In the event of lost or accidentally deleted or overwritten MATLAB files, there are a few places to look for backup files and previous versions of the file, although it is not guaranteed they will exist:
1. Autosave Files
By default, MATLAB is configured to automatically save a backup copy of any modified file every five minutes using an ASV extension. For instance, if your file is named filename.m, the backup will be filename.asv. You can recover the unsaved changes by opening the backup copy of the file, "filename.asv," and saving it as "filename.m". Refer to the Save and Back Up Code Documentation for more context and further instructions.
These backup files should be in the same directory as the original file. If not, go to MATLAB Home > Preferences > Editor/Debugger > Backup Files and check to see if you have specified a directory in which to store the backup files (under "Location" and "Single directory"). However, note that backup files would have been deleted upon closing the editor if the option "Automatically delete backup files when the Editor closes" is checked. Moving forward, consider unchecking this option to retain backups.
2. Operating System Backup Features
If a backup system is in place, such as Microsoft File History or Mac Time Machine, it may be possible to restore previous versions of your files if your operating system has saved them. Consult the following resources:
- Windows: Windows File History
- MacOS: View and restore past versions of documents on Mac
- Linux: How to Restore Previous Versions of a File on Any Operating System
For Windows, if File History is enabled, open File Explorer, right-click on the .m file, and select "Restore previous versions," at which point a previous version may be recoverable.
3. Cloud Storage Services
If you utilize programs that automatically synchronize files between your local hard drive and cloud storage service MATLAB Drive Connector, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox, files can possibly be restored through these services.
4. Third-Party Recovery Tools
If your operating system has not saved any past versions of the file, then unfortunately it is very difficult, if not impossible to recover the lost file. As a last resort, you can try Third-Party Recovery Tools or Professional Data Recovery Services.
5. Further Reading
You can find more ideas for recovering MATLAB files and other data on the page below:Recovering Data After Abnormal Termination - MATLAB Documentation
