OneDrive replaces newer versions of files with old versions

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

You absolutely must have OneDrive running, syncing, and up to date before working on a file. You should make sure all files have synced and are up to date before shutting down the PC. Are you saying this may not have happened?

Indeed, the answers are not about fixing the problem. We want OneDrive not to overwrite newer files with older files, we don't want workarounds or to be inconvenienced by having to figure out we're actually working on an older version and go into file history to find which version was the latest.

My wife has two laptops, one that she doesn't use much but they both sync to OneDrive. And when she boots up the second less used laptop she hasn't used for a few weeks, boom, the newer files that she just saved a few days ago got overwritten and they weren't even saved manually on the old laptop. I'm guessing she may have opened the file not realizing it hadn't synced from the newer version, and then it autosaved on close, overwriting the new file.

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 Is there any way to break the links of all these version history versions that point to an old out of date version?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.

I have exactly the same problem. Now I have to keep a second copy of the OneDrive, but this is almost like not having OneDrive. I cannot walk around with a usb stick either.