AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery
[Full Guide] How to Fix File Recovery Stuck on Working in PBI?
If the file recovery stuck on working in PBI, you can try locating the AutoRecovery folder and renaming the files. If that doesn't work, you can use an alternative method to recover any lost data.
By Irene / Updated on May 6, 2025
User case: File recovery stuck on Working in PBI
Power BI is a data visualization tool developed by Microsoft that helps users analyze data and gain useful insights. However, it can be very frustrating to lose your work, especially after spending a lot of time on a report without saving it. Luckily, Power BI includes a file recovery feature to help you get back unsaved or lost PBIX files.
Sometimes, though, this feature doesn’t work as expected. One common issue users face is the file recovery getting stuck on the message "Working on it" just like the user from Reddit:
My laptop died when working in PBI, and I'm trying to recover the file (it pops up in the list and clicked Recover) but it's been stuck on Working on it for half an hour, for the second time trying. I had to force shut down PBI the first time since I can't interact with anything (in that instance) when the prompt is up.
- Question from www.reddit.com/r/PowerBI
This can happen for several reasons, such as a system crash, Power BI crashing, or closing the program without saving. If you're facing this problem, don't worry. This guide will show you simple steps to fix the issue and help you recover your lost files. Please keep reading to learn how to deal with Power BI file recovery stuck on "Working on it."
How to fix file recovery stuck on Working on it in PBI
This section will introduce how to fixfile recovery stuck on Working on itin PBI. If you want to directly recover any lost data, you can go to the next part.
Fix 1. Find the Auto-Recovery Folder Manually
One way to fix the “Working on it” issue and recover your unsaved or deleted PBIX files is by manually locating the Auto-Recovery folder.
Step 1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer. Then navigate to the following location:
C:\Users\YourUsername\Microsoft\Power BI Desktop Store App\AutoRecovery
This folder stores files that were recently modified.
If you don’t see your files there, you can also open Power BI, click the File menu on the top toolbar, then go to Options and Settings > Options. Under the Save and Recover tab, click the “Open auto recovery folder” link on the right side. This will take you directly to the folder.
Step 2. Once you find the recovered file, copy it to another location like your desktop. Remove the ~$ at the beginning of the file name and try opening it again.
Fix 2. Update Power BI Desktop
Another way to resolve the issue is by updating Power BI to the latest version. Updates often include important bug fixes, security patches, and new features that improve performance and reliability.
To update, visit the official Microsoft Power BI website or download it from the Microsoft Store. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the update. Once done, restart your computer if needed, then check if the file recovery issue is resolved.
Fix 3. Look for Unsaved Work
If the Auto-Recovery folder didn’t help, you can try checking for any unsaved work stored temporarily by Power BI. Go to this folder:
C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Power BI Desktop\TempSaves
Look for files with extensions like .tmp or .pbi. These might contain unsaved data from your previous session. Copy the files to another location and try opening them in Power BI.
How to effectively recover lost PBI files?
If you're still struggling to recover your Power BI files and can’t find them in the AutoRecovery or TempSaves folders, it’s time to try a reliable data recovery tool. Before reaching out to Power BI support, first use a professional recovery tool to restore your PBIX files.
AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is a safe and effective choice for this task. It can recover many types of files from your computer and other storage devices, including Power BI files. This tool offers two scan options—quick scan and deep scan—so you can find your lost data fast and thoroughly. It supports over 1,000 file types, such as Word, Excel, PPT file, PDF, photos, videos, audio files, and more.
It works well with all major Windows systems, including Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server. It can also recover data from many devices, like SSDs, HDDs, USB drives, SD cards, and even local drives like the D drive.
With a high recovery success rate of up to 99% and fast scanning speed, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is an ideal solution to get your lost Power BI files back safely and quickly.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.
Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.
Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".
Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.
Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovery to end.
Conclusion
File Recovery stuck on Working in PBI can be very frustrating. If manual fixes like checking the Auto-Recovery or TempSaves folders don’t help, don’t panic. Using a powerful tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery can greatly increase your chances of getting those files back quickly and safely. With its easy steps, wide file support, and high success rate, it’s a reliable solution to recover lost PBIX files. Once recovery is complete, you can also reach out to Power BI support for further help if needed.
