Onedrive has removed local files from my computer after a reset

Question

I was uploading files to Onedrive and the software froze, it got stuck on Processing Changes...

After resetting Onedrive all of the files that were being uploaded have been lost and are no longer on my mac. They had not finished being uploaded to Onedrive so I can't recover them from online.

What can I do to recover these files after Onedrive has deleted them? I have checked the Recycle bin.

Answer 1

Hello Richard,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

I understand that you are having issue with OneDrive. I truly understand how you feel. Let me assist you go through this situation.

I suggest you try this:

1. Check macOS local snapshots

macOS can create local Time Machine snapshots even if you’ve never connected a backup drive.

Why this matters: If a snapshot exists from before the OneDrive reset, your files may still be recoverable.

How to check (no guessing here):

• Open Terminal
• Run:

tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

• If you see snapshots dated before the reset, open Time Machine and browse to:

~/Library/CloudStorage/OneDrive

(or the old OneDrive alias location)

Microsoft does not mention this path, but it is the single most successful recovery method after OneDrive resets on macOS.

2. Search the OneDrive CloudTemp and File Provider cache

OneDrive uses temporary storage during uploads.

Check these locations manually in Finder:

• ~/Library/CloudStorage
• ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.OneDrive
• ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.OneDriveStandaloneSuite

Microsoft documents the existence of temporary cloud folders on macOS, including OneDriveCloudTemp.

Look for:

• Partial files
• Files with random or long names
• Recently modified items

Do not restart or reset OneDrive again until you’ve checked these.

3. Use professional file recovery software

If the files were physically deleted from disk, only a sector-level recovery can help.

Important macOS limitation:

• If your Mac uses APFS on an SSD (most modern Macs do), recovery success is time‑critical and not guaranteed.

What improves odds:

• Stop using the Mac as much as possible
• Do not install software on the same disk
• Use reputable macOS recovery tools that support APFS snapshots

For more information, please check at this page: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/fix-onedrive-files-on-demand-issues-on-macos-12-1-or-later-8c99b82e-bf6e-4bb1-a3df-d0cc5bcbff93

I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

Best Regards,

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Answer 2

If your files were in the process of being uploaded to OneDrive and were lost after resetting OneDrive, unfortunately, there may not be a straightforward way to recover them. Here are some steps you can consider:

1. Check Local Recycle Bin: Since you mentioned checking the Recycle Bin, ensure that you thoroughly check it again, as sometimes files can be overlooked.
2. File Recovery Software: You might want to consider using third-party file recovery software. These tools can sometimes recover files that have been deleted from your system, but success is not guaranteed, especially if the files were not fully uploaded to OneDrive.
3. Backup Solutions: If you have any backup solutions in place (like Time Machine on macOS), check to see if you can restore the files from there.
4. OneDrive Online: Double-check your OneDrive online to ensure that the files did not upload successfully before the reset. Sometimes, files may appear to be in the process of uploading but may have completed without your knowledge.
5. Contact Support: If the files are critical and you cannot recover them, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for assistance. They may have additional options or advice for your specific situation.

Unfortunately, if the files were not uploaded and are not in the Recycle Bin or backed up, recovery may be challenging.

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References:

• OneDrive won't let me restore more than 1 file at a time - Microsoft Q&A
• A file that was synchronized in SharePoint Online or OneDrive is moved to the recycle bin