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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

69 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2024-12-01T23:34:12+00:00

    I've just experienced the same problem. I have a file that I update almost daily, and it's just reverted back to a version from 8 months ago. Every one of the 50 or so available versions in version history takes me back to the April version leaving me with 8 months' worth of missing financial data. I'm just consolidating all my data onto One drive ready to migrate to a new Windows 11 PC as recommended, and now I'm having 2nd thoughts. Is there any way to break the links of all these version history versions that point to an old out of date version? One drive must have my version from yesterday stored somewhere. Unlinking and relinking doesn't work - just reveals a whole swag of new unsynced files. Restore can't find a restore point, nor can File History.

    I too just turned on an old laptop that has been out of action for months with Bitlocker key problems and my issue has arisen since then. I wonder how many other files have been trashed.

    welcome to hell don't know what to do .... sa e to local commuter and backup to external drive. Microsoft sucks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2024-12-04T15:53:59+00:00

    Just to echo everyone else, I just booted a laptop that's not been used for a few months and have had the same problem.

    Rather than download and update the documents on the unused laptop with the latest versions, Onedrive has uploaded the old versions to Onedrive and replaced the latest versions. It has then deleted all trace of any newer versions (at least from a users point of view) leaving nothing in recycling bins and no trace in 'version history'.

    How hard can it be for Onedrive to simply go by dates? I can't believe this could have happened in the first place, let alone the fact that it's clearly a known issue and nothing has been done about it.

    In the case of the document I had been working on, I was luck enough to find an up to date copy that LibraOffice had hidden on the laptop I had originally been working on but I'm yet to look to see what else may have been lost. I see little option now other than to stop using Onedrive altogether.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2024-12-04T21:10:09+00:00

    You can use the "Free up space" feature to ensure that only the latest version exists in the cloud since it is the only version. That's just a workaround, though, and not what you really want.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2024-12-04T21:30:20+00:00

    You can use the "Free up space" feature to ensure that only the latest version exists in the cloud since it is the only version. That's just a workaround, though, and not what you really want.

    I'm not sure how this would have been a work around. It would appear that upon booting up the less frequently used laptop that still contained an old version of the document, Onedrive uploaded that old version and removed all trace of the latest version from the cloud.

    Then when I booted up my regular, daily use laptop, Onedrive downloaded that old document from the cloud and erased the current one that still existed in the laptop.

    So I appear to have gone from having the latest version on one laptop as well as in cloud, along with old version on less used laptop, to old version on both laptops and in cloud and all trace of newer version removed.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2024-12-04T23:28:47+00:00

    I mean, do not keep any local versions on your hard drive. After you work on files, use "Free up space" to turn them back into cloud files, which you know are the latest versions because they were uploaded, and only one version exists.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzIA9uykIhE

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments