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Where Does Word Save .asd Files?

By default Word stores .asd AutoRecover files under your Roaming AppData. You can see the exact path — and change it — in File > Options > Save.

Category
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Short answer: the default AutoRecover location is C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\. Files you never saved at all go to C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles.

Find the exact path

  1. In Word, open File > Options > Save.
  2. Read the AutoRecover file location box — that is where your .asd files are written.
  3. Copy that path into the Explorer address bar to open the folder.

Recover the document instead

You rarely need the raw folder. After a crash, reopen Word and use the Document Recovery pane on the left, or go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents. To open an .asd by hand, use File > Open and point it at the .asd file.

FAQ

What is the default .asd folder?

C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\ on most installs. The exact path is shown in File > Options > Save.

Where do unsaved documents go?

Files you closed without ever saving land in C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles.

Can I change where .asd files are saved?

Yes — set a new folder in File > Options > Save under 'AutoRecover file location'.

Other file types explained