how to recover files that were on onedrive but have now disappeared.

Question

how to recover files that were on onedrive but have now disappeared.

Jenn V 0

i recently transferred files from an old computer (no onedrive) to a new computer (was made to sign in to my microsoft account) and rather than put files on my laptop it put them in one drive. after that i kept getting notifications that my one drive was full so i went to my files and i thought i transferred them to my laptop and i thought i saw them in the pinned section. but now they have disappeared. so i dont know what I actually did but it is imperative i recover these. please help.

Jenn V 0 Reputation points

2026-07-30T04:15:58.0933333+00:00

ive actually found the file path which shows I changed the folder name, would that have been a factor in them getting lost?

2 answers

Your answer

Jenn V 0 Reputation points

2026-07-30T04:15:58.0933333+00:00

ive actually found the file path which shows I changed the folder name, would that have been a factor in them getting lost?

Answer 1

Jenn V 0

I have since realised that the folder I created to transfer these files into was actually created from the OneDrive folder, the only place they were saved. After transferring them to what I thought was my local drive, I deleted them from OneDrive, not realising I was deleting them from where I had transferred them too as well as the original saves. I dont have a OneDrive subscription and it is clearly outside the time they are kept for as they are not on Onedrive recycle bin. I never wanted them on Onedrive in this first place, I thought I was transferring from laptop to laptop local storage, only realising that wasn't the case after the fact. I have lost some very important documents. as they were never on my laptop to start with, trying to recover them there is pointless.

Hendrix-V 17,525 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-04T07:27:30.7633333+00:00
Hi Jenn V,

Thank you for the additional details. Based on what you've described, it sounds like the files were originally stored in your OneDrive folder, and when they were deleted from OneDrive, the synced copies were removed as well. If the files are no longer present in the OneDrive Recycle Bin and the retention period has passed, recovery through OneDrive may unfortunately be limited.

At this point, the most worthwhile options are:

Check whether the original drive from the old computer still contains any copies of the files.

Look for any backups that may have been created previously, such as File History, Windows Backup, external drives, or cloud backup services.

If the files were stored on a local drive before being uploaded to OneDrive, consider using a reputable file recovery utility as soon as possible, since recovery chances are generally higher before the storage is heavily used.

I understand how frustrating this situation is, especially when the files were never intended to be stored in OneDrive in the first place. Since you've already identified how the files were deleted, the focus now is on locating any remaining copies or backups rather than troubleshooting OneDrive synchronization.

If you still have access to the old computer or storage device, sharing those details may help the community suggest additional recovery options.

Answer 2

Hi Jenn V,

Finding a file path that shows the folder was renamed is actually a helpful clue. In many cases, renaming a folder does not delete the files, but it can make them appear to be missing if OneDrive or File Explorer is now referencing the new folder location.

I recommend checking the following:

Open the file path you found and browse the renamed folder and its subfolders.
Use File Explorer search to look for a few of the missing file names and note their current location.
Sign in to OneDrive on the web and verify whether the renamed folder appears there with your files inside.
If the files still cannot be found, check the OneDrive Recycle Bin for any items that may have been moved or removed during synchronization.

Since you've already identified a folder rename, there is a good possibility that the files were moved or reindexed rather than permanently lost. Hopefully, this information helps you locate them quickly. If you find any additional details about the folder path or file locations, feel free to share them and the community can provide more targeted guidance. Thanks for your effort.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Hendrix-V 17,525 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-31T07:43:08.8433333+00:00

Hi Jenn V,

If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section. I'd be happy to assist you.