Word 365: Enable or Disable AutoRecover Save

Do you want to enable or disable the AutoRecover Save feature in Word 365? Learn how you can do that in simple and straightforward steps.

AutoRecover is a feature in Microsoft Word in Microsoft Office 365 that automatically saves the document you’re working on at certain intervals. This feature runs in the background when you work on a document and keeps saving your changes even if you don’t press CTRL + S or hit the Save button after every two minutes.

This allows you to recover the document if your PC malfunctions in the middle of your work and the Word application has to stop working. There is also the AutoSave feature that lets you save all the changes immediately to the copy of the document stored in the cloud.

To enable or disable AutoRecover/ AutoSave feature, continue reading this article. Whether you use the desktop app or have your Word file uploaded to a Microsoft 365 account

Reasons for Enabling or Disabling AutoRecover Save in Word / Microsoft 365

AutoRecover feature in Word could benefit you if you have an unstable power supply or got no power backup for your computer. In both cases, a power cut won’t be an issue if you have AutoRecover enabled. It’ll save the latest changes in a separate file that you can open once the power supply is back and resume your work from where you’ve left it.

Even if you don’t have this issue, it’ll save you during accidental computer shutdown. Moreover, with this feature enabled, you don’t have to worry about closing your document without saving it after hours of working on it. If you’re a student or business professional whose work revolves around Word Documents.

However, many people might not want Word or Microsoft 365 to save their documents without their direct prompting. Some users want to store their files strictly on their local computers and not on any cloud server. For these people, disabling AutoRecover option is a perfect choice.

How to Enable or Disable AutoRecover in Word Desktop

AutoRecover is an option available in MS Word desktop. It works on the desktop-based Word application and allows you to automatically save your changes made in the file. However, if you don’t want Word to AutoRecover your changes, you can always disable this option. Thus, Word will only save your changes when you click on the Save button or press CTRL + S keys.

Here are the steps you need to follow if you want o enable or disable the AutoRecover option in Word:

1. Open any MS Word file.
2. Select the File tab.
3. From the left panel, choose Options.
4. Word Options wizard will appear. Select Save from the left pane.

   

5. There is the option Save AutoRecover information every x minutes. If you wish to disable the AutoRecover feature, uncheck the box.
6. You need to check the box to enable the feature.
7. While enabling, you can also change the time after which Word will AutoRecover data. The default is 10 minutes, but you can change it from 1 to 120 minutes.
8. Those enabling the feature should also check the box for Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving option. This will protect you during the sudden shutting down of the computer or accidental closing of Word documents.
9. You can also choose the file format for the AutoRecover document. Also, you get the option to select the AutoRecover file location.

Enable or Disable AutoSave in Word 365

If your Word is connected to a Microsoft 365 account, you can enable or disable the AutoSave option. This option is similar to the AutoRecover option, except the fact that the changes are saved to the file saved in OneDrive or SharePoint of Microsoft 365.

When you open a file or document in MS Word, look at the Quick Access Toolbar or the top bar of your Word application window. You can easily locate the AutoSave toggle button. If it says Off, the feature is currently disabled, and you need to click on it once to enable it.

If the option says On, it’s currently enabled. To disable the AutoSave feature, you need to click on it once.

FAQ on Word AutoRecover Save Enabling or Disabling

Why Can’t I Turn on AutoSave on Word?

It’s possible that you click on the AutoSave button but fail to turn on the AutoSave feature. To avail of this feature, The file should be stored in Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint. You should also enable the option AutoSave files stored in the Cloud by default in Word. To get this option, go to File > Options > Save.

This feature won’t work if your files are saved in the older format, your OneDrive synchronization is paused due to some reason, or you don’t have an active Microsoft 365 subscription. Fix these issues, and you’ll have your AutoSave feature working with full efficiency.

Conclusion

AutoRecover and AutoSave are essential features of Word/Microsoft 365 that help you save the work you do on your document after a specific interval. Even if you forget to save your changes or your computer suddenly shuts down due to any reason, AutoRecover Save will make sure your changes are updated automatically.

Here, I’ve included methods to enable or disable the AutoRecover or Autosave option in your Word 365. Follow these, and you’ll never lose any changes you make in MS Word.  Tell us how effective these techniques are in the comments. Also, share this article with your friends so that they could get benefitted from it too.

Up next is how to find word count in Word 365.