Restore Lost WPS Office 2016 Files?

Yes, you can restore lost WPS Office 2016 files using the built-in backup and recovery features, or by checking the recycle bin and using file recovery software if backups are unavailable. This guide explains the exact steps for each method, how to prevent future loss, and what to do when standard recovery fails.

How WPS Office 2016 Handles File Recovery

WPS Office 2016 (part of the Kingsoft Office suite) includes a crash recovery system that automatically saves backup copies of open documents. These backups are stored in a hidden folder on your computer, typically under C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Kingsoft\office6\backup. The program also creates a temporary autosave file every few minutes while you work, which can be used to recover unsaved changes after a crash or power failure.

However, the backup system only works if you had the file open when the loss occurred. If you deleted the file manually, emptied the recycle bin, or lost it due to a drive error, you’ll need to use other recovery methods. The backup folder is also not created if you never opened the file in WPS Office—so files lost from a USB drive or email attachment won’t appear there.

Step-by-Step: Recover from WPS Backup

Follow these steps to find and restore a file from WPS Office 2016’s automatic backup:

1. Open WPS Office (Writer, Spreadsheets, or Presentation) and go to the File tab.
2. Click Backup (or Backup Center depending on your version) in the left sidebar.
3. In the Backup Center window, look for the file you lost. The list shows the file name, the time of the last backup, and the original location.
4. Select the file and click Restore. Choose a new location if you don’t want to overwrite the original.
5. If the file isn’t listed, click Open Backup Folder to browse the raw backup files. Look for files with the extension .wps or .bak and today’s or yesterday’s date.

If you can’t find the file in the Backup Center, the backup folder might be empty because the autosave interval was set too long or the file was saved and closed normally (which deletes the temporary backup). In that case, proceed to the next methods.

Check the Recycle Bin and Windows File History

If you deleted the file yourself, the first place to look is the Windows Recycle Bin. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, search for the file name, right-click it, and select Restore. This works for files deleted from your hard drive, but not for files deleted from a USB drive or network location (those are permanently removed).

If the file isn’t in the Recycle Bin, Windows File History might have a copy if you enabled it before the loss. Go to Control Panel > File History and click Restore personal files. Browse the timeline to the date when the file existed, select it, and click the green restore button. File History is off by default, so this only works if you had set it up.

Use File Recovery Software for Deleted or Lost Files

When backups and the recycle bin fail, file recovery software can scan your hard drive for remnants of the deleted file. These programs work by reading raw disk sectors and looking for file signatures—the unique header bytes that identify a WPS document (which is essentially a ZIP archive). You can use free or paid tools like Recuva, PhotoRec, or Disk Drill. The success rate depends on how much new data has been written to the drive since the deletion; the sooner you stop using the drive, the better.

Important: Install the recovery software on a different drive than the one you’re recovering from. If you install it on the same drive, it may overwrite the very data you’re trying to recover. Run the scan in “deepâ€� mode for best results, and save any recovered files to a different drive.

Common Reasons Files Go Missing in WPS Office

Understanding why files disappear helps you prevent it. The most common causes are:

• Accidental deletion – pressing Shift+Delete bypasses the recycle bin.
• Unsaved changes after a crash – WPS Office may not have had time to autosave.
• File moved to another folder – you might have accidentally dragged it into a subfolder.
• Antivirus quarantine – some security software flags WPS files as suspicious and moves them to quarantine.
• Cloud sync conflicts – if you use OneDrive or Dropbox, a sync error can delete local copies.

Prevent Future File Loss in WPS Office 2016

To avoid losing work again, adjust WPS Office’s backup settings and adopt good file habits:

• Go to File > Options > General & Save (or Backup in some versions) and set the autosave interval to 5 minutes or less.
• Enable the Create backup file option so a backup is saved every time you save the document.
• Save your files to a cloud service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. This gives you version history and an off-site copy.
• Use the Save As command to create a second copy in a different folder or on a USB drive for important documents.
• Never use Shift+Delete unless you’re absolutely sure. Use the normal Delete key so the file goes to the recycle bin.

When Recovery Fails: What Else to Try

If none of the above methods work, you still have a few options:

• Check your email or messaging apps—if you sent the file as an attachment, you can download a copy from your Sent folder.
• Look in the Temp folder (type %temp% in Windows Explorer) for files with names like ~wrs123.tmp. These are temporary WPS files that may contain your data.
• Use the Open and Repair feature in WPS Office: go to File > Open, select the corrupt file, click the arrow next to the Open button, and choose Open and Repair.
• If the file was on an external drive or memory card, try connecting it to a different computer—sometimes a driver issue on your main PC prevents access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a file I never saved?
If you never saved the file at all, WPS Office may have a temporary autosave file. Open the Backup Center and look for “Unsaved Documents� or check the backup folder for files with recent timestamps. If the program crashed, it usually prompts you to recover unsaved documents on the next launch. If you closed the program normally without saving, the autosave is deleted and recovery is very unlikely.

Where does WPS Office store backup files?
Backups are stored in C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Kingsoft\office6\backup. You can access this folder by clicking “Open Backup Folderâ€� in the Backup Center. The files have a .wps extension and are named with a timestamp. You can copy them to another location and rename them to .docx or .xlsx to open them normally.

Does WPS Office 2016 have autosave?
Yes, WPS Office 2016 has an autosave feature that saves a temporary copy of your document every few minutes. By default, the interval is 10 minutes, but you can change it to 1, 5, or 10 minutes in the settings. Autosave only works while the file is open; it doesn’t create a backup of files you haven’t opened.

Is it safe to use third-party recovery software?
Generally yes, but choose reputable software from official websites. Free tools like Recuva are safe and effective for basic recovery. Be cautious about “free� tools that try to install bundled software or require payment to actually recover files. Always scan downloaded files with your antivirus before running them.

Why can’t I find the backup folder?
The backup folder may be hidden. In Windows Explorer, go to View > Options > Change folder and search options, then click the View tab and select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.� Alternatively, type the full path into the address bar. If the folder is still empty, you may have disabled backups in WPS settings, or the file was never opened in WPS Office.

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