open files

Question

how can I open files that say we can't find? It also says Is it possible it was moved, renamed or deleted. Also how can I retrieve files from One Drive

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

You may receive this error if the file has been corrupted or deleted from your system. If the files were saved in OneDrive and you are experiencing a sync error, this type of issue may occur.

'Right-click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar and check if there are any sync errors. Share the error message if you see one'

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To restore your lost files, please let us know where they were saved. For example, were they stored in OneDrive or in a local desktop folder?

• If you saved the files online or synced your Documents folder with OneDrive, you can try accessing them through OneDrive online. To do this, go to OneDrive, select the My files section, and then open the Documents folder.
• https://onedrive.live.com/
• From there, try opening the files directly or downloading them to your desktop and checking whether they open correctly. Please see if you can retrieve the files this way.

If the file is still missing, check the Recycle Bin on your desktop and the OneDrive Recycle Bin.

Answer 2

Try this in order:

1. Go to the OneDrive website and search there first.
   • Sign in to OneDrive.
   • Use Search everything at the top.
   • Search by more than just the file name: try keywords, dates, tags, or places.
   • If the file opens on the website, the file exists in OneDrive and the PC copy may not be synced correctly.
2. Check the OneDrive Recycle bin.
   • In OneDrive on the left side, select Recycle bin.
   • If the file is there, select it and choose Restore.
3. Check that the correct account is signed in.
   • Missing files are sometimes in a different Microsoft account.
   • Sign out and sign back in with the account that was used when the file was saved.
4. Look on the PC in OneDrive and local storage.
   • Open File Explorer.
   • Check the OneDrive folder in the left pane.
   • Search the computer for the file.
   • Also check the PC Recycle Bin.
5. If OneDrive is not running, start it.
   • Check for the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.
   • If it is not running, open OneDrive from the Start menu and make sure it is signed in.
   • Then try opening the file again.
6. If using a personal Microsoft 365 subscription, restore OneDrive to an earlier time.
   • OneDrive can be restored to a previous point in time for the last 30 days.
   • Warning: files and folders created after the restore point are moved to the OneDrive Recycle Bin.
7. If using work or school OneDrive, restore may also be available.
   • On the OneDrive website, select Options > Restore your OneDrive.
   • This can undo actions from the last 30 days if the organization supports it.
8. If the file still says it cannot be found in Word or Office, try opening it from OneDrive directly instead of from the recent list.
   • Open the file from the OneDrive website, File Explorer, or from File > Open in the Office app.

If the file cannot be found in OneDrive search, Recycle bin, local search, or the correct account, the available guidance is to keep trying different file names, descriptions, and locations.

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