OneDrive Photo Recovery: Recover Deleted Photos from OneDrive

Wondering how to achieve OneDrive photo recovery? This post with 4 feasible methods will be worth reading to help you restore OneDrive files.

By @Lora Last Updated December 11, 2024

What happens to photos deleted from OneDrive?

With a big load of photos and videos taken/downloaded every day, plenty of users purchase cloud storage space to keep them.

And usually, these cloud storage services also allow users to access their files on multiple devices, which brings the convenience of course.

However, data loss accidents come along as well.

   
   
   
       

Microsoft OneDrive deleted files

       

Got a mate who deleted a load of photos from OneDrive, and just to ram it home, also the copies in the undelete/recycle folder. He didn't realize it would also delete them from his PC :(. Is there any way at all that he can get them back from OneDrive?

       

- Question from OverclockersUK

   

Ordinarily, you will receive a notice saying “Deleted files are removed everywhere” to warn you.

There are quite many users not aware of or forgetting the synchronization settings of the local OneDrive folder and the online one – when a photo gets deleted from one side, this pic will disappear from the other end as well.

No wonder many people found deleted OneDrive files were not in the recycle bin.

If you are one of them, keep reading and find methods that suit you to restore OneDrive files.

How to achieve OneDrive photo recovery?

This part gathers 3 feasible methods to help you recover deleted photos from OneDrive. Related info and noticeable points are covered as well.

Method 1. Recover deleted photos from OneDrive recycle bin

This method is quick and simple. If the photos were just removed from your OneDrive space for not so long (under 30 days), you could probably find them in the recycle bin.

But if beyond 30 days, please move on to the next solution.

Step 1. Go to onedrive.live.com > sign in to your Microsoft account > click the 3 horizontal lines icon> click Recycle bin.

Step 2. Select the photos you have deleted > click Restore.

You could also recover a deleted folder in OneDrive from this bin.

Method 2. Restore OneDrive photos from the local Recycle Bin

OneDrive trash bin has a time limit, while the local Recycle Bin doesn’t. If the pictures you want were deleted 30 days ago, it will be also feasible to recover deleted files from Recycle Bin on your desktop.

Notes:✎...
Though there is no time limit for the bin, it will meet its size limit if the removed files are too large. To restore large permanently deleted data, check the link and get help.

Step 1. Double-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop.

Step 2. Find what you have deleted from OneDrive > click Restore to perform OneDrive photo recovery.

If this method still does not help, move on to the next one.

Method 3. Restore your OneDrive to the previous date

Users who have subscribed to Microsoft 365 could restore the whole OneDrive to its previous date to revert changes you made, e.g., file deletion. You could restore OneDrive files like pictures and videos by performing it.

This is different from restoring previous versions of files and folders on your local drive.

Step 1. Sign in to your OneDrive account > click Settings > Options > Restore your OneDrive.

Step 2. Select a date when you are sure the photos were still existing > click Restore.

How to perform OneDrive photo recovery if permanently deleted?

The methods above require that the removed photos were not permanently deleted and users must have Microsoft 365. Otherwise, they would not be capable to recover deleted photos from OneDrive.

But there are still chances of a successful OneDrive photo recovery with the help of an efficient Windows data recovery utility. For convenience’s sake, using a tool is feasible and preferable for all users.

Among many tools, it is recommended to choose an advanced and efficient one to help you – MyRecover, specially developed for Windows users, allows you to realize data recovery with no difficulties.

Enjoy an easy OneDrive photo recovery using MyRecover
  • 200+ kinds of recoverable data, including 42 types of images.
  • Select files to restore from internal/external HDD/SSD/USB/SD card as well.
  • Recover deleted data and keep its format/filename/directory/quality intact.
  • Choose files and recover while scanning, no need to wait.
  • Compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7/Server, and also NTFS/FAT32/exFAT/ReFS.
Download SoftwareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 1. Download and start the app > Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 2. Sort the discovered files by Date modified, Type, Size, Path, etc. Searching files by extensions and filenames are also feasible.

Step 3. Locate the OneDrive folder > select the deleted photos > click Recover x files.

Thus you could restore OneDrive files like photos, videos, office files, etc. This app could guide you to recover deleted Dropbox files as well.

Related suggestions

This article gathers multiple methods to perform OneDrive photo recovery, aiming at helping users easily recover deleted photos from OneDrive as well as other kinds of data.

In case a similar dilemma falls on you again in the future, some suggestions are collected here, too.

  • Do not intentionally empty the desktop Recycle Bin too frequently.
  • Do not delete essential files in a hurry.
  • Back up your data in different places, e.g., keep it on local/cloud/external backup storage devices.