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Quick Scoop
Temp files usually live in your user temp folder, and after a crash the fastest place to check is %temp% on Windows, or the app’s own AutoRecover/Autosave folder if it has one. For Microsoft Word specifically, recovery often starts with the Document Recovery pane, then Recover Unsaved Documents, and finally the AutoRecover path or %temp% folder.

Where to look first

On Windows, the common temp location is the per-user temp directory, usually under C:\Users$$your name]\AppData\Local\Temp, and typing %temp% in Run or search opens it directly. Many apps also create crash recovery files in their own autosave or recovery folders, so the app’s built-in recovery feature is often the best first stop. [][]

Common recovery spots

  • %temp% or C:\Users$$name]\AppData\Local\Temp.
  • Microsoft Word: Document Recovery pane, then File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents, and also the AutoRecover file location.
  • Other apps may use their own temp or autosave folders, so check the app settings or recovery menu if available.

Practical move

If something crashed, open the app again before doing much else, because some recovery panes appear automatically on restart. If that does not help, open %temp%, sort by date modified, and look for recently changed files with names like .tmp, .asd, or app-specific recovery names.

One caution

Temp files are often deleted when the program closes, so success depends on how the app handles recovery and whether the system already cleaned the folder. In other words, the sooner you check, the better your odds.

Bottom note
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.