Accidentally deleted files unknowingly stored in OneDrive.

Avo 20 Reputation points
2026-08-26T23:40:54.27+00:00

I recently got a new laptop and a short while after setting it up, i had everything that was on the desktop of my PC also placed on the desktop of my laptop. I assumed it was a Microsoft thing and went and deleted the files from the desktop (also assuming they were just shortcuts). (Which I realized was a very bad mistake). The deleted files removed everything off of the desktop of my PC.

In the troubleshooting process (due to my ignorance) I accidentally deleted several other files I would prefer to have. Sadly these files were unknowingly connected to OneDrive. In an attempt to restore these files. I tried the recycle bin on my laptop and PC, but no luck. And when I went to the recycle bin on my OneDrive I saw my files.

I cannot restore these files without seeing "restoring items" and "waiting" pending and making no progress. This continues even with single files.

It may be because I do not have the storage to move all of these back into OneDrive. (I see no clear way to download to my PC directly from the recycle bin)

I tried to go to "restore your OneDrive" but no matter what browser, app, device or cache clear I use It keeps directing me to the "restore your OneDrive" support page (https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/onedrive/restore-your-onedrive-files)

It feels like my files are being held hostage

No previous restorations, in file explorer, of the remnants of the not stolen files bring them back to their old points as they are stuck in the OneDrive recycle bin.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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Answer accepted by question author
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-08-27T05:17:15.2633333+00:00

Hello Avo,

I understand that deleting the synced Desktop files from your new laptop also removed them from your PC and restoring them from the OneDrive Recycle Bin remains stuck.

I recommend trying the steps below:

  1. Temporarily quit OneDrive on both computers to prevent further changes while recovering the files.
  2. Check your OneDrive storage. The Recycle Bin also counts toward the storage limit, and an over-limit account cannot upload, edit, or sync files. Free some space by downloading unneeded active files first, then deleting them from OneDrive and permanently removing only those same items from the Recycle Bin. Alternatively, temporarily purchase additional storage.
  3. Return to OneDrive on the web and test restoring one important file. If that works, restore the remaining files in small batches.

If you have an active Microsoft 365 subscription, open Restore your OneDrive directly and choose a point before the deletion. This feature only covers activity within the previous 30 days.

There is no supported option to download files directly from the Recycle Bin. Restore them first, then download or move them to a folder outside OneDrive.

Please let me know how it goes after trying these steps, and I'll be glad to continue looking into it with you.

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