How to recover unsaved Guitar Pro files and backups
A crash does not always mean the score is gone. Guitar Pro 8 keeps recovery copies in application-data folders, and the newest usable copy is often in Autobackups.
The practical answer
Copy the candidate backup somewhere safe, remove only the .bak suffix while retaining .gp, then open and immediately save it under a new name.
A step-by-step approach
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1
Close Guitar Pro
Quit the application before inspecting recovery copies so it does not update files while you work.
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2
Open the Guitar Pro data folder
Use the official LocalAppData path on current Windows versions or the Application Support path on macOS.
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3
Inspect Autobackups and backups
Sort candidates by modification time and begin with the newest copy whose size looks plausible.
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4
Make a safe copy
Copy the candidate to Documents or another working folder before renaming or opening it.
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5
Restore the filename
Remove the .bak suffix but keep .gp as the final extension, open the file, verify it, and use Save As immediately.
Where Guitar Pro 8 stores recovery copies
On current Windows installations, Guitar Pro directs users to %LocalAppData%\Arobas Music\guitarpro8\ and recommends checking Autobackups first, then backups. Versions earlier than 8.1.4 may instead use %AppData%\Arobas Music\guitarpro8\.
On macOS, use Finder’s Go to Folder command and open ~/Library/Application Support/Arobas Music/guitarpro8. The Library folder is normally hidden, so Go to Folder is more reliable than clicking through Finder manually.
Choose the best candidate without destroying evidence
Sort files by modification date and compare the time with the last editing session. A plausible file size is useful too: an unexpectedly tiny copy may contain less of the score than a slightly older, larger backup.
Do not rename the only copy in place. Duplicate it into a normal working folder first, preserving the original backup so you can return to it if the first attempt does not open or is missing recent bars.
Rename the backup correctly
Official support instructs users to remove the .bak extension and keep .gp. If extensions are hidden, enable filename extensions before renaming; otherwise it is easy to create a name that still ends in .bak without realising it.
Open the renamed copy in Guitar Pro and inspect the final edited passage, track list, tempo changes, and score duration. Once satisfied, use Save As with a fresh descriptive filename rather than overwriting the recovered copy.
If the newest backup will not open
Try the next most recent file from Autobackups, then move to backups. A crash can interrupt the latest write, while an earlier recovery point remains structurally complete.
Search both the current and pre-8.1.4 Windows locations if the installation has been upgraded over time. Also check normal project folders and recent-file entries before concluding that no usable copy exists.
Reduce the cost of the next crash
Use numbered working versions for important arrangements and save before large imports, track restructuring, or audio synchronisation. A cloud-synchronised project folder adds history, but it should complement rather than replace Guitar Pro’s local recovery copies.
Periodically test that your backup destination can restore a real .gp file. A backup strategy is only proven when the restored copy opens, plays, and can be saved again.
Common questions
Sources and review notes
Product details were checked against the official sources below on 9 August 2026. Offers and software details can change, so confirm current terms before buying.