Urgent: Files Reverting to Older Versions on OneDrive

Anonymous
2024-05-25T06:34:20+00:00

Dear Microsoft Support,

I am experiencing an issue where many of my recently used files on OneDrive have reverted to older versions over the past few months. It is only today that I have discovered this issue. I access OneDrive on two PCs, my phone, and frequently online at work.

Typically, I notice a file has been overwritten with an older version when I check the version history and see two entries with the exact same date and time. Often, the overwritten version’s file size matches that of an older version from a few entries back on the list. There is no consistency in the dates and times when this issue occurs. It seems to be happening randomly. I've found that this has occurred with hundred's of my files.

This problem has been very frustrating and has significantly undermined my confidence in OneDrive. Could you please advise me if you're aware of any such issues and if you're working to resolve them. Also, can you please advise me as to how I can prevent this from happening in the future?

Thank you for your assistance.

Regards,

Michael

Edit: Further to the above, I've also discovered that OneDrive doesn't sync automatically between my PC and Laptop when I make changes to files. I have to quit and then re-start OneDrive on the other computer in order for it to sync and receive the updated file. It also doesn't automatically sync when I attempt to restore to a previous version. In order for it to update the file back to the pervious version I have to quit and re-start OneDrive (or possibly just pause and resume syncing, which I never tried).

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-20T11:08:50+00:00

    I do have OneDrive installed on multiple devices and this is what happened, OneDrive used the old files on another device to update the cloud, which is unacceptable! That means OneDrive only works if you have it installed on one device. This is 2025 and most people have more than one device. I hope Microsoft pays attention to this thread, especially since people have been flagging the issue for at least 5 years at this point.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-20T13:53:48+00:00

    Seven months on and this issue is still happening. I'm constantly running 24 hours behind despite the fact my one drive tells me the file was synced, and within a few hours of closing the file the file reverts to the one from the day before. In addition Onedrive persistently keeps restoring deleted folders. This only began after the latest update to Windows 11 so either this still isn't fixed and MS aren't taking this issue as seriously as they should or the latest update broke something again. There is no point in using Onedrive when Onedrive is a liability, this issue needs to be fixed.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-25T00:22:50+00:00

    I've just noticed that OneDrive has made a mess of my files too, after booting up a second laptop which synced to the same OneDrive as my regular PC, but which I hadn't used in a few months.

    There's a number of files I modified on the 1st January 2025 which have reverted to a version from October 2024 (OneDrive still shows them as modified 1st Jan, but their content is from Oct 2024).

    I also have files which have been recently modified, but OneDrive online are now reporting the current version is October 2024, and which is the old document. If I then go to the version prior to that, which OneDrive reports is from 2021, it's giving me the document I updated a few days ago.

    What a mess, honestly lost all confidence in OneDrive after this.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-02-02T17:13:36+00:00

    Same problem. So far only one file, I think. If OneDrive can't be trusted for cloud backup, that pretty much destroys the whole concept. With several people reporting this, it sounds like a SERIOUS problem.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-02-06T14:21:48+00:00

    Just had this problem for the first time. Many files deleted (found in recycle bin) and others reverted to an earlier date.

    Lost lots of updates to Excel files.

    Total loss of confidence in OneDrive

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