Onedrive Sync Icon Displays but not in Onedrive Archive?

The OneDrive sync/checkmark icons in File Explorer indicate the local sync status of items in the OneDrive folder on that specific PC, not a guaranteed backup history or archive in the cloud.

Several things can cause a situation where icons looked “synced” but the file is not present in OneDrive on the web after a wipe:

1. The icons only reflect what the OneDrive sync client thought about those files at that moment. For example:
   • Hidden or temporary files in the OneDrive folder can show a syncing status but are not actually synced to the cloud and do not appear in OneDrive online.
   • Files may be stuck in a long-running “Processing changes” or “Sync pending” state and never fully uploaded before the wipe.
2. Some files are intentionally not synced:
   • Admins can block certain file types from syncing (commonly Outlook data files). These files can appear in the OneDrive folder on the PC but never upload to the cloud.
3. The OneDrive tray icon vs. File Explorer icons:
   • The white or blue cloud icon in the notification area can show “Up to date” even if some items in File Explorer still show a syncing icon, especially if they are hidden, temporary, or blocked file types.
   • After a system wipe, only what actually made it to the cloud is visible in the OneDrive web app. Anything that never fully uploaded is lost with the wiped PC.
4. Multiple accounts or locations:
   • If both a personal and a work/school OneDrive were configured, it is possible the file was in a different account’s OneDrive folder than expected. Each account has its own cloud storage; seeing a sync icon locally does not mean the file exists in the other account’s online OneDrive.

Why the file is not in the OneDrive web app now:

• If the file never completed upload (for example, it was still in “syncing” or “processing changes” state, or it was a blocked/temporary file), then it never existed in the cloud. After the system wipe, there is no copy left to recover.
• If it had been uploaded and then deleted before the wipe, it would normally appear in the OneDrive or SharePoint recycle bin for a retention period, but the question states nothing was deleted and it is not in the recycle bin, which strongly suggests it never successfully uploaded.

The icons therefore were not lying, but they can be misleading: they show local sync state and may show “syncing” or “up to date” even when some files are hidden, temporary, or blocked from actually being stored in the cloud.

For future protection:

• Regularly verify critical files exist in OneDrive on the web (not just in File Explorer) before wiping or replacing a device.
• Investigate any long-running “Processing changes” or “Sync pending” states using guidance such as in “OneDrive is stuck on ‘Processing changes’” or “OneDrive is stuck on ‘Sync pending’.”
• Avoid relying on files that are known blocked types for OneDrive sync.

References:

• What do the OneDrive icons mean?
• The OneDrive sync status icon incorrectly shows "syncing" in File Explorer
• I can't see any OneDrive icons