OneDrive replaces newer versions of files with old versions

Anonymous
2024-04-12T15:53:38+00:00

I often do work on files (Word and Excel) while not connected for the internet, sometimes for a couple weeks while traveling. Then when I do have internet, OneDrive keeps replacing the updated files with older versions it has stored. I lose weeks worth of work. It is so frustrating. How do I recover the lost work? Why does OneDrive replace newer, updated versions with the old ones?

Second, when I disconnect OneDrive, although I have it set to keep all files on my laptop, I no longer have the folders or files on the laptop. I go to Windows Explorer and Documents and Pictures folders are gone. Also, I go to This PC>Window>Users and there are no folders, no files.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-20T10:36:49+00:00

    Same problem here - I cannot believe Microsoft seem to be doing nothing?

    I have recently "revived" two old laptops, both using OneDrive to Sync my most valuable files.

    After the first laptop I noticed that 5 files I use quite often had lost data. I went through manually and restored previous versions which had the missing data. At the time I did not realise how the data had been lost and assumed I had done something stupid.

    Today I revived an old laptop that I had not used since 2022 and HUNDREDS of files were UPLOADED to OneDrive. At first I thought it was just me missunderstanding the term upload and that OneDrive had just DOWLOADED the new files to the laptop.

    BUT NO - just look at the dates Date Modified Date Created

    I have no record of what files this stupid OneDrive has uploaded and no means (or the time) to go through the thousands of files in my OneDrive and restore a previous version. Even if I could I cannot imaginge I could spot all the wrongly updated files.

    I just cannot believe Microsft could make such a cockup in a simple time / date SYNC process?

    Luckily I have a backup of my OneDrive from last month but this is just ridiculous and could result in many users loosing their valuable data without realising. PLEASE FIX THIS URGENTLY MICROSOFT.

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  2. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2025-01-17T02:18:52+00:00

    You can restore the entire OneDrive all at once: Restore your OneDrive

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-16T21:09:32+00:00

    Same problem for me.

    Booted a laptop which has not been used for a while, and thousands of file were uploaded and replaced with old versions!

    Not sure why Microsoft is not addressing this issue that makes one drive unusable and people may be losing precious information.

    I was able to go one by one and restore the old version from cloud, but it took several hours of manual work!

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-02T21:08:26+00:00

    ALL old versions even ones that I changed the name all have been updated to old data... ****. It should be called downdated. ... opening any newer version all has the same data...

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  5. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2025-01-02T17:28:39+00:00

    Here is the information you need to restore your previous versions: View previous versions of Office files

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