LOST UPDATED EXCEL FILE

Question

Dear OneDrive Support Team,

I am writing to request urgent assistance in recovering a recent version of my file.

I had updated my daily expense log file today, May 21, 2026, at approximately 8:00 PM. When I reopened the file around 8:30 PM to make a small additional update, the latest version was no longer there. Instead, the file is now showing a version from approximately 15 days ago.

I believe the most recent version (saved at 8:00 PM today) may still be recoverable through OneDrive's version history or backup system.

Could you please assist me with the following:

1. Recovering the version of my file saved on May 21, 2026 at approximately 8:00 PM
2. Advising on how to prevent this from happening in the future

I would greatly appreciate your prompt assistance as this file contains important financial records.

Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Hi, SHAFAR M. A

This looks like the workbook may have been overwritten by an older synced copy, or the newer copy may be sitting somewhere else as a temporary, duplicate, deleted, or conflict copy. Before doing anything else, make a copy of the current file so you do not accidentally overwrite more recovery points.

Besides the solutions provided by the Q&A Assist, here are some suggestions you can try:

First, check whether OneDrive created another copy of the file. Go to OneDrive on the web and search for part of the file name, not the full name. Also look for names containing “conflict,” “copy,” the computer name, or your initials. OneDrive sometimes keeps a separate copy when it cannot merge changes cleanly.

Next, check both recycle bins. In OneDrive on the web, open Recycle bin and search for the expense file. If it is not there, scroll to the bottom and check the second-stage recycle bin if available. Deleted OneDrive items can be restored from the web recycle bin, and work/school accounts may keep deleted items longer depending on settings.

It is also recommended that you check the computer’s own Recycle Bin. If OneDrive replaced the file during sync, the newer local copy may have been moved there rather than permanently removed. Deleted OneDrive files may also appear in Recycle Bin depending on how they were deleted.

Try checking Windows backup copies: right-click the file or the folder it was in, choose Properties, then Previous Versions. If File History or backup was enabled before the problem happened, you may be able to open or restore a copy from earlier that evening.

Lastly, search the PC for recent Excel temporary files. In File Explorer, search this PC for .xls, *.tmp, and the file name, then sort by Date modified. Also check %AppData%\Microsoft\Excel\ using the Run box. If you find a recent file, open it carefully and immediately use Save As with a new name.

Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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Answer 2

To recover the recent version and help prevent this in future, follow these steps based on where the file is stored and opened from.

1. Try Excel’s built-in recovery (if Excel closed or reverted unexpectedly)

1. Open Excel.
2. If Document Recovery opens automatically, look for the daily expense log in the list.
3. Open the most recent recovered/AutoSaved version and save it with a new name.

If Document Recovery does not appear:

1. In Excel, go to File > Info.
2. Look for Manage Workbook / Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
3. Open the most recent entry for that file and save it.

This can restore content from the last AutoSave/AutoRecover point.

2. Restore a previous version from OneDrive/SharePoint (Version history)

If the file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and synced to the PC:

From File Explorer (OneDrive sync app installed):

1. Open File Explorer and browse to the folder containing the expense log.
2. Right-click the file and select Version history.
3. In the Version History pane, locate the version with a timestamp closest to May 21, 2026, ~8:00 PM.
4. Select the ellipses (…) next to that version and click Restore.
   • The selected version becomes the current version; the current one is kept as an older version.

From OneDrive on the web:

1. Sign in to OneDrive.
2. Navigate to the folder with the file.
3. Right-click the file and select Version history.
4. In the Version History pane, select the version from around 8:00 PM and click Restore.

Notes:

• Personal Microsoft accounts can typically retrieve the last 25 versions of a file.
• Work/school accounts may have more or fewer versions depending on library configuration.

3. If the file appears corrupted in Excel for the web

If Excel for the web reports the file as corrupted or with a changed extension:

1. Go to the folder where the Excel file is stored (OneDrive/SharePoint).
2. Right-click the file and select Version history.
3. In the panel, choose a version older than the broken one (ideally the one from 8:00 PM or just before).
4. Select the three dots next to that version and choose Restore.

Be aware that restoring a previous version replaces the current one and discards changes made after that version.

4. If many files were affected (wider OneDrive/SharePoint issue)

If multiple files were overwritten, deleted, or corrupted around the same time:

1. Consider restoring the entire OneDrive or affected SharePoint library to a previous time using Files Restore.
2. If only this one file is affected, use file-level Version history as above.
3. If no suitable version exists and the file is synced locally, check the local OneDrive folder in File Explorer for any working copy.

If none of these options recover the 8:00 PM version, contact Microsoft 365 support and provide:

• The full path/URL of the file.
• Approximate time and date of the missing version (May 21, 2026, ~8:00 PM).
• Whether the file is in personal OneDrive or a work/school OneDrive/SharePoint library.

5. How to reduce the risk of this happening again

1. Store the workbook on OneDrive or SharePoint and ensure AutoSave is turned on in Excel (for Microsoft 365 subscribers). This continuously saves versions in the cloud.
2. Use Version history regularly to confirm that new versions are being created.
3. Avoid working on the same file from multiple devices at the same time; close the file on one device before opening on another.
4. If using the OneDrive sync client, keep it running and ensure it is signed in so changes sync promptly.

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References:

• Recover your Microsoft 365 files
• Restore a previous version of an Excel file
• What is Version History in OneDrive and SharePoint?
• How to Use OneDrive Version History in Windows File Explorer
• How to recover missing, deleted or corrupted items in SharePoint and OneDrive for work or school