How to Recover MS Project Files: Unsaved/Deleted/Lost

How do I recover Microsoft Project files?

Microsoft Project is a project management software program created and distributed by Microsoft. It is intended to help a project manager create a schedule, assign resources to tasks, track progress, manage the budget, and analyze workloads.

Microsoft Project was the third Microsoft Windows-based application developed by the company. It quickly became the dominant PC-based project management software a few years after its release.

Are you wondering how to recover MS Project files? Especially for recover unsaved/deleted/lost/corrupted Microsoft Project files, keep reading to get 6 easy ways.

How to recover Unsaved/Deleted/Lost Microsoft Project files?

Whether you forgot to hit save or something went wrong, these 6 solutions will get your project back on track quickly. Let's dive in!

Method 1: Recover MS Project files via recovery software

Microsoft Office files are essential to our careers and lives. After accidental/first deletion, you can restore your accidentally/recently deleted files from Recycle Bin. However, after emptying the Recycle Bin, you’ll have no choice but to restore files from backups or use professional data recovery software for permanently deleted files.

If you're stuck with unsaved/deleted/lost Microsoft Project files, MyRecover can be your go-to solution to recover deleted MS Office files. This tool is like a magic wand for recovering lost files from your PC, hard drives, or even memory cards.

★Powerful features & friendly design:   

Recover unsaved/deleted Word documents, Excel, PPT, PDF, Photos, Videos, Audio, folders, compressed files, and 1000+ types of data from HDD, USB, SD card, etc.

Retain the original format for the deleted/lost data.

During scanning, you can search your needed office files by tying their filenames in the search bar or wait to find all the deleted and other lost files on your computers after Quick Scan and Deep Scan.   

Support NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, and ReFS file systems on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows Server.

🔥 Bonus: MyRecover is free for up to 500MB of Microsoft Project files! Let’s take MS Excel as an example. Please download MyRecover computers to get your desired MS project files back!

Step 1. Launch MyRecover on your PC, then hover the mouse over the partition that contains the Excel files you want to restore. Then click Scan.

Step 2. Search your desired Excel files or wait to see all the deleted and other missing files after performing Quick Scan and Deep Scan.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files/Other Missing Files folder, and choose your desired Excel files. Please click “Recover x files” and save them in a new location.

Method 2: Recover unsaved MS Project file from temporary files folder

The Temporary Files folder is like a hidden vault where Windows stashes unsaved files. Here’s how to recover unsaved MS Project files from it:

Step 1.  Open Microsoft Project and go to File > Options.

Step 2.  Under the Save section, look for the path labeled Default file location for AutoRecover and make a note of it.

Step 3.  Open File Explorer, paste the path you noted, and hit Enter.

Step 4. Look for files with the .mpp extension (e.g. .docx), find the most recent one, and copy it to a safe location on your computer.

Method 3: Recover MS Project file using the autosave feature

Microsoft Project has a handy Autosave feature that can prevent loss in case of a crash or accidental closure. To recover an unsaved file through Autosave, follow these steps to perform MS Project file recovery:

Step 1.  Open Microsoft Project and go to the File tab.

Step 2.  Navigate to the Autosave folder, where you'll see files named like Autosave_Projectname.mpp.

Step 3.  Look at the timestamps to find the most recent version, then double-click to open it. Save the file to your preferred location.

Method 4: Recover deleted Microsoft Project files from Recycle Bin

If your file suddenly disappeared, the Recycle Bin is always worth checking. Here’s a quick guide:

Step 1.  Open the Recycle Bin from your desktop or search for it in the Start menu.

Step 2.  Look for your Microsoft Project file (it will likely have the .mpp extension).

Step 3.  Right-click the file and choose Restore, sending it back to its original location.

Method 5: Restore Microsoft Project files from a backup

If you regularly back up your files, restoring from a backup can be a reliable option. Here’s how to recover deleted MS Office files:

1.  External Storage Backup: If you use external drives for backup, plug in the device and search for your missing file.

2. Cloud Backup: If you sync your projects with OneDrive or another cloud service, log in to check if the file is stored there. You can verify cloud backups in Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.

3. Restore Previous Versions: If you have File History enabled, open File Explorer, find the folder where the file was, right-click it, and choose Restore previous versions.

Method 6: Recover corrupted MS project files

How to fix the Microsoft Project file gets corrupted? Please refer to the following steps.

Step 1. Please open a new MS Project file and select its first row.

Step 2. Click Project > Subproject.

Step 3. After opening a file dialog, locate the corrupted MPP file you want to insert into the blank MS Project file.

Step 4. Under the File Name tab, uncheck the “Link to Project” button.

Step 5. Click the Insert drop menu and select the “Read-only” option.

Step 6. Expand the schedule to check whether all the tasks have been imported. Please remember to delete the extra first row and rename this edited file.

Further Reading: How to Protect Microsoft Project Files

Moreover, you’re advised to put the following data loss prevention tips into action.

• Please think twice before deletion.
• Open your MS Office files, then click File > Options > Advanced > Save > Always create a backup copy > OK.
• Enable the AutoSave and AutoRecover features.
• Try to use this free backup software for Windows to make regular files, folders, partitions, disks, or systems backups.

• For corrupted MS Office files like damaged MS Excel, try to use the Open and Repair feature to recover corrupted Excel files.

Wrapping up

How to recover MS Project files? And how to recover unsaved/deleted Microsoft Project files? Please get corresponding solutions to address these 6 ways from the above content. Whether you check the Temp folder, use Autosave, or try the Recycle Bin, these solutions often work like a charm. And if all else fails, tools like MyRecover are there to help.