How to Recover Unsynced OneDrive Files?

What happens if I unsync OneDrive files?

Microsoft OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) is a file hosting service operated by Microsoft. It provides free 5GB storage space for users to keep, share, or sync their OneDrive files.

But some users could unsync OneDrive from PCs because they’re unwilling to continue subscribing to it. Assume you’ve paused the OneDrive sync process temporarily (2, 8, or 24 hours), there will be no synchronization of all/specific files during this period.

Sometimes, crashed computers, too many/larger files, and poor internet connection also can affect OneDrive files sync.

Let’s look at some cases.

Case A:

Case B:

For the first user in Case A, it’s likely there’s something wrong with his/her PC. In this case, this user can take out the hard drive with unsynced OneDrive files and put it into another PC to scan. Then you can get your needed OneDrive files.

But the second user, his/her OneDrive documents might have been deleted. Those users who’re eager to recover deleted files from OneDrive, please read further.

4 Ways to recover unsynced OneDrive files

If you’re eager to recover unsynced OneDrive files, perhaps the following solutions are right for you. Please get an overview of them.

Solution 1. Recover unsynced OneDrive files from desktop Recycle Bin

How to recover deleted files from OneDrive without syncing? As long as you’ve stored your desired OneDrive files on the Windows PC, you can restore them from the desktop Recycle Bin directly.

Step 1. Open your Recycle Bin and find your needed OneDrive files.

Step 2. Right-click on your selected OneDrive files and click the “Restore” button.

Solution 2. Recover unsynced OneDrive files from File History

How to recover OneDrive files? Undeniably, regular backups are the best hedge against data loss. If you’ve backed up offline OneDrive files using File History and saved them on your computer, you can restore unsynced OneDrive files with this built-in feature.   

★Tips:   

Please ensure Win8 and later users have opened System and Security to enable File History. If not, this free Windows feature is useless.

Windows File History is designed to back up files in Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, Desktop folders, and offline OneDrive files saved on your PC.

File History enables you to save backups in an external hard drive or cloud drive as you prefer.

These steps describe how to restore offline OneDrive files from File History.

Step 1. Enter “Control Panel” in the search box and open it. Then go to System and Security.

Step 2. When it comes to File History, select the “Restore your files from File History” option.

Step 3. Click the “Restore personal files” button.

Step 4. “Restore” your selected OneDrive files to their original saved paths. If you need to set a new saved location, please click Restore > Restore to.

Solution 3. Recover unsynced OneDrive files via Previous Versions

Though the above solution can help users salvage their offline OneDrive files, it cannot record the editing process of their OneDrive files.

At the moment, you can restore previous versions of files via Previous Versions as long as you’ve enabled File History. Likewise, if you’ve turned on System Protection of the local disk including your desired OneDrive files, Previous Versions also works for you.

After activating these features, you can get several copies of your offline OneDrive files according to the timeline. Please refer to the following steps.

Step 1. Go to the OneDrive Personal folder and choose the folder that saves your needed OneDrive files. Then right-click on it and select the “Restore Previous Versions” option.

Step 2. Browse and select an earlier version according to its time and importance. Then click the “Restore” button.

To recover large deleted folders under OneDrive, you can right-click on OneDrive and select Restore previous versions. After that, “Restore” your chosen file/folder version.

Solution 4. Recover unsynced/deleted OneDrive files via data recovery software

Previous Versions indeed is a practical feature for you to revert OneDrive or its folders to its previous state. However, some users haven’t developed a sense of taking data loss prevention measures. Let alone making regular backups.

So how to recover deleted files from OneDrive without backups? The answer is seeking help from professional Windows data recovery tools like MyRecover. Maybe you’ll be attracted by its powerful features, good compatibility, and easy-to-follow steps.   

★Tips:   

Powerful features: Recover deleted & lost MS Office files, folders, compressed files, photos, videos, audio, and hundreds of file types from HDD, USB, SD cards, etc.

Easy-to-find: During Quick Scan and Deep Scan, you can search your desired folders by Path, Filename, Date, etc.

Convenient: Retain the original Path, Filename, and Format for the deleted files.   

Excellent compatibility: Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.

Download MyRecover on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows computer to recover deleted OneDrive files!

Step 1. After launching MyRecover, hover the mouse over the partition that stores the OneDrive files you want. Then click Scan.

Step 2. You can quickly locate your desired OneDrive files by Name, Path, Date, or Type. You can also wait to view all the deleted & lost files after the scanning process.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files and click the OneDrive folder. Then select your needed OneDrive files and click the “Recover x files” button.

After the Windows data recovery process, you’d better stored these retrieved OneDrive files in a new location.

Wrapping up

How to recover unsynced OneDrive files? In brief, it’s relatively easy for you to restore deleted OneDrive from your desktop Recycle Bin if you’ve saved them on your PC.

Besides, regular backups even can help you restore OneDrive files after emptying your Recycle Bin. On the contrary, there’ll be no other way than using leading Windows data recovery software like MyRecover. 

Since you’ve realized the importance of backups, it’s time for you to make backups via Windows features or free backup software for Windows, AOMEI Backupper.