Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover Files from a Deleted OneDrive Folder After Syncing

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to recover files that were lost when a folder was deleted during an interrupted or incomplete OneDrive synchronization process.

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Deleting a local folder while OneDrive sync is interrupted, resulting in missing files on both the local computer and the cloud.
Observed behavior: Restoring the deleted folder only brings back an empty directory without the original files, as the syncing process was never completed.

Before you start

Stop writing any new data to your local drive to prevent overwriting the deleted files, and ensure you have a stable internet connection before checking your cloud storage.

Solution 1Recommended

Check OneDrive Web Access and Recycle Bins

Verify if the files made it to the cloud or were temporarily moved to a recycle bin before the sync was interrupted.

Because OneDrive acts as a synchronization tool rather than a continuous backup, deleting an incompletely synced folder can result in local data loss. However, remnants of the files may still exist in your recycle bins or on the web server.

Access OneDrive on the Web

Open a web browser, go to the official OneDrive website, and sign in to your account. Manually navigate through your folders to check if any of the files were successfully uploaded before the folder was deleted locally.

Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin

On the OneDrive website, locate and click on 'Recycle bin' in the left-hand navigation menu. If you see your missing files, select the checkboxes next to them and click the 'Restore' button at the top of the page.

Inspect the Local Computer's Recycle Bin

Open the Recycle Bin from your computer's desktop. Look for the deleted folder or individual files. If found, right-click the items and select 'Restore' to return them to their original local folder.

Sync vs. Backup: OneDrive synchronization is not a complete backup system. Files that were never uploaded due to connection interruptions or were permanently deleted locally cannot be recovered through OneDrive's cloud interface.

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Prevent Document Loss with WPS Office Auto-Backup

Relying solely on cloud sync can be risky if interruptions occur. WPS Office serves as an excellent free alternative to Microsoft Office, offering built-in local auto-backup alongside reliable WPS Cloud synchronization to ensure your documents are always safe.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website to replace your current setup.
2. Enable Local Auto-Backup: Open WPS Office, navigate to Settings > Backup Center, and enable automatic local backups for all your documents.
3. Activate WPS Cloud Sync: Sign in to your WPS account to turn on Cloud Sync, providing a secondary layer of protection for your files.

Automatically saves backup versions of your files locally to prevent data lossHighly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsLightweight, fast, and runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, and mobile devicesIncludes 1GB of free WPS Cloud storage for seamless, secure document access

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my restored OneDrive folder completely empty?

If a folder is deleted during an incomplete or interrupted sync, the files inside may not have finished uploading to the cloud. When you restore the folder from OneDrive, it only restores the directory structure that the server had a record of, which is why the folder appears empty.

Does OneDrive keep a backup of files that didn't finish syncing?

No, OneDrive is a synchronization tool, not an automatic continuous backup service. If your files were never fully uploaded to the cloud server before being deleted locally, OneDrive does not have a copy of them to restore.

Can I recover locally deleted files if the OneDrive sync failed?

You should first check your computer's local Recycle Bin. If the files were permanently deleted (e.g., using Shift+Delete or bypassing the bin) before they could sync to OneDrive, you will likely need to use third-party data recovery software to scan your hard drive.

Migration & Recovery