What is the default .asd folder?

C:\Users\ \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\ \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'.

Where Does Word Save .asd AutoRecover 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.

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

In Word, open File > Options > Save.
Read the AutoRecover file location box — that is where your .asd files are written.
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.

Can't see the folder?

The Roaming AppData folder is hidden by default, which is why %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Word may look empty in a normal search. Paste that exact string into the Explorer address bar and press Enter — Windows expands the variable and jumps straight in, no hidden-files toggle needed. If it is still empty, AutoRecover may be switched off; turn it back on under File > Options > Save so future crashes leave an .asd behind.

Is it safe to delete .asd files?

Yes, once your document is safely saved as a .docx. AutoRecover files are throwaway snapshots; Word deletes them itself after a clean save and close. Only keep them if you are still mid-recovery.

Where Does Word Save .asd Files?