OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Deleting Files After Saving on Mac

Emma Brown Sep 27, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users experience a syncing glitch where OneDrive automatically moves Office files to the Recycle Bin immediately after saving or closing them on a Mac, triggering a warning that files will be deleted everywhere.

How to Fix OneDrive Deleting Files After Saving on Mac

Product: Microsoft OneDrive / Microsoft Office for Mac
Device & OS: Mac (macOS Monterey)
Scenario: Saving, closing, or creating copies of Office documents stored in a synced OneDrive folder on a Mac.
Observed behavior: Files are unexpectedly deleted locally and moved to the OneDrive Recycle Bin upon saving, accompanied by a system deletion warning.

Before you start

Before attempting any fixes, immediately log into your OneDrive account via a web browser to check the Recycle Bin and recover your deleted files, then save a backup copy to a local, non-syncing folder on your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Downgrade to a Compatible Office Version for macOS Monterey

Resolves version mismatch bugs causing sync conflicts between Microsoft Office and OneDrive on macOS Monterey.

Recent updates to Microsoft Office may introduce compatibility issues with older operating systems like macOS Monterey. If your Office version is higher than 16.88, the sync process can malfunction during the temporary file replacement phase of a 'Save' action.

Check your current Office version

Open Microsoft Word on your Mac, click on 'Word' in the top-left menu bar, and select 'About Microsoft Word' to see if your installation is newer than version 16.88.

Uninstall the incompatible version

If your version exceeds 16.88, close all Office apps, open Finder, navigate to the Applications folder, and move Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to the Trash.

Install version 16.88

Visit the official Microsoft Office for Mac update history page online, download the installer package specifically for version 16.88, and run the installation.

Pause automatic updates

Open Microsoft Word again, go to 'Help' in the top menu, select 'Check for Updates', click 'Advanced', and disable automatic updates to prevent the system from reinstalling the problematic version.

Downgrade to a Compatible Office Version for macOS Monterey

Version Compatibility: Running version 16.88 ensures maximum stability on macOS Monterey without sacrificing core functionality.

Solution 2

Recover Erroneously Deleted Files from OneDrive

Retrieves the documents that were automatically deleted by the OneDrive sync error.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Mac for Stable and Reliable File Management

Avoid syncing conflicts and file loss on macOS. WPS Office offers a highly compatible, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office, ensuring your documents save reliably without unexpected OneDrive deletion glitches.

1. Download and Install: Get the official WPS Office for Mac installer and drag the application to your Applications folder.
2. Open existing files directly: Double-click any existing Microsoft Office file to open it in WPS Office with zero formatting loss.
3. Save securely: Edit and save your files locally or utilize WPS Cloud for a reliable backup solution.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Stable local saving and built-in cloud synchronization that prevents random file deletions.Lightweight installation optimized for all macOS versions, including macOS Monterey.Completely free to use with a familiar, intuitive tabbed user interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive say my file will be deleted everywhere when I save it on my Mac?

This happens due to a background sync conflict between newer versions of Microsoft Office and macOS. During the save process, the application temporarily replaces the old file with a new one; the sync engine incorrectly interprets this temporary removal as a user-initiated deletion command.

Are my files permanently lost when OneDrive deletes them automatically?

No, they are typically moved to the OneDrive Recycle Bin. You can recover them by logging into the OneDrive website, navigating to the Recycle bin, and restoring the affected files.

How can I prevent this issue without downgrading my Office version?

You can temporarily bypass local macOS sync issues by saving your working files to a local Mac folder that is not monitored by OneDrive, or by editing the documents directly using Microsoft Office Online in your web browser.

Document & File Issues