OneDrive replaces newer versions of files with old versions

I do understand. I just wanted to make sure we were talking about it in the right place, since this problem seems to be such a simple one to fix for it to be taking more than a year.

"Freeing up all your files using the Files On-Demand "Free up space" feature is a good workaround"

Agree, but it has obvious downsides

"Why have outdated files sitting on your computer when the online OneDrive has the most recent versions?"

I need to have access offline, because I often work offline. I need to make changes from multiple computers because I need to use multiple computers. Having outdated files sitting on the one I'm not using is just a consequence.

"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."

That's the surprising part of this all. I didn't. I'm a software developer and I do understand the complexities of synchronization, so I'm actually quite careful about never updating files unless the latest version is in the computer I'm using (either because it has synched or because I created it in that same device). I have had this issue twice, the last one is the one where I understand what happened better.

Specifically:

1. I was using Device 1 on February, and stopped using it in February too. The files were in synch before I stopped using it (I always make sure before I stop using a device)
2. I worked on Device 2 from Feb to June 13. Again, made sure the files were updated before I started working on it and after I finished.
3. On June 15, I returned to Device 1, I turned the device on and let it synch (as I always do), after the synch process finalized I started opening some files and I noticed several files had lost all the changes made on Device 2.
4. I was able to recover the files going to the version history where the right ones are the second to the last one, and the old (local) one was added as the last version. Weird enough, not with the current date or the date of the last local update, but with the exact same date as the second to the last one (that is the right / new version form my other computer)

Even changing The file to a new name a new name I will update the old one file with a date code to the new name. I started dating them + it changes old file 1 10 24 to new 1019 24 but then copies the old data from the January file over to the October file even though you've changed the name. they have a serious problem and there should be a huge lawsuit. I've lost years of data and hours of time. stop using OneDrive copy to the hard drive, then do a backup to another drive.

I suggest that if you intend to save old versions of files, you should move them into a different folder. The latest version should not be mixed with the older versions in the same folder, especially when the names are identical.

Or find the latest file and rename it so that it cannot be overwritten by older files.

From the OneDrive engineering team:

"Some OneDrive users may see Shared Folders displayed as URL links in the OneDrive sync client and apps. OneDrive engineering is working on this issue and URL links will convert back to display as folders once it is resolved. In the meantime, login to your account at OneDrive.com anytime to access your shared folders."

If you can't sync for some time, I suggest you click on "Save As" and rename the file to something other than the old version or save a copy of the file using the same name outside of OneDrive. Then, when you get the internet again, delete the old version, which will go to the recycle bin, and then move the latest version into OneDrive. Or just let the latest version with a different name that you kept in OneDrive sync up to OneDrive.

You shouldn't be syncing up to old versions of files anyway.