Deleted File Recovery

How to Create an Excel Report from the OneDrive Recycle Bin

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to generate a standardized Excel report detailing deleted files and their original file locations directly from the OneDrive Recycle Bin.

How to Create an Excel Report from the OneDrive Recycle Bin

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to audit, track, or record deleted cloud files and their original paths using a spreadsheet format.
Observed behavior: OneDrive does not currently offer a native feature or built-in tool to export the contents of the Recycle Bin to an Excel spreadsheet.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have access to your Microsoft account credentials and verify that your files were deleted within the standard OneDrive retention period (usually 30 days for personal accounts).

Solution 1Recommended

Locate and Restore Missing Files Manually

Since OneDrive lacks an automatic Excel export feature for deleted files, you must use the web interface to manually review, restore, and log your missing files.

Microsoft does not currently provide a native method to export Recycle Bin data directly into Excel. To audit your deleted files, you will need to review them manually inside the OneDrive web portal.

Log in to OneDrive Web

Navigate to the official OneDrive website in your browser and sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Open the Recycle Bin

On the left-hand navigation pane, click on the 'Recycle bin' option to view all recently deleted files.

Review and Restore Files

Scroll through the list to identify your missing files. Select the files you wish to recover by clicking the circular checkbox next to them, then click 'Restore' at the top of the page. You can manually copy the file names and original locations into an open spreadsheet to maintain your own log.

Locate and Restore Missing Files Manually

Data Retention Notice: Files in a personal OneDrive account recycle bin are automatically permanently deleted after 30 days. For work or school accounts, the retention period is typically 93 days.

Solution 2

Submit a Feature Request to Microsoft

If having a downloadable Excel report of deleted files is critical for your workflow, you can formally request this feature directly from Microsoft.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Your File Logs and Spreadsheets with WPS Office

While OneDrive may not automatically generate an Excel report for your deleted files, you can easily create and maintain your own file tracking logs using WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, designed to handle all your spreadsheet needs effortlessly.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch the application and select 'Spreadsheet' from the main dashboard to open a blank workbook.
3. Create Your Tracking Log: Set up columns for 'File Name', 'Deletion Date', and 'Original Location' to manually track your recovered OneDrive files in a clean, compatible Excel format.

100% compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formatsLightweight application that runs smoothly on almost any deviceFamiliar, tabbed user interface for seamless and intuitive navigationRich suite of built-in templates to easily start tracking file logs

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Microsoft Purview to generate a deleted files report?

Yes, but this feature is only available for Enterprise accounts (Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise). Microsoft Purview allows administrators to run detailed audit logs that can be exported to Excel. Personal OneDrive accounts do not have access to these enterprise-level auditing tools.

Where do files go when restored from the OneDrive Recycle bin?

When you restore a file from the OneDrive Recycle bin, it is automatically returned to the exact folder location it was in before being deleted.

Are there any third-party tools to export OneDrive Recycle Bin contents?

Some third-party cloud management and backup tools offer advanced reporting features, including the ability to export deleted file logs to CSV or Excel. However, these usually require giving third-party access to your account and often come with subscription fees.

Migration & Recovery