How to find OneDrive recycle bin for Microsoft word on my Windows PC?

malka koenig 0 Reputation points
2026-10-13T21:47:02.6466667+00:00

I inadvertently deleted a word document file. It was saved in file explorer and password protected. I have the password but cant find the file. How do I access OneDrive recycle bin?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-13T21:47:18.55+00:00

    If the document was deleted from OneDrive, the quickest way to access the OneDrive recycle bin on a Windows PC is through the OneDrive website:

    1. Go to onedrive.com and sign in with the Microsoft account used for OneDrive.
    2. In the left navigation pane, select Recycle bin.
    3. Find the Word document, select it, and choose Restore.

    If the file was deleted from the local OneDrive folder in File Explorer, also check the Windows Recycle Bin:

    1. Open Recycle Bin on the desktop.
    2. Find the file.
    3. Right-click it and select Restore.

    Important details for the scenario described:

    • A password-protected Word file can still be restored like any other file if it is in OneDrive or the Windows Recycle Bin.
    • Files deleted from the cloud, including online-only files, do not appear in the PC Recycle Bin. Those must be restored from the OneDrive website recycle bin.
    • For personal OneDrive accounts, deleted files can be restored within 30 days.
    • If the file was permanently deleted from the OneDrive recycle bin, it cannot be restored.
    • If the file might have been saved somewhere else, sign in to OneDrive on the web and use Search everything at the top to search by filename or related words.
    • If the file was stored in Personal Vault, it will not appear in search results. In the OneDrive recycle bin, use Show Personal Vault items after unlocking Personal Vault.

    References:

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

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  2. Paulo GM 73,340 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-13T22:32:56.9466667+00:00

    Hi,

    OneDrive does not have a separate Recycle Bin in the desktop. If a file is stored locally and has a green check mark, deleting it will move it to the Windows Recycle Bin.

    However, if you delete a file from the OneDrive website, you can restore it from the Recycle Bin on the web. The same applies to online-only files, as they are not stored locally and will not appear in your computer's Recycle Bin. You may still be able to recover them through the Recycle Bin on the OneDrive website.

    Please check this article for further details:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/restore-your-onedrive-files

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