How Does OneDrive Recover Overwritten Files & Deleted Files?

Can I recover an overwritten file from OneDrive?

People use cloud storage services to save and sync their files for convenience. For example, OneDrive users upload data to the OneDrive cloud storage space and can access the files on multiple devices.

Users can view, edit, share, and delete files on all devices, which is convenient. While editing, some users may meet some unexpected accidents, like file overwriting and deletion.

Data loss caused by overwriting and deleting is a common scenario. Many users are suffering from this issue and wondering, “How does OneDrive recover overwritten files & deleted files”.

Rest assured, this article can help you figure out how does OneDrive restore previous version and retrieve deleted OneDrive files.

Firstly, let’s figure out how to get your overwritten files back. So, does OneDrive keep file version history? Is it possible to get overwritten files?

Does OneDrive save previous versions?

Yes. As we all know, Windows PC is built with a previous version feature that allows users to get back their deleted/corrupted/saved over files. Similarly, there is one in OneDrive, too.

The Version History in OneDrive can help you restore the chosen file to its earlier status when people meet OneDrive file missing issues or saved over their data.

But there is one thing noticeable. This feature is only feasible for files. Users cannot restore a whole folder to its previous date but one single file. If you want to recover an entire overwritten folder, you should seek other ways.

Don’t worry; the following methods in the next part can help you.

How does OneDrive recover overwritten files?

In general, you can retrieve overwritten OneDrive files in three approaches. Check out the detailed steps.

Method 1. Recover overwritten files from version history

Users can let OneDrive restore previous versions of files in the local OneDrive folder. This feature works like the Previous Versions and File History on Windows machines. It records the changes you made to the files.

If you like, you can also back up File History to OneDrive, setting OneDrive as the location of the File History backup.

Step 1. Go to the OneDrive –Personal folder > select the target file > right-click on it > Version history.

Step 2. Check the versions > choose a preferred one > click the three-dot button > Restore.

Then the wanted version will overwrite the current version. Please choose Download if you need the current versions as well.

Method 2. Rollback your OneDrive

You already know how Version History works – it only supports version recovery of one single file at a time. Then, what if there are abundant files?

Given this, you should take a OneDrive rollback. Users who subscribed to Microsoft 365 can restore the whole OneDrive to an earlier date so as to get overwritten & deleted files back.

Notes:✎...

Please note that you can only restore OneDrive to 30 days ago at most.

Step 1. Visit the OneDrive website > sign in to your Microsoft account > click the Settings icon > Options > Restore your OneDrive.

Step 2. Select a preferred date > click Restore.

This way, you can undo all the changes you made to the OneDrive files.

Method 3. Restore previous versions of files on the local drive

Similarly, you could let OneDrive recover overwritten files via the Windows feature – Previous Versions. As long as you have enabled File History or System Protection, you can restore previous version of files & folders on the C: drive.

The advantage is that you can restore a whole folder & the whole OneDrive but not only a single file.

Step 1. Open the OneDrive Personal folder > find your target folder/file > click Restore previous versions.

Step 2. Choose your wanted version > Restore. Or click Open to check the difference.

You might also choose the whole OneDrive – Personal drive > Restore previous versions > select a version > Restore.

This feature helps you find previous version of Word documents and other specific types of data.

How does OneDrive recover deleted files?

Sometimes users will restore previous version of a folder to get back the deleted files in it, which is a feasible method but not convenient enough.

If you have mistakenly deleted files from OneDrive, you might head over to the Recycle Bin first. Unfortunately, the bin only saves the removed data for 30 days. After that, the data will be permanently wiped from your drive.

In this case, users could utilize an efficient Windows data recovery app, which allows users to scan the hard disk for deleted data very quickly.

MyRecover can be your firm helper. It has well-developed scanning techs and helpful features to search for lost and deleted files easily.

Easy-to-use. With a user-friendly user interface, it facilitates all users even without expertise. 

Efficient. It recovers 200+ types of data from HDD/SSD/USB/SD card, etc., in 3 steps.

Comprehensive. It retrieves data lost due to deletion, formatting, recycle bin emptying, viruses, etc.

Compatible. It is available on Windows 11/10/8/7/Server machines.

Now, let MyRecover help you recover deleted files or folders in OneDrive.

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

Step 2. Input filenames and extensions to target your wanted files quickly. Also, you can sort the searched files by Date modified, Type, Size, Path, etc.

Step 3. Go to Deleted files/Recycle Bin > locate the OneDrive folder > select what you want > click Recover x files.

Expect for OneDrive file recovery; this versatile tool can also help you undo quick format and get files back.

Minimize future data loss risks

This article answers “How does OneDrive recover overwritten files & deleted files” with detailed info. Users can let OneDrive restore previous versions via the local OneDrive folder, the Windows feature, and also the Restore feature.

If you wonder “How does OneDrive recover deleted files efficiently”, MyRecover will be a good choice.

Meanwhile, promoting your data security level is important and urgent to minimize future data loss risks.

• Only empty the Recycle Bin manually or enable Storage Sense if your device runs on low space.
• Update OneDrive regularly.
• Back up your files on a local, external, and cloud drive.