OneDrive File Issues

How to Prevent OneDrive from Restoring Deleted or Moved Files

WPS Content Manager Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users need to stop OneDrive from reverting recent changes, such as undeleting files or duplicating moved files, within a shared SharePoint repository.

How to Prevent OneDrive from Restoring Deleted or Moved Files

Product: OneDrive and SharePoint
Device & OS: macOS Sonoma
Scenario: Multiple users are syncing the same SharePoint repository. One user's device goes offline, and another makes changes to the files.
Observed behavior: When the offline device reconnects, OneDrive synchronizes outdated local changes, resulting in previously deleted files being restored or moved files being duplicated.

Before you start

Ensure that all shared users currently have an active internet connection and that the OneDrive application is running in the background to verify real-time sync statuses.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Sync Status Before Making Changes

Ensure all devices are fully synchronized with the cloud to prevent offline devices from overwriting recent repository changes.

The most common cause of deleted files returning is a sync delay from an offline device. When a user deletes a file, but another user's device is offline, the offline device doesn't receive the deletion command. Upon reconnecting, OneDrive assumes the local file is new and uploads it again.

Check OneDrive status

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your Mac menu bar or Windows system tray to open the activity center.

Wait for sync completion

Look for the 'Up to date' message at the top of the panel. If it says 'Syncing files', wait until the process is fully complete.

Coordinate with shared users

If a team member has been offline for an extended period, ask them to connect to the internet and let OneDrive finish syncing before anyone moves or deletes shared folders.

Verify Sync Status Before Making Changes

Excluding Folders: If certain users do not need access to specific folders, you can use the 'Choose folders' option in OneDrive settings to stop syncing them, which reduces the chance of sync conflicts.

Solution 2

Review SharePoint Version History and Permissions

Use SharePoint's online tools to recover overwritten files and restrict edit access to prevent unwanted modifications.

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Use WPS Office for Conflict-Free Document Collaboration

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do deleted files keep reappearing in my OneDrive folder?

This usually occurs in shared folders when another user's device is offline at the time you delete the file. When their device reconnects to the internet, OneDrive sees the file on their computer and syncs it back to the cloud, restoring it for everyone.

Can I stop syncing a specific folder to avoid these conflicts?

Yes. Open OneDrive Settings, go to the Account tab, and click 'Choose folders'. Uncheck any folders you don't need locally. This prevents your device from causing conflicts in those folders, though you will only be able to access them via the web.

How do I fix files that have a computer name added to the end of them?

Files appended with a computer name are sync conflict files. They are created when two people edit the same file simultaneously, or an offline device pushes outdated changes. To resolve this, open both files, manually merge any differing information into one file, and delete the duplicate.

Document & File Issues