How to Recover an Unsaved or Corrupt LibreOffice Document

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

1. FIX 1Use Document Recovery

   Copy steps
   1. 01Reopen LibreOffice after a crash
   2. 02Choose Start Recovery in the Document Recovery dialog
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. FIX 2Open the backup folder

   Copy steps
   1. 01Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Paths: note Backups and Temporary files
   2. 02Open the folder and look for .bak or recovered files
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. FIX 3Repair on open

   Copy steps
   1. 01File > Open, pick the file
   2. 02Accept Yes when LibreOffice offers to repair
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. FIX 4Enable AutoRecovery

   Copy steps
   1. 01Tools > Options > Load/Save > General
   2. 02Tick Save AutoRecovery information every 5 minutes and Always create backup copy
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

LibreOffice crashed or a file shows as corrupt and your work is gone.

Why it happens

• C-01Crash before saving
• C-02AutoRecovery disabled
• C-03Corrupted ODT/docx
• C-04Lock file left behind

// this guide also covers

• libreoffice recover unsaved document
• libreoffice corrupt file
• libreoffice document recovery

The same problem in other apps

All missing or lost data guides →

• Copilot Not Showing in PowerPoint (Microsoft PowerPoint)
• Google Slides Messes Up PowerPoint Formatting (Google Slides)
• How to Recover a Lost or Overwritten Keynote Presentation (Apple Keynote)

Other LibreOffice errors

• LibreOffice Won't Open or Crashes on Startup
• LibreOffice Messes Up Word DOCX Formatting
• LibreOffice Impress PPTX Animations and Fonts Not Working
• LibreOffice Calc VBA Macros Not Working
• Why Is LibreOffice So Slow to Start?
• LibreOffice Calc Slow or Not Responding on Large Files
• LibreOffice Document Could Not Be Locked Error
• LibreOffice Crashing or Not Opening on Mac