Experienced a sudden power failure or crash while editing a Microsoft Office document? Or closed one without saving? Recover your draft in seconds. But AutoSave offers an even smarter safeguard.
AutoSave in Microsoft Office 2016 eliminates forgetfulness and data loss worries.
This feature launched with the July 2017 update for Office 365 subscribers. Spot the toggle button in the upper left corner of Excel 2016 and PowerPoint 2016.
Key requirement: AutoSave functions only with files in OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online, auto-saving changes to the cloud.
AutoSave boosts collaboration—team members view real-time updates. Microsoft saves every few seconds, adjusting based on your workload.
Treat it as a version control system. Review save history, open past versions, or restore one to replace the current file.
Hover for the tooltip explanation, such as files saved locally like on your desktop.
Disable it anytime: No more auto-saves; rely on the Save icon or File > Save.
Traditional AutoRecover still protects against crashes. Verify your save interval in Options.
AutoSave needs internet access, and frequent cloud syncs hinge on bandwidth. As an Office power user, I haven't tested it with massive PowerPoint files yet.
Fellow Office 365 users: Is AutoSave your go-to rescue tool? How does it hold up in tough scenarios?
