I wanted to input data from one worksheet into another, and I tried to open two windows simultaniously to move from one to the other. Now one of my worksheets shows nothing but a blank blue screen. No columns, rows or any data. How do I recover my worksheet?
How do I recover lost data?
Answers
Depending on your version of Excel, you could try these steps:
- Click the File button.
- Click Recent.
- Click Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
- Select the Workbook.
- Click Open
- Save the file.
More information here.
If something more global has happened, try data recovery software: https://www.cleverfiles.com/word-excel-recovery.html
Discussion
Obviously, the blue window doesn't hold the missing workbook. Therefore the missing workbook is in a location other than where you expect it to be. Click the "View" tab on the ribbon and "Switch Windows". You will see all open documents listed. I hope that is where you will find your missing workbook.
Incidentally, while you are looking for it, there is a button to the left of "Switch Windows" with the caption "View side by side". That is the one you might have used to achieve what you wanted to do.
If the workbook is not listed in the "Switch Windows" dropdown not everything is lost yet. There is a chance that you opened the second sheet in another instance of Excel. Quit the instance which doesn't have the missing workbook. If there is another isntance running simultaneously it will come to the top of the heap and, with luck, your workbook will turn up there.