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 No comments

69 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2025-06-22T20:48:37+00:00

    I'm on my Windows 365 cloud PC. I figure that if I access the same PC in the cloud using only Files On-Demand, I won't have any old file versions in OneDrive. It's somewhat expensive, though. But, until my home internet speed matches the download and upload speeds of the cloud PC, I will continue using the PC in the cloud, for a while at least.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-22T16:14:37+00:00

    This has just happened to me. I powered up a machine that hadn't been used for a few weeks and onve drive synced those files losing all my work. Some I have managed to recover from previous versions in one drive. I'd like to know why this has occured as it's not acceptable and to me is a serious bug in onedrive. The idea of onedrive is that you shouldn't lose data like this. I've tried contacting microsoft but they aren't really interested, whicj frankly is not good enough when I am a paying customer for onedrive.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2025-06-18T02:04:43+00:00

    It's broken for sure. Luckily, I always have an internet connection available.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2025-06-17T23:54:04+00:00

    Microsoft is aware of the issue, and I'm unable to expedite the fix.

    All I have are workarounds. Freeing up all your files using the Files On-Demand "Free up space" feature is a good workaround, in my opinion. Why have outdated files sitting on your computer when the online OneDrive has the most recent versions?

    If you work on an old file version, then that becomes the latest version. Just opening an old version may pose a problem. Don't open a file until it has been fully synced and hopefully updated to the newest version from the cloud.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments