How do I recover files that were previously backed up to OneDrive but no longer seem to exist?

Jacqueline Alvarez 0 Reputation points
2026-10-14T00:59:59.4633333+00:00

I had multiple Word files in a subfolder that were saved on my PC and backed up onto OneDrive.

The last time I accessed these folders and files on my PC was about a week ago. Since then, I was getting notifications that my OneDrive was full. I deleted a bunch of documents / files from my PC and at some stage tried unlinking my PC from OneDrive. Ever since then, I've noticed all the items I deleted could be recovered but that specific subfolder (which I had not deleted) could not.

I found the main folder (where the subfolder was stored) this morning in the Recycle Bin on OneDrive, which I have now restored; however, when I open the folder, it is empty.

Up until this morning, I was able to see the Word files but would receive the following error message when I tried to open them: "Sorry, something went wrong Item does not exist. It may have been deleted by another user." Since restoring the other folders and files from the OneDrive recycle bin, the Word documents don't seem to exist on OneDrive anymore. Please help!

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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  1. Brian Tillman 27,580 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-14T01:36:43.9166667+00:00

    Hi. I'm Brian.

    I wanted to add to the AI's response by reminding you that OneDrive is not actually a backup. Your PC and OneDrive sync, which means that if you delete a file on your computer, it will be deleted from OneDrive and well and vice versa. You should always have another copy (minimum) of any data you believe to be important.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-14T01:00:17.4433333+00:00

    For a personal OneDrive account, recovery depends on where the files still exist and whether they were permanently deleted.

    1. Check the OneDrive website Recycle bin again.
      • Go to OneDrive on the web.
      • Select Recycle bin in the left pane.
      • If the missing Word files or the subfolder appear there, select them and choose Restore.
      • Personal OneDrive deleted items can be restored within 30 days.
    2. Check the PC Recycle Bin.
      • If the files were deleted from the local OneDrive folder on Windows, open Recycle Bin.
      • Select the files or folders and choose Restore.
      • They return to their original location.
      • Note: files deleted from the cloud, including online-only files, do not appear in the PC Recycle Bin.
    3. Search the local device.
      • Use File Explorer to search for the file names on the PC.
      • If the files were saved outside OneDrive or had not synced yet, they may still exist locally.
    4. Check whether the files were saved under a different account.
      • If another Microsoft account was ever used on the device, sign out and sign in again with the other account to verify the files were not saved there.
    5. If using Microsoft 365, restore the entire OneDrive to an earlier point.
      • Open the Restore your OneDrive options.
      • Restore to a point before the files disappeared.
      • This can undo deletions, overwrites, or corruption from the last 30 days.
      • Important: files or folders created after the restore point are moved to the OneDrive Recycle Bin.
      • If a file was permanently deleted from the OneDrive Recycle Bin, it cannot be recovered.
    6. If Word showed the files earlier but now OneDrive does not, try Word recovery options on the PC.
      • In Word, use the Document Recovery pane if it appears.
      • If multiple recovered files appear, use the most recent date and time to identify the correct version.
      • In Word, also check File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents.
    7. If the files still cannot be found:
      • For personal accounts, support agents cannot access files and cannot provide more help than the published recovery guidance.
      • If the files are not found by search, local device checks, Recycle Bin, or OneDrive restore, and they were permanently deleted, recovery is not available.

    Because the folder was restored but is now empty, the most relevant next step is Restore your OneDrive to a time before the unlinking and deletions, as long as this is within the last 30 days and the files were not already permanently deleted from the OneDrive Recycle Bin.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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