"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Microsoft Excel 2010

Choose Where Saved and AutoRecover Files Go

SUMMARY: If you need to store workbooks and AutoRecover files elsewhere, configure Excel 2010 as to where they should be placed.

Do you have multiple hard drives or partitions and want to save Microsoft Excel 2010 workbooks and AutoRecover files on a location reserved for data? Or do you just want to organize your files differently on your one hard drive / partition?

By default, Excel 2010 saves AutoRecover files in your user's "AppData" folder (for Windows 7 users, this is C:\ Users\ [YOUR_USER_NAME]\ AppData\ Roaming\ Microsoft\ Excel\). While workbooks can be saved anywhere, the default location is your Documents folder (for Windows 7 users, this is by default C:\ Users\ [YOUR_USER_NAME]\ Documents). Here's how to change these locations:

1. Select the "File" tab in the Ribbon.


2. The Microsoft Office Backstage View appears. Click the "Options" button.


(Or instead of steps 1 and 2, press Alt + T, then the letter O.)

3. The "Excel Options" dialog box appears. Click "Save" in the left pane.


4. In the right pane, underneath "Save workbooks", you will find two text boxes. One is next to "AutoRecover file location", the other next to "Default file location". Click on a box and enter a new path to change the respective file location. Note that you must enter path names exact as there are no "Browse" buttons.


Configuring Excel 2010 where to save AutoRecover files and workbooks



5. Click "OK" on the bottom-right of the dialog box to close it.

Return to the Microsoft Excel 2010 page.

Print this tip


Get the Newsletter

blog comments powered by Disqus

Thanks For Sharing!



Newest Tips:

Microsoft Word 2010
W0rds w8th Numbers Pass the S0ellchecker!
Google Gmail
Automatically Archive a Conversation you Respond to
Digital Photography
[MODIFIED] Did Someone Get in the Way While Taking a Photo?
Google Chrome
View Kittens and Pandas Everywhere!

Follow Us!

About MalekTips and the Author

The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >