Tutorial | Onedrive File Recovery: Restore OneDrive Files Easily

How do I recover files on OneDrive?

People nowadays are very willing to use cloud storage services to keep their data synced across several devices, for the sake of convenience.

Microsoft OneDrive is one of the most well-known and widely used file hosting services. It allows users to save, sync, and share important data with 5 GB of free storage space.

Data loss occurs regularly on a cloud storage space when in use, just as it does on local storage devices. Some users even complained that “OneDrive deleted my local files”.

Some users might find deleted files not in Recycle Bin, as well as in the OneDrive trash can.

Then, where do the deleted files go after deleting? It is obvious that the files were permanently deleted.

Can you recover permanently deleted OneDrive files?

When you remove a file, you will receive a prompt notice saying the files will be kept in the OneDrive recycle bin for at most 30 days.

After 30 days, the items you removed will be permanently wiped from the bin.

Though the desktop Recycle Bin doesn’t have a time limit, there is indeed a size limit. When the bin meets its size limit/gets full, the items in it will be lost as well.

Not to mention that many people manually or accidentally empty the Recycle Bin.

But don’t worry, even though the data was permanently removed, it was recoverable with the help of professional Windows data recovery tools.

How to perform OneDrive file recovery?

This part will walk you through 2 methods to restore OneDrive files, if these 2 approaches are not helpful, an efficient tool will be introduced to assist you.

1. Restore OneDrive files on the OneDrive website

As mentioned before, if you delete an item on the OneDrive website, or from the OneDrive app, it will be “removed everywhere”.

But if you have emptied the desktop trash can or removed it again from the bin, luckily, the file would still stay in the website OneDrive recycle bin.

Notes:✎...

This recycle bin only keeps the unwanted files for the utmost 30 days.

Step 1. Sign in to onedrive.live.com with your Microsoft account > Click the Menu button on the upper-left corner > Recycle bin.

Step 2. Choose your wanted files > Restore. Or, click Restore all items to get back all removed data.

Easily, you could achieve OneDrive file recovery from the website trash can.

2. OneDrive recover deleted files via the desktop Recycle Bin

Vice Versa, if the deleted files exceeded the 30-day limit, you could also go check the desktop Recycle Bin. As long as you haven’t manually emptied it, you could have a big chance to recover deleted files from OneDrive.

Step 1. Start Recycle Bin on the desktop > find the deleted OneDrive files > Restore.

3. Achieve OneDrive file recovery after permanent deletion

If both the 2 methods above don’t make it, or your files were permanently deleted from everywhere, some other tricks and actions should be taken.

On one hand, you could turn to your backups if you possess any. You could restore files from backups in Windows 10/8/7, or Windows 11. This is the common choice users will take.

But on the other hand, accidents always arrive without omens. Considerable users haven’t formed a habit of backing up files.

If you are one of them, you might as well take a look at some Windows data recovery apps. MyRecover is one of the best choices for it is easy, advanced, efficient, and also compatible.

Now follow the steps to learn how to recover deleted files from OneDrive.

Step 1. Install and run the software > Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 2. Filters like Size, Type, Date modified, etc., are to help you target wanted files. If you can recall the filename, input the file name to target it.

Step 3. Go to Deleted files > navigate to the Onedrive folder > select deleted files > click Recover x files.

FAQ

With the methods in this article, OneDrive file recovery won’t be a difficult task. And also, some more answers are prepared for you in case you need them.