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
    2024-12-29T14:17:55+00:00

    I had same issue with an earlier version writing over latest version as described, but was able to successfully restore a newer version from web interface. I have Office 365

    Here is what happened :

    * updating an Excel file each day on desktop, windows 10

    * powered up laptop that is synced with Onedrive. Did not open any files on laptop.

    * found that version on desktop had been overwritten with weeks old version of Excel file

    * tried to restore previous version from Windows explorer using version history. Would not restore. Looked at version using Windows explorer and all the versions there pointed to weeks old version (even ones dated prior to that version)

    * went to online version of Onedrive using Chrome, selected file I needed (its a check box) and in version history option was able to download a previous version that was just one day old. So that version contained the correct and current data.

    ** renamed downloaded version to a new name, just to be sure it did not get overwritten again.

    This overwriting problem needs to be fixed!

    Good luck!

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-12-30T09:16:50+00:00

    I had the same issue: booted laptop that was turned off for several months and OneDrive overwritten all newer versions of files with the versions from the laptop. Thanks Joel for your advice - I was able to save a lot of work by going online and downloading newer versions from the history. As mentioned by previous people, using history from Explorer did not work.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-12-30T09:20:16+00:00

    Hey, you don't understand the issue. The newer files are overwritten by the old ones without ever opening them! Just by booting a laptop I got all newer versions overwritten (many files) without opening any of them. This is the problem many people here are describing.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-02T13:20:09+00:00

    So, has anyone already foud a solution to this issue?

    I have been working on several Excel files for weeks now.

    I know these files have been synced to Onedrive as I and some of my employees have been able to open the files and edit them as well.

    I just restarted my PC as it needed an update, and upon opening just now I wanted to continue working on those files, but these files have been replaced with versions from dec. 12th and dec. 21st.

    From both files, the version info states these files are the newest versions of the files, however I am sure there have been newer versions which were synced. I have tried resetting Onedrive in the Onedrive webpage to a version from yesterday, but this did not do a thing. It does not show replacing the file in the history tracker either.

    How is it even possible Onedrive just replaces these files with old versions, and how do I get my data back?

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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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