Sharepoint - Files delete by "Stop Sync"

Question

Myself and a Coworker are connected to a shared library on Sharepoint which we access via OneDrive, recently she was experiencing some sync issues and attempted to reset the connection by using the "Stop Sync" link under OneDrive settings so she could re-sync the library. 

Once the sync was stopped all of the files she had worked on in the shared library were deleted, these files had already been synced to the Sharepoint more than a week ago.

We are in the process of recovering these files but I'm hoping to get some insight as to why this happened and prevent a recurrence. 

Thanks

Answer 1

Via the linked article I am using the OneDrive Sync, it reads OneDrive - <MyCompany>.  The files online were deleted as well as the ones stored locally on her computer, the files were found on the SharePoint recycling bin but not in her local recycling bin.

Steps taken by Coworker:

Clicked on onedrive taskbar icon

Clicked More.. > Settings

Clicked Stop Sync under locations

As I understand this is unexpected behaviour.

Answer 2

Hi JF_Chant,

Thanks for posting on our forum and we are glad to help you.

Firstly, may I know where the files have been deleted as you mentioned” all of the files she had worked on in the shared library were deleted”?

I would like assume it’s local synced folder, in the normal circumstances, after clicked "stop sync" link under OneDrive settings ,synced files will not get deleted but leave a local copy. The cloud files remain and need to download them again. You can get details from HERE. But per my test, for the Online Only files, they’ll be removed once disconnected/stop sync. But they will come back once re-connect your account.

In addition, please confirm which version of OneDrive for business sync client you are using, since the “stop sync” options are both available in the two kinds of clients. you can refer to this article. As OneDrive for Business Next Generation Sync Client has been released, the reliability and performance as well as essential user capabilities all have been improved. So if you are using the previous type of OneDrive for Business client, in order to prevent this situation recur, we suggest you install the latest new sync client. More information about OneDrive for Business Next Generation Sync Client, you can refer to this article.

If the situation is not like that, in order to help you effectively, could you provide the reproduce steps about “by using the Stop Sync link under OneDrive settings” and more details about” all of the files she had worked on in the shared library were deleted"? If it’s on cloud SharePoint Online library site, then it’s not expected behavior.

These information very  helpful for us to troubleshoot this issue. Appreciate your efforts.

Regards,

Nina

Answer 3

Hi JF_Chant,

Thanks for your updates and the reproduce steps details you provided.  Yes, this is an unexpected behavior. Stopping a sync will not remove the files from the cloud. As the files were found on the SharePoint recycling bin that’s means there is someone deleted those files. If you have set up Audit Log in SharePoint online. You can  View audit log reports if you have admin permission or contact your administrator to check whether have someone deleted these files.  More information about View audit log reports you can refer to this article. About how to configure audit settings for a site collection you can refer to this article.

Regards,

Nina

Answer 4

Hi JF_Chant,

Do you still need help? Welcome to post back if you need.

Regards,

Nina