I accidentally named a file the same name as another file

[safetowear_9992]

I accidentally named a file the same as another file, and now it replaced the previous file. It was an untitled project before, but then I created a new project and named it the same. Now I can't find the previous project. Is there any way to fix this?"

[Rick Gerard]

Search for .aep file types and look at the dates. On Windows or Mac, you should be able to search all available hard drives with a single click.

If you immediately lost a file, you likely just saved the new one over the original one. If you did not save the project file when you started the project (My standard workflow, File/New Project/File/Save As) and then begin adding media, and you do not have auto backup turned on, the original is probably gone forever. 

[safetowear_9992]

"I don't know where all the auto-saved files are. I see some auto-saved files in my folder, but there should be more of them if it auto-saves every 15 minutes?

[nishu_kush]

The Auto Save folder is created at the same location as your project location.

Thanks,

Nishu

[safetowear_9992]

If it updates every 15 minutes, there should be more project files. I had auto-save turned on, but there are no auto-saves from November 6 to November 17, even though I was working in After Effects the entire time.

[imran_1603]

Unfortunately, when a file is renamed with the same name as an existing file in the same location, the previous file is overwritten unless precautions like version control or backups are in place. However, here are a few steps you can try to recover the lost file:

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1. Check the Recycle Bin/Trash

• If the file was replaced, sometimes the previous version might be moved to the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac). Check there and restore it if available.

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2. Search for Backup Versions

• Adobe Auto-Save Folder:
  • If you're using Adobe software, look for an Auto-Save folder where backups of your project might have been saved.
  • Default Location for Adobe Premiere Pro Auto-Save:
    Windows: Documents\Adobe\Premiere Pro\Version\Auto-Save
    Mac: ~/Documents/Adobe/Premiere Pro/Version/Auto-Save
    
    
    • System Backup:
      • If you use a backup service like OneDrive, Google Drive, Time Machine (Mac), or File History (Windows), check for older versions of the file.

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    3. Try File Recovery Tools

    • If the file is not in the Recycle Bin or Auto-Save, use a file recovery tool to attempt to retrieve the overwritten file. Popular tools include:
      • Recuva (Windows)
      • Disk Drill (Mac & Windows)
      • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (Mac & Windows)

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    4. Restore Previous Versions

    • Windows:
      • Right-click on the file or the folder containing it and select Restore previous versions.
      • Browse through the available versions to see if the overwritten file can be restored.
    • Mac:
      • Use Time Machine to navigate to an earlier state of the file or folder.

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    5. Check Cloud Services

    • If the file was stored in a synced folder (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive), these services often keep previous versions. Check their version history or trash.

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    6. Prevent Future Issues

    • Enable versioning or backup systems for your projects.
    • Use unique names for projects to avoid accidental overwrites.
    • Regularly back up important files to multiple locations.

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    If none of these steps recover your file, unfortunately, the original may be permanently lost. It’s always a good practice to have a backup plan in place to safeguard important work.