How to Recover Deleted, Unsaved, or Corrupted Visio Files?

Microsoft Visio is a powerful tool for creating diagrams, flowcharts, and visual representations of information. However, Visio files can be susceptible to deletion, corruption, or accidental loss like any other digital file. How to recover Visio files?

In this article, MiniTool Software will explore the various scenarios in which Visio files may be compromised. We also provide step-by-step guides on how to recover deleted, unsaved, or corrupted Visio files. Additionally, we’ll discuss preventive measures to protect your valuable Visio files from potential threats.

What Is a Visio File?

A Visio file refers to a file created and saved using Microsoft Visio, a diagramming and vector graphics application. Microsoft Visio is part of the Microsoft Office suite and is primarily used for creating diagrams, flowcharts, organizational charts, floor plans, and other visual representations of information.

Visio files typically have a file extension of .vsd or .vsdx, with the latter being the updated format in more recent versions of the software. The .vsd format is an earlier version.

These files store information about the structure and layout of diagrams, including shapes, connectors, text, and formatting details. Visio provides a wide range of templates and shapes to help you create professional-looking visualizations for various purposes, such as business process modeling, network diagrams, and project management charts.

You can easily edit a Visio file. For example, you can add, remove, or modify elements within the diagram. Collaboration features enable multiple users to work on the same diagram simultaneously, making it a useful tool for teams and projects.

In addition to the proprietary .vsd and .vsdx formats, Visio also supports the export of diagrams to other file formats, such as PDF, image formats, and more, facilitating the sharing and distribution of visual content created in Visio across different platforms and applications.

The following is a Microsoft Visio file:

Then, we begin to show you how to recover deleted, unsaved, or corrupted Visio files.

How to Recover Deleted Visio Files

If you have backed up the Visio files, you can directly restore the deleted ones from the backup. However, if there is no available backup, you can check your Recycle Bin to find and restore deleted Visio files. Alternatively, you can perform a Visio file recovery using professional data recovery software if you have permanently deleted the files.

Way 1: Restore from the Previous Backup

Regularly backing up your Visio files is a good practice to prevent data loss, and having a reliable backup strategy in place ensures that you can recover files in the event of accidental deletions or other issues.

The data restore method depends on the backup software you are using. If you’re using a built-in backup feature of your operating system, refer to the documentation or help resources for detailed instructions. If you are using a third-party backup and restore tool, you can also find the corresponding user manual on the official website.

Way 2: Restore from Recycle Bin

If you delete the Visio files from your computer’s internal drive, these deleted items will be moved to the Recycle Bin. Before you permanently delete them, you still have a chance to restore them from Recycle Bin.

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin and look for the deleted Visio files.

Step 2. Right-click on the files and choose Restore to recover them to their original location.

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Way 3: Recover Deleted Visio Files Using MiniTool Power Data Recovery

If you have permanently deleted the Visio files and there is no available backup, you will need to use professional data recovery software to recover Visio files. MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a good choice.

This data restore tool can recover numerous types of files including documents, pictures, audio files, videos, emails, etc. The Document type contains the Visio files. Additionally, MiniTool Power Data Recovery can work on all versions of Windows.

However, data recovery software can only recover files that are not overwritten by new data. You may not know if you can use this tool to recover the missing Visio files. Don’t worry, you can first try MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free. This freeware allows you to scan the location where the deleted files were saved and recover up to 1GB of files.

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Here is how to recover deleted Visio files using MiniTool Power Data Recovery in Windows:

Step 1. Download and install MiniTool Power Data Recovery on your PC.

Step 2. Launch the software to enter the main interface. You can see all drives it can detect under the Logical Drives tab. If you switch to the Devices tab, you will see all disks this software detects. Besides, you can select a specific location to scan under the Recover From Specific Location section.

Here, we take recovering Visio files from the desktop for example. To do this, you need to hover over the Desktop under Recover From Specific Location and click the Scan button to start scanning the desktop.

Step 3. This software lists the scan results by paths by default. Scanning the desktop will get two paths: Deleted Files and Lost Files. To recover deleted Visio files, you can go to Deleted Files > Recycle Bin. Then, you can see if the needed Visio files are there.

Step 4. Choose the Visio files you want to recover. Then click the Save button and choose a suitable location to save these files. The destination drive should not be the original location of the deleted files. Otherwise, these deleted files could be overwritten and become unrecoverable.

If you want to recover data without the capacity limit, you can upgrade this freeware to an advanced edition. You can go to the MiniTool store to select a proper edition as per your situation.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery can help you easily recover permanently deleted Visio files.Click to Tweet

How to Recover Unsaved Visio Files?

If you forget to save your edited Visio file, the ability to recover unsaved Visio files depends on whether you have enabled the AutoRecover feature. Enabling this feature allows Microsoft Visio to save the edited content according to the time interval you have set. However, if you haven’t enabed this feature, it will be difficult to recover unsaved Visio files.

See how to enable AutoRecover in Microsoft Visio:

Step 1. Open Visio, then go to File > Options > Save.

Step 2. Select the Save AutoRecover information every * minutes option. Then, set the desired time interval.

Step 3. Click OK to save the change.

How to Recover Corrupted Visio Files?

