file deleted due to storage exceeded

yurui zhang 0 Reputation points
2026-08-25T04:32:28.97+00:00

My OneDrive account previously contained approximately 12.3 GB of data and exceeded the 5 GB storage limit. I received a Microsoft email stating that my cloud storage would be cleared after 6 July 2026. I have now purchased additional storage and my account is no longer frozen. However, my current storage usage is only 0.3 GB. The original folders still exist, but they are completely empty. The files are not in the Recycle Bin either. I did not intentionally delete these files.

I need you to investigate whether the files were automatically removed due to the storage quota and whether they can be recovered from Microsoft's backend, retention system, or any available OneDrive recovery mechanism. Please do not just direct me to the Recycle Bin, as it is empty.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Other
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  1. GsN5034 - IA 76,475 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-25T05:11:52.0366667+00:00

    Hello, thank you for reaching out.

    Unfortunately, permanently deleted files from OneDrive cannot be recovered.

    If you exceed your OneDrive storage limit and your account is placed in a frozen state, your files will become read-only and remain available for up to six months. During this period, you can either free up space in your account or upgrade your storage to keep your files.

    If you do not take action, Microsoft will send warning emails before the files are deleted. However, once the grace period ends, the files will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

    In your case, the grace period already ended on July 6, 2026.

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