompt, check its own Recent list, and consult its documentation if the expected project is not offered. If you recover a useful version, save it as a regular document in a known folder.
Temporary files vary by app and setup
Different apps use different file formats and storage locations. The location can change with application version, account settings, or user preferences. A recovery file can be incomplete, stale, or unreadable; a recent timestamp or familiar filename does not prove it is the newest complete version.
What a candidate scan checks
The optional recovery feature in What Was I Working On? runs only when the user requests a scan. It checks known recovery locations for supported applications and lists candidates with contextual details such as source application, file name, timestamp, size, and confidence.
When a candidate is selected, the app makes an encrypted copy in its own recovery area before opening that copy. It does not change or remove the source temporary file. The scan is limited to supported known locations; it is not a universal search of every program or temporary folder.
What recovery scanning cannot promise
- It cannot restore data an application never saved.
- It cannot guarantee that a candidate is complete, current, or opens correctly.
- It cannot cover every application or every version-specific storage location.
- It is not a replacement for autosave, normal saves, or separate backups.
Reduce the risk of losing the next draft
Enable autosave or AutoRecover where appropriate, choose an interval that fits the work, and keep backups of important projects. A save reminder can nudge you, but it cannot know whether a document is unsaved unless the application exposes that information.