recover my photos and videos from one drive

Tyler Johnson 0 Reputation points
2026-08-18T19:30:50.3933333+00:00

my account was hacked i was able to get back into it. i had a bunch of photos and videos for my work. can i get them back?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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  1. GsN5034 - IA 78,615 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-19T04:37:07.45+00:00

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

    This means your files are still available in the OneDrive Recycle Bin, but during the restore process, you are being asked to verify your identity using an alternate email address or phone number - that has been changed.

    Can you successfully sign in to your account through the Security settings page?

    https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage

    If you are stuck on the verification screen, you will need to replace the security information on your account. On the Verify Your Identity screen, select “I don’t have any of these” and follow the prompts to replace your security information.

    Note - If you remove all of your previous security information and replace it with something new, your account will be put into a restricted state for 30 days.

    But please note that the items in the recycle bin are automatically deleted 30 days after they're put there. 


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  2. Craig Long 18,830 Reputation points
    2026-08-18T23:08:14.8233333+00:00

    If the hacker deleted your OneDrive files and emptied the Recycle Bin, those files cannot be recovered.

    However, if you have copies on your computer or on an external backup, you can retrieve your files.

    Without signing in to OneDrive, first see if you can copy your local OneDrive folder to a safe location outside of OneDrive.

    Then see if this helps: https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/accounts-billing/manage/how-to-recover-a-hacked-or-compromised-microsoft-account

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  3. Tyler Johnson 0 Reputation points
    2026-08-18T19:32:16.48+00:00

    so when i go to recover. and select recover it asked for a alternative email that is not my email. its whoever hacked my account. and the phone number that i cant delete is not mine

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  4. AI answer

    2026-08-18T19:31:04.72+00:00

    Yes—there are a few supported recovery paths for OneDrive photos and videos after account compromise.

    1. Scan the PC for malware first Before changing anything else, run a full antivirus scan. In Windows Security, go to Virus and threat protection > Scan options > Full scan > Scan now.
    2. Check the OneDrive Recycle bin On the OneDrive website, select Recycle bin on the left. If the photos or videos are there, select them and choose Restore.
    3. Check Personal Vault Files stored in Personal Vault do not appear in normal search results. In OneDrive, unlock Personal Vault and confirm the missing items are not there.
    4. Check the local PC Recycle Bin or Mac Trash If the files were deleted from a synced device, they may still be recoverable locally:
      • Windows: open Recycle Bin, select the files, right-click, and choose Restore.
      • Mac: open Trash, select the files, right-click, and choose Put back.
      Note: online-only files do not appear in the computer Recycle Bin or Trash, and files deleted from the cloud must be recovered from the OneDrive web Recycle bin.
    5. Use Restore your OneDrive If there were many deletions or changes, OneDrive can restore the entire OneDrive to an earlier point in time.
      • Sign in to the OneDrive website.
      • For personal accounts with Microsoft 365: Settings > Options > Restore your OneDrive.
      • Select a date such as Yesterday or Custom date and time.
      • Review the activity chart and activity feed, then restore.
      Important: restoring sends files or folders created after the restore point date to the OneDrive Recycle Bin.
    6. Review account settings after the hack After regaining access, check whether forwarding, connected accounts, or automatic replies were changed:
      • connected accounts
      • forwarding
      • automatic replies
    7. If the files still cannot be found Use the Microsoft account recovery/help flow for compromised accounts. The sign-in helper can guide to self-help steps or offer the chance to talk to an agent.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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