OneDrive Folder/File Replacement Error

Question

I mistakenly replaced a Folder in OneDrive with a Folder of the same name. I no long have access to the files that were in the original Folder and need to restore/recover the files. The files are not in the Recycle Bin of OneDrive....

Answer 1

Hi @Andrew Cressman 

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. 
If a OneDrive folder was accidentally overwritten by another folder with the same name and the original is no longer in the Recycle Bin, there are a few ways to try recovering your files.

When you upload or sync a folder with the same name in OneDrive, its contents are merged rather than replaced. Files with matching names may be overwritten, but they will not appear in the Recycle Bin. Instead, you can recover previous versions using OneDrive’s Version History. 

To restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive, please follow:

-In Finder > open your OneDrive folder >Right-click the file > choose View Version History. (This will open the browser and show available versions). >Restore the version you need.  For more details: Restore a previous version of a file stored in OneDrive - Microsoft Support 

If you cannot find the files in that folder, please follow these steps: 
1.Check your second stage recycle bin 
-Go to the Recycle Bin in OneDrive. 

-Scroll to the bottom and click Second stage recycle bin. 

-Check if your folder is there.  

2.Check your local Mac (if OneDrive was synced) 

-Look in the Trash in Finder. 

-Check the local OneDrive folder on your Mac (especially if the sync did not finish before the overwrite). 

3.Restore from Time Machine (if enabled) 

-Open the OneDrive folder in Finder. 

-Enter Time Machine and roll back the folder to a date before the overwrite. 

4.If you're using a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous point in time (up to 30 days back). This feature is designed to undo actions like accidental deletions, overwrites, or corruption: 

-Go to the OneDrive website. (Make sure you're signed in with the correct account). 

-Click the gear icon > Settings > Restore your OneDrive 

-Under Restore your OneDrive, select a date before the overwrite occurred and follow the prompts.

For more details, please refer to Restore your OneDrive - Microsoft Support 

I hope this helps you recover your folder. 

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