One Drive seems to have deleted all the files on my hard drive

Question

I was trying to stop onedrive from syncing and during the unlink, all of my local computer files were deleted. I'm trying to get them back.

Answer 1

Hello

Can you please go to www.onedrive.com, and confirm if your files are still there?

If so, please do NOT do anything yet, don't move them anywhere. I will share what's next. Just let me know if you find the files online first.

Answer 2

Follow these steps in order, and stop using the PC for anything else until recovery is attempted, to avoid overwriting deleted data.

1. Check OneDrive online (most important first)
   1. Go to the OneDrive website and sign in with the same account used on the PC.
   2. In the left navigation, select Recycle bin.
   3. Select the files and folders that were deleted and choose Restore.
      • This restores them to their original OneDrive locations.
   4. If many items are missing, and a Microsoft 365 subscription is in place, use Restore your OneDrive instead (see step 2).
2. Use “Restore your OneDrive” if lots of files are missing If a large number of OneDrive files were deleted/overwritten:
   1. Go to the OneDrive website.
   2. At the top of the page, select Settings > Restore your OneDrive (or Settings > Options > Restore your OneDrive, depending on experience).
   3. On the Restore page, pick a date just before the unlink/deletion happened, or choose Custom date and time.
   4. Use the activity chart/feed to confirm the point where the mass deletions started, then confirm the restore.
   5. After restore completes, verify that files are back in OneDrive and sync them again if needed.
3. Check the local Recycle Bin on the PC
   1. Open the Windows Recycle Bin on the desktop.
   2. Look for the deleted files or folders.
   3. Select them, right‑click, and choose Restore to return them to their original locations.
   • Note: Online‑only OneDrive files (placeholders) do not appear in the local Recycle Bin.
4. If OneDrive folder itself was deleted locally
   • When the OneDrive folder (which often contains Desktop, Documents, Pictures when backup is enabled) is deleted from C:, it can bypass the Recycle Bin and directly delete data. In that case, recovery depends on:
     • Whether the files still exist in OneDrive online (Recycle Bin or main library).
     • Whether a previous OneDrive restore point (step 2) can roll back the deletions.
   • If the files are not present in OneDrive online and not in the local Recycle Bin, there is no native Microsoft method to recover them; only third‑party file recovery tools might help, and success is not guaranteed.
5. If many files were corrupted/overwritten rather than deleted
   • For individual files that still exist but are wrong versions, use Version History in the OneDrive/SharePoint library to restore earlier versions.
   • For widespread issues in a work/school environment, use the documented “restore your entire OneDrive” or “restore a shared library” options.
6. Prevent further unwanted deletions/sync issues
   • To stop syncing without deleting files:
     1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.
     2. Open Settings > Settings tab > Account.
     3. Choose Unlink this PC. This stops sync but does not remove files already in OneDrive online.
   • If OneDrive is no longer needed on the device, it can be uninstalled from Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft OneDrive > Uninstall; files remain available at OneDrive.com.

If none of the above shows the missing data (not in OneDrive online, not in its Recycle Bin, not in the local Recycle Bin, and no OneDrive restore point available), only non‑Microsoft data recovery options remain.

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References:

• Restore deleted files or folders in OneDrive
• Restore your OneDrive
• How to recover missing, deleted or corrupted items in SharePoint and OneDrive for work or school
• How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive
• OneDrive desktop app for earlier versions of Windows
• Unable to restore deleted files from C:OneDrive - Microsoft Q&A