OneDrive is deleting files

Temme, Justin 0 Reputation points
2026-08-17T19:33:13.0266667+00:00

OneDrive is deleting files that are uploaded or synchronized. Files are recoverable from the deleted items folder, but OneDrive seems to be deleting files. I tried disabling Storage Sense in Windows but that didn't seem to have an impact. I also tried disabling Storage Sense and Files On-Demand.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | Other | Windows
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  1. Stuart Baverstock 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-10T14:21:52.9766667+00:00

    We have this as an issue now, says it's synchronizing files but it's actually deleting them. Starts when Word or Excel are opened.

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  2. GsN5034 - IA 76,465 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-18T05:38:24.0533333+00:00

    Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

    OneDrive doesn't delete files on its own. The files will be deleted only if:

    1

    You have exceeded the Microsoft account Storage limit, or

    2

    You manually delete them from a synced folder on your PC, Mac, or Mobile app.

    OneDrive sync keeps only one copy of each file that is mirrored across all the devices you are signed in with OneDrive on. So, if you delete a file in one place, it will be deleted everywhere.

    For example, if you have a Documents folder on your Windows PC that is syncing with OneDrive, and you delete a file there, it will be automatically deleted everywhere you are signed in with OneDrive.

    Storage Sense and Files On-Demand don't delete any files; they only affect where a file's content is stored (locally vs cloud-only). So, ensure sync is working properly on your devices.

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  3. Craig Long 18,545 Reputation points
    2026-08-17T19:45:42.47+00:00

    Even if you are not intentionally deleting files, files you remove from OneDrive are deleted from OneDrive.

    The Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders are included in OneDrive backup when selected in Manage Backup.

    Manage Backup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xyywXnQpCU

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  4. AI answer

    2026-08-17T19:33:30.5033333+00:00

    If files are being deleted from within the OneDrive folder, that deletion is normally treated as a synced delete, not a Storage Sense action. Disabling Storage Sense would not stop that behavior.

    Key points:

    1. Deleting inside the OneDrive folder deletes from OneDrive
      • If a file or folder is in the OneDrive folder and it is deleted in File Explorer or Mac Finder, it is deleted from both the computer and OneDrive.
      • If the item was shared, deleting it removes it for everyone.
    2. Files On-Demand does not delete files from OneDrive when set to online-only
      • Changing a file to online-only does not delete it from OneDrive.
      • It only removes the local copy so the file takes up no disk space on the device.
    3. Storage Sense does not delete OneDrive files
      • Storage Sense works with OneDrive by making unused locally available files online-only again.
      • That means it frees local disk space; it does not delete the files from OneDrive.
    4. To keep files on the PC but not in OneDrive
      • Move them outside the OneDrive folder to another folder on the computer.
      • If files stay inside the OneDrive folder, sync actions continue to apply to them.
    5. To keep files in OneDrive and also keep local copies
      • In File Explorer, right-click the file or folder and select Always keep on this device.
      • If all files need to stay local, OneDrive settings may show Download all files, which is equivalent to making the whole OneDrive folder always available offline.
    6. If many files were deleted accidentally
      • The safest guidance is to let the action complete, then restore the files from the OneDrive Recycle Bin.
      • Deleted files can be restored from the OneDrive recycle bin on the web.
    7. If the goal is to stop OneDrive from affecting certain folders
      • Turn off folder backup for those folders in OneDrive settings using Manage Backup.
      • If needed after that, unlink the PC from OneDrive so syncing stops for that account.

    Because Storage Sense and Files On-Demand were already disabled and the problem continued, the supported explanation is that the files are likely still in a synced OneDrive location, so delete actions are being mirrored by sync. The practical fix is to either:

    • move files that should remain local only out of the OneDrive folder, or
    • keep them in OneDrive but mark them Always keep on this device, or
    • stop backup/sync for the affected folders and unlink the PC if syncing itself must stop.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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