Finding pictures from windows account.

Junkmail 0 Reputation points
2026-08-28T02:22:08.8733333+00:00

I had a windows cell phone around 2014. I still have the live.com email & password. How do I find pictures that were taken with the cell phone & backed up? I've tried the one drive but it's empty.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video
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  1. Vikki-T 10,285 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-08-28T07:23:20.66+00:00

    Hi Junkmail,

    I understand how important it can be to recover photos from an old phone, especially when they may contain memories that cannot be replaced.

    At this point, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in the AI generated answer on your thread. That reply typically include the most relevant checks for this scenario. 

    Since OneDrive appears empty, could you confirm whether the live.com address was the Microsoft account actually signed in on the Windows Phone, and whether automatic photo upload had been enabled at the time? Please also check OneDrive > My files > Pictures > Camera Roll, as this was a common location for uploaded phone photos.

    If possible, look for another Microsoft account that may have been used on the phone. It would also be worth checking the original phone, its microSD card, and any computer previously connected to it, since the pictures may have remained stored locally rather than being uploaded.

    Unfortunately, if the photos were never uploaded and no copy remains on the phone, memory card, computer, or OneDrive, there may not be an online backup available to recover. Thank you so much for your understanding. 

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-28T02:22:27.22+00:00

    Start with the OneDrive website, not the app.

    1. Sign in to OneDrive at https://www.onedrive.com using that live.com account.
    2. Use Search everything at the top.
      • Search by more than file name: try dates, places, or terms like photo, jpg, png, or a month/year.
      • If the phone photos had location data, searching by location may help.
    3. Check the Photos view and browse by date. OneDrive can help organize photos and show them by timeline.
    4. Check the Recycle bin on the left side of the OneDrive website. If the pictures are there, select them and choose Restore.
    5. If nothing appears, check whether the files are in Personal Vault. Files there do not appear in normal search results. In the recycle bin, select Show Personal Vault items to unlock and view them.
    6. Check whether the pictures were backed up to a different Microsoft account. If the phone or PC ever used another account, sign out and sign in again with that account.
    7. Search the local device or any old PC storage that may have synced with the phone:
      • Use File Explorer or Finder to search for the files.
      • Check the computer Recycle Bin or Trash.

    Important limits called out in Microsoft guidance:

    • Personal accounts inactive for two years may have been deleted.
    • If files are not found in search or the OneDrive Recycle bin, they usually cannot be retrieved.

    If this is a personal Microsoft account and the files still cannot be found, use Contact Microsoft Support from the OneDrive support flow. On mobile, support can also be contacted from the OneDrive app by shaking the device.

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

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