OneDrive deleted local files and started syncing old files !

Anonymous
2020-04-03T18:14:49+00:00

Hi,

OneDrive has suddenly deleted files in local folders that was not synced with OneDrive.

I installed OneDrive a while ago on my work computer and copied a lot of different files including Visual Studio projects to the OneDriver folder.

Later found out that OneDrive was causing problems for the Visual Studio projects and even though I had marked all folders to also be kept locally it wasn't working correctly.

So I moved all of the Visual Studio projects and several other folders back to the original location to make sure I had them locally.

Time goes by, and today when I turn on my computer I notice a lot of old files have been synced to my Desktop which is synced using OneDrive.

Then I also realize that the files that I moved out of the OneDrive synced folders have suddenly appeared again and old versions from back when I initially copied the folders are being synced again.

When I look at the local folder that is NOT synced with OneDrive, many of the files are gone - just like that - GONE.

There is no way to get the files back and all my recent work is lost.

I have looked in the online Recycle Bin and the Second stage recycle bin and none of the files are there (since they were never in OneDrive but only locally).

It seems like OneDrive has reverted the old actions of when I moved the files to the local folder and now old versions from back then are being synced.

This is completely unacceptable.

I have lost all my recent work.

How do I get my local files that has now been deleted by OneDrive but which was not synced with OneDrive back?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-03T18:34:30+00:00

    Hi Martin,

    Sorry for the trouble caused at your end.

    First, we would like to convey that OneDrive doesn’t delete the content by itself unless there is some other action like polices applied by the organization or due to some third-party software.

    Second, when you delete the files in OneDrive synced folder which is online-only(blue cloud beside the files), it will delete the files permanently.

                      

    If you delete the files that are Always keep on this device or locally available files (when you opened the Online-only files), those files will be moved to the recycle bin of Windows. So, you can check the recycle bin of Windows and restore it.

    Thanks,

    Chitrahaas

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-03T19:16:15+00:00

    The files in my local folder are gone and I did not delete them myself.

    I used them just before I went to bed and needed them again when I woke up and then they were gone.

    Instead old files have suddenly showed up in my OneDrive synced folders including on my desktop.

    Several of these files had previously (days/weeks ago) been moved out of OneDrive and to the local folder where they have now been deleted by OneDrive.

    I have not deleted any of the local files myself, I depend on them for work.

    I have seen notifications from OneDrive that a large number of files had been deleted, which was correct and my intention since I wanted the files out of OneDrive as I copied them back to have them locally on my computer.

    My guess is that suddenly all the files that was previously moved to the local folder has been reverted by OneDrive, hence why the old files are suddenly showing up in the OneDrive synced folders again and why the new versions are now gone from the local folder.

    This is a huge problem and a major flaw.

    I have lost all my recent work because of this.

    I need to have my local files back.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-04T03:33:52+00:00

    Even I have the same issue! I didn't delete or do anything! Now all my recent work are gone!

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-04-10T17:09:03+00:00

    This is a serious problem.

    I want to add that in my folder that is not synced with OneDrive, it is every single file that has been deleted, the folder structure is still intact, which obviously also shows that it is not something I have done myself.

    The old files have suddenly showed up back in the synced folder, but it is the old version from when I initially deleted / moved them out of OneDrive, meaning that I have lost all recent work because of this.

    How can this even happen?

    Why would OneDrive delete files in folders that are not even synced with OneDrive.

    My best guess is that after I moved a lot of files out of OneDrive, I saw a message saying that I had deleted a lot of files from OneDrive (I guess it saw them as deleted because they were moved), some mechanism most have decided to revert the action after X amount of days, even though I never asked for this to happen.

    OneDrive has caused a gigantic mess and loss of lot of work.

    To anyone reading this, stay away from OneDrive, it is not a mature product.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-04-13T04:39:36+00:00

    Hi Martin,

    Sorry for the inconvenience caused by this issue and we will try our best to help you.

    According to your description, as Chitrahaas mentioned, OneDrive will sync the file automatically in the OneDrive sync folder, and once you move the file out of OneDrive sync folder to location, these files will be not affected by OneDrive.

    To narrow down this issue, may I confirm that if you enabled back up the Important PC folder? You can refer to Back up your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive

    If so, we would like to inform that your Desktop folder, picture folder and documents folder will be sync to OneDrive automatically, and if you have restored your entire OneDrive to previous time, all file like Desktop folder, picture folder and documents folder on your PC will revert to the old version. Therefore, please check if those old version files stored in those folders.

    Reference: Restore your OneDrive

    Besides, if you have checked those deleted files are not stored in the OneDrive sync folder and the important PC folder, we would inform that there is no current option to delete local file via OneDrive.

    To narrow down this issue, may I confirm that if there is anyone else used your computer?

    @uata Please check if you have enabled Back up Important PC folder and have anyone else used your computer before then you?

    Looking forward to hearing your reply.

    Best Regards

    Higgins

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