If you want to troubleshoot damaged drawings in Microsoft Visio, you can refer to this blog: How to troubleshoot damaged drawings in Visio. This blog mentions some error messages you may receive when using Visio:

• Invalid Page Fault.
• General Protection Fault.
• Illegal Instruction.
• An error (100) occurred during the action Open.
• Visio cannot open the file because it’s not a Visio file or it has become corrupted.
• Out of memory error messages or error messages that indicate low system resources.

In Which Situations Can a Visio File Be Deleted, Unsaved, or Corrupted?

The Visio files can be deleted due to the following situations:

1. Deletion: The most common scenario is when you intentionally delete a Visio file. This can happen through actions such as selecting and deleting the file, moving it to the Recycle Bin, or using keyboard shortcuts to delete the file.
2. Accidental Deletion: While working, you may accidentally delete a Visio file, especially when you mistakenly select and delete the wrong file or folder.
3. File System Errors: Errors within the file system, such as corruption or issues with the directory structure, can lead to the unintentional deletion of Visio files.
4. Disk Formatting: Formatting a disk or partition where Visio files are stored will result in the deletion of all files on that disk or partition, including Visio files.
5. Software Bugs or Glitches: Bugs or glitches in the operating system or file management software can lead to unintended file deletions.
6. Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious software can delete or corrupt files, including Visio files, as part of its destructive activities.
7. Unauthorized Access: If someone gains unauthorized access to a computer or network, they may intentionally delete Visio files as part of a security breach.

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The Visio files can become unsaved or corrupted due to the following situations:

1. Unexpected Software Crashes: If the Visio application unexpectedly crashes or closes, the file may not being saved properly. This can lead to unsaved changes or potential corruption..
2. Power Failures or System Shutdowns: Sudden power outages or system shutdowns without saving the Visio file can cause unsaved changes and may lead to corruption.
3. Application Freezing or Hanging: If the Visio application freezes or hangs while working on a file, it may prevent you from saving changes, potentially resulting in unsaved data or file corruption.
4. Insufficient System Resources: Running Visio on a system with low resources (such as low RAM or processing power) may cause instability and increase the risk of unsaved changes or file corruption.
5. Network Issues: If Visio files are stored on a network drive, disruptions in the network connection may prevent proper saving of files, leading to unsaved changes or corruption.
6. Disk Space Exhaustion: Running out of disk space on the storage device where Visio files are being saved can prevent the proper saving of files, resulting in potential data loss or corruption.
7. File Format Compatibility Issues: Opening or saving a Visio file in an incompatible format may lead to corruption, especially when switching between different Visio versions.
8. Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious software can potentially target and corrupt Visio files, leading to unsaved changes or complete file corruption.
9. Hardware Failures: Issues with hardware components, such as a failing hard drive or memory module, can lead to data corruption, including Visio files.
10. Interrupted File Operations: Any interruption during file-saving operations, such as forcefully closing the application or pulling out external storage devices, may result in unsaved changes or file corruption.
11. Disk or Storage Device Failure: Hardware failures, such as a malfunctioning hard drive or storage device, can result in data loss, including the deletion of Visio files.

To minimize the risk of Visio files being deleted, unsaved, and corrupted, regularly save files, keep backups, and use reliable storage devices. Additionally, ensure that both the operating system and Visio software are up-to-date.

How to Protect Your Visio Files?

1. Regular Backups

Regularly backing up your Visio files to an external drive or cloud storage is a wise choice for safeguarding them. You can use MiniTool ShadowMaker to schedule the backup time according to your needs.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a dedicated data backup software for Windows PCs. It supports backing up files, folders, partitions, disks, and systems to another storage device. If data loss issues happen, you can restore the missing files from the backup.

More importantly, this data backup tool allows you to schedule a backup regularly. You can visit the Schedule Settings section of the Backup Settings page to see how to use this feature.

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2. Antivirus Software

Employing reliable antivirus software is crucial for safeguarding your system against malware, viruses, and other potential threats. Regularly update the antivirus software and perform scheduled scans to detect and eliminate any malicious software.

By doing so, you not only protect your data from potential security breaches but also reduce the risk of data loss due to virus-induced system failures or corruption. An effective antivirus strategy is an integral part of maintaining a secure digital environment and preventing the loss of valuable information.

3. Keep Your Windows Up-to-Date

Regularly check for and install Windows updates to ensure your operating system is equipped with the latest security patches, bug fixes, and performance enhancements. This proactive approach not only enhances the overall stability and security of your system but also helps in avoiding potential data loss due to security vulnerabilities.

4. Use Genuine Visio and Keep It Updated

Use genuine Visio software to ensure you have access to all the features and security updates. Regularly updating your Visio application not only introduces new features and improvements but also helps prevent data loss by addressing any software-related issues. Staying current with updates ensures a more reliable and secure environment for your diagramming needs.

Conclusion

Now, you should know how to recover Visio files in different situations. In addition, you also know why you need to protect your files, and how to protect them. By following these guidelines, you can ensure the security and accessibility of your Visio diagrams and diagrams. We hope the information introduced in this article is helpful for you.

If you encounter issues while using MiniTool software, you can let us know by sending emails to [email protected].