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How to create/make backup files/copies of workbooks in Excel?

Author Kelly Last modified

If you make multiple errors in a large Excel workbook, repeatedly pressing the Undo button is not the most efficient correction method. Instead, creating backup versions of your workbook can be a more effective strategy. This article will guide you through several techniques to generate backup copies of your active workbook, allowing for quick and convenient restoration whenever necessary.

Make a backup for the active workbook with Excel's AutoRecover command

By default, Microsoft Excel will automatically back up an active workbook, so you can restore the active workbook with AutoRecover files.

  • Step 1: Click "File".
  • Step 2: In the "Excel Options" dialog box, scroll down to the "Save workbooks" section in the "Save" category.
  • Step 3: Modify the AutoRecover settings according to your needs.

You can find AutoRecover versions of the active workbook in the designated location folder and restore the workbook using these versions.

A screenshot showing Excel's AutoRecover settings in the Options dialog box

Notes:
  • It will back up the active workbook every N minutes according to your settings.
  • You can only restore to the last backup version because all former versions are replaced with the latest version.

 Make backup files of the active workbook with Kutools for Excel

Kutools for Excel's "Track snap" tool can help you make backup versions of active workbooks as snapshots with a single click.

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Just click the "Kutools" > "View" > "Snap", and it will back up a version of the active workbook immediately. See screenshot:

A screenshot of the Snap feature in Kutools for Excel showing backup versions of the workbook

Click one of the backup versions, and the active workbook will restore to the status when you make this backup version.

Notes:
  • Users could not use this utility if they had never saved the current workbook.
  • You can make backup versions at any time, and make multiple backup versions.
  • All backup versions of the active workbook will be clear if you close the active workbook.

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