Office 2013 AutoRecover and AutoSave - Turn On or Off

How to Turn On or Off AutoRecover and AutoSave for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2013​

   Information

The AutoRecover and AutoSave feature in Word 2013, Excel 2013, and PowerPoint 2013 helps you to avoid losing your work if a crash, power loss, or you close a file without saving happens by automatically saving versions of your file while you're working on it.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off AutoRecover and AutoSave feature in Office Word 2013, Excel 2013, and PowerPoint 2013.

   Note

The Save button is still the best option to use. To be sure you don't lose your latest work, click/tap on the Save button or press CTRL+S often.

Here's How:

1. While in Word 2013, Excel 2013, or PowerPoint 2013, click/tap on File (ALT+F). (see screenshot below)

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2. Click/tap on Options (ALT+T). (see screenshot below)

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3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.

4. To Turn On AutoRecover and AutoSave
NOTE: This is the default setting.

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A) In the left pane, click/tap on Save. In the right pane under Save documents (Word 2013), Save workbooks (Excel 2013), or Save presentations (PowerPoint 2013), do this below. (see screenshot below)​

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• Check the Save AutoRecover information every X minutes box, and select how many minutes you want.
• Check the Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving box.

   Note

While entering a small number in the minutes box will have your work saved more often, it may also make Office run slower by saving often.

   Note

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The default is 10 minutes.​

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B) In the left pane, click/tap on Advanced. In the right pane under Save, check the Allow background saves box, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​

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5. To Turn Off AutoRecover and AutoSave

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A) In the left pane, click/tap on Save. In the right pane under Save documents (Word 2013), Save workbooks (Excel 2013), or Save presentations (PowerPoint 2013), do this below. (see screenshot below step 4A)​

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• Uncheck the Save AutoRecover information every X minutes box.
• Uncheck the Keep the last autosaved version if I close without saving box.

B) In the left pane, click/tap on Advanced. In the right pane under Save, uncheck the Allow background saves box, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 4B)​

6. When finished, you can close Word 2013, Excel 2013, or PowerPoint 2013 if you like.



That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Recover Saved and Unsaved Versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2013 Files

 

[antares]

Hi Brink, thanks for the tutorial. I see a "Save" section in the Advanced Word Options as you outline in step 4B, but that "Save" section is not present in the Advanced Excel Options, is this ok? If so, to disable in Excel is step 4A (deselecting) enough? Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Antares,

Yes, that should stop it for you in Excel.

 

[antares]

Thanks for your prompt reply!