Where are my files?

Question

A week ago a popup came up to "backup" my files. I was in the middle of working on something and didn't realize that it was MS OneCloud. (Too many clouds to keep up with). Before I knew it a backup had started. I panicked when my files were no longer in the folder I had created and pinned to Quick Access. I went to the community and found a partial solution for locating my files. However, some of my important files between 2022 and 2025 have disappeared from File Manager/Explorer/whatever it is called. I know the exact names of some of these files and have done searches from every possible point of the root with no success. I do an external hard drive backup often, but obviously not often enough. I really don't have time to recreate these missing files and don't know what content is missing. At this point I am afraid to "try" anything for fear of losing more files. I did find most of them in the OneDrive>User Name>Documents>Desktop>Folder name, but not all of them are there. WHERE ARE MY FILES?

Answer 1

Hello PH777, 

Welcome to the Microsoft Community. 

 

I'm sorry you're experiencing this! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you locate your missing files and understand what might have happened: 

1. Check the OneDrive Web Interface  Sometimes files are uploaded to OneDrive but not synced back to your PC. To check: 

1. Go to onedrive.live.com and log in with your Microsoft account. 
2. Browse through: 
   1. Documents 
      1. Desktop 
         1. Any other folders that might match your original folder names. 
         2. Use the search bar at the top and enter the exact file names you’re missing. 

2. Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin  Sometimes files get deleted or moved during the backup process. 

1. On onedrive.live.com, look for the Recycle bin on the left sidebar. 
2. Check if your missing files are there. If so, you can restore them. 

3. Check Your PC’s OneDrive Folder  On your PC, OneDrive usually syncs to:  C:\Users<YourUserName>\OneDrive\  Check inside: 

• Documents 
• Desktop 
• Any subfolders related to your missing files. 

4. Check Your Local PC Folders  Sometimes files are left behind in the old location or moved to a backup folder. Check: 

• C:\Users<YourUserName>\Documents 
• C:\Users<YourUserName>\Desktop 
• C:\Users<YourUserName>\Documents\OneDrive 
• C:\Users<YourUserName>\OneDrive - <Your Organization>\Documents (if you have a work/school account) 

5. Search Hidden and System Files  Sometimes files are hidden. In File Explorer: 

• Go to the View tab and check Hidden items. 
• Search again for the missing files. 

6. Check OneDrive Settings for Backup Locations 

1. Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray (bottom right). 
2. Click Settings. 
3. Go to the Backup tab. 
4. Click Manage backup. 
5. See which folders are being backed up and where they are mapped. Sometimes, files are moved to the cloud version of these folders. 

7. Check for “Personal Vault” or “Shared” Folders 

• Rarely, files may end up in the “Personal Vault” or “Shared” folders in OneDrive. 

8. Use File Recovery Tools (if necessary) 

• If you suspect files were deleted and are not in any Recycle Bin, you can try recovery software like Recuva or Windows File Recovery (from Microsoft Store), but do not install these on the drive where files are missing to avoid overwriting data. 

9. Check Your External Hard Drive Backups 

• Even if the backup is a bit old, it might have the missing files. Check your latest backup for the files. 

 

10. Don’t Panic or Move Files Unnecessarily 

• You’re right to be cautious. Avoid moving or deleting files until you’ve located as many as possible. 

Bing, Microsoft Edge, Windows, Windows Insider Program is now supported on Microsoft Q&A. 

Starting from July 2, 2025, new questions must be posted there. Existing discussions will remain accessible on Microsoft Answers until July 6, 2025. 

Customers will be redirected to Q&A starting July 7, 2025. 

🔗 https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/questions/ 

 

Best regards, 

XXXX | Microsoft Community Support Specialist Hello, 

Welcome to the Microsoft Community. 

 

I'm sorry you're experiencing this! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you locate your missing files and understand what might have happened: 

1. Check the OneDrive Web Interface 
Sometimes files are uploaded to OneDrive but not synced back to your PC. To check: 

1. Go to onedrive.live.com and log in with your Microsoft account. 
2. Browse through: 
   1. Documents 
      1. Desktop 
         1. Any other folders that might match your original folder names. 
         2. Use the search bar at the top and enter the exact file names you’re missing. 

2. Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin 
Sometimes files get deleted or moved during the backup process. 

1. On onedrive.live.com, look for the Recycle bin on the left sidebar. 
2. Check if your missing files are there. If so, you can restore them. 

3. Check Your PC’s OneDrive Folder 
On your PC, OneDrive usually syncs to: 
C:\Users<YourUserName>\OneDrive\ 
Check inside: 

• Documents 
• Desktop 
• Any subfolders related to your missing files. 

4. Check Your Local PC Folders 
Sometimes files are left behind in the old location or moved to a backup folder. Check: 

• C:\Users<YourUserName>\Documents 
• C:\Users<YourUserName>\Desktop 
• C:\Users<YourUserName>\Documents\OneDrive 
• C:\Users<YourUserName>\OneDrive - <Your Organization>\Documents (if you have a work/school account) 

5. Search Hidden and System Files 
Sometimes files are hidden. In File Explorer: 

• Go to the View tab and check Hidden items. 
• Search again for the missing files. 

6. Check OneDrive Settings for Backup Locations 

1. Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray (bottom right). 
2. Click Settings. 
3. Go to the Backup tab. 
4. Click Manage backup. 
5. See which folders are being backed up and where they are mapped. Sometimes, files are moved to the cloud version of these folders. 

7. Check for “Personal Vault” or “Shared” Folders 

• Rarely, files may end up in the “Personal Vault” or “Shared” folders in OneDrive. 

8. Use File Recovery Tools (if necessary) 

• If you suspect files were deleted and are not in any Recycle Bin, you can try recovery software like Recuva or Windows File Recovery (from Microsoft Store), but do not install these on the drive where files are missing to avoid overwriting data. 

9. Check Your External Hard Drive Backups 

• Even if the backup is a bit old, it might have the missing files. Check your latest backup for the files. 

 

10. Don’t Panic or Move Files Unnecessarily 

• You’re right to be cautious. Avoid moving or deleting files until you’ve located as many as possible. 

Bing, Microsoft Edge, Windows, Windows Insider Program is now supported on Microsoft Q&A. 

Starting from July 2, 2025, new questions must be posted there. Existing discussions will remain accessible on Microsoft Answers until July 6, 2025. 

Customers will be redirected to Q&A starting July 7, 2025. 

🔗 https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/questions/ 

 

Best regards, 

XXXX | Microsoft Community Support Specialist