Find lost or missing files in OneDrive

1. Sign in to the OneDrive website at www.onedrive.com
   Sign in

   Tip: Mobile users should use a Private or Incognito window to prevent the OneDrive app from opening.

2. Use Search everything at the top of the page to look for your files.

   Tip: When searching, don't just use filenames, search with descriptions, tags, dates and places, e.g. "cat", "sunny", "April" or "Paris".

   

   Notes: 

   • Files in your Personal Vault don't appear in search results.

   • If someone deletes a file or folder they shared with you, it will no longer be available.

1. On the left side of the OneDrive website, select   Recycle bin

2. If you find the item you're looking for, select it and choose Restore at the top of the page.

   Note: Files deleted from your Personal Vault only show up in your recycling bin if your Personal Vault is unlocked before you check the recycle bin. You can unlock the Personal Vault and see those items if you select Show Personal Vault items in the recycle bin.

Files from your Personal Vault don't show up in your search results so you may want to confirm that your missing files are not stored in your Personal Vault.

To unlock the Personal Vault and see the items there, select Show Personal Vault items in the recycle bin. If you don't see the command, your Personal Vault is already unlocked.

If you can't find files you deleted, check whether you're logged in to the correct Microsoft account - your files might be safely in another OneDrive.

Did you use someone else's computer or account when saving the file? Was someone else signed in to your computer when the file was saved? If so, sign out of your OneDrive and sign in again using the other account.

If you are also a OneDrive for work or school user, you might have saved your files to your other account instead of your personal account. To check for the files in OneDrive for work or school, review the Work/school tab near the top of this article. 

If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous point in time.

1. Open the Restore your OneDrive options.

2. Undo all the actions that occurred on both files and folders within the last 30 days.

   Caution: When restoring, any files or folders created after the Restore point date will be sent to your OneDrive Recycle Bin. You can restore files from there regardless of restore point date.

Learn more about Restoring your OneDrive.

If a file has been saved outside of your OneDrive, or your device has not yet synced the file to OneDrive, try these options:

• Use File Explorer or Finder to search for files on your computer, or use the Files app to search for content on your mobile device.

  Tip: If you have an iOS device that has photos optimized for iCloud, photos aren't stored on the device and can't be uploaded to OneDrive. To disable iCloud optimization on your iOS device, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos and clear Optimize Storage.

• Check your computer's Recycle bin or Trash.

To protect your account and its contents, our support agents are not allowed to access your files. Our support agents cannot provide any more help than the guidance listed above.

If you are not able to successfully find your lost or missing files using these tips, all we can suggest is to keep trying different filename spellings, alternative descriptions and other locations.