Mass file loss OneDrive 03/19/2026, folders empty, sync issue suspected

Isabelle Alice Roch 20 Reputation points
2026-07-07T11:39:55.0966667+00:00

Hello,

I am contacting you regarding a mass loss of documents that occurred on my OneDrive account (Microsoft 365 Personal) on March 19, 2026, around 3:45 PM.

Description of the issue:

  • A large number of documents disappeared from my OneDrive at that date and time.
  • The folder structure itself remained intact: only the folders are empty, as if their content had been deleted without the folders themselves being affected.
  • This deletion was not intentional on my part.
  • The observed behavior (folders preserved, content deleted) suggests a possible synchronization conflict or bug that occurred at that time, rather than a standard manual deletion.

Steps already taken:

  • I checked the OneDrive Recycle Bin: the files are no longer there (30-day retention period has passed).
  • The "Restore your OneDrive" feature only covers the last 30 days, which does not allow me to go back to March 19.
  • I checked the version history of the remaining files, with no results for the missing files.

My request:

Could you please check on your end whether there is any trace of this incident in the synchronization or activity logs for my account on March 19, 2026, around 3:45 PM? I would like to know:

  1. Whether a specific event (bug, synchronization conflict, known incident) was identified on your infrastructure during that period.
  2. Whether there is any possibility of recovering the files beyond the standard Recycle Bin retention periods, given the potentially abnormal nature of this deletion.

I remain available for any additional information (account name, devices used, screenshot of the current folder state, etc.).

Thank you in advance for your help, and I look forward to your response.

Best regards,

Isabelle

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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Answer accepted by question author
Antonino Schiliró 160 Reputation points
2026-07-07T12:00:10.4433333+00:00

Hello Isabelle,

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your files.

Community members do not have access to Microsoft's backend systems, synchronization logs, or internal service telemetry.

A few important points:

  • The OneDrive Recycle Bin and the "Restore your OneDrive" feature have retention limitations, and you have already indicated that those recovery options are no longer available.
  • Community members cannot access historical activity logs beyond what is visible to the account owner.
  • Microsoft Support is the only channel that can investigate whether any account-specific information remains available.

Because more than three months have passed since the reported incident, recovery options may be limited. However, if there is any possibility of investigating historical account activity or determining whether a service-related issue occurred, Microsoft Support would be the appropriate team to contact.

When contacting Support, I recommend providing:

  • The approximate date and time of the incident
  • The affected folders.
  • The devices that were connected to OneDrive at that time.
  • Any screenshots, logs, or evidence showing the folders remained while the contents disappeared.

Unfortunately, the Community cannot verify whether a known incident occurred, access synchronization records, or recover files that are no longer available through the standard recovery mechanisms.

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  1. Paul Reed 0 Reputation points
    2026-07-07T12:05:48.21+00:00

    Ever since MS lost all my photos back in the SkyDrive days, I have never trusted OneDrive. Offline backup is always the way to go. Separate from OneDrive. It just cannot be trusted to keep anything of any value.

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