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Microsoft Word Fundamentals for Efficient Lawyers and Law Students

This guide provides tips and links to tutorials for key tasks in Word that lawyers and law students undertake daily.

Backing Up Your Files in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word allows users to automatically backup their files through the “AutoRecover” function and “Create Backup Copy” function.

How to “Save AutoRecover Information” and “Always create Backup copy” in Word 2016 for Windows

AutoRecover — In Word for Windows, click on File, then Options, then click on Save. Make sure the checkbox is checked for “Save AutoRecover information every” and change the time to no more than four minutes.

 

Create Backup Copy — Click on File, then Options, then click on Advanced. Under the “Save” section make sure the check box for “Always Create Backup Copy” is checked. Now when you save a document, Word will create a backup copy for the previous version of the file you saved.

How to “Save AutoRecover info” and “Always create Backup copy” in Word 2016 for Mac

In Word for Mac, click on Word, then Preferences, then under “Output and Sharing,” click on the Save icon. Click on the check boxes for “Always create backup copy” and “Save AutoRecover info.” Change the “save every” time to no more than four minutes. Now when you save a document, Word will create a backup copy for the previous version of the file you saved.