Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover Missing Files After Restoring OneDrive to the Wrong Date

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to recover documents that went missing after executing a OneDrive restore to an incorrect date.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to retrieve already missing files by using the OneDrive restore feature, but choosing the wrong date caused additional files to disappear.
Observed behavior: Restoring OneDrive to an earlier point caused more files to vanish, and reverting to a newer point did not recover them. Attached PDF files in Outlook are also missing.

Before you start

Verify that you are logged into the exact Microsoft account associated with the missing files on OneDrive.com before attempting any further recovery steps.

Solution 1Recommended

Search OneDrive and Check the Recycle Bin

Locate misplaced or deleted files by thoroughly searching your OneDrive account, including the Recycle Bin and Personal Vault.

Often, files that appear to be missing after a restore have simply been moved to the Recycle Bin or placed into a different directory structure.

Search for the file name

Log into OneDrive.com and use the 'Search everything' bar at the top of the page to look for the exact names of your missing files.

Check the Recycle Bin

Click on 'Recycle bin' on the left navigation pane. If you find your missing files here, select them and click the 'Restore' button at the top.

Review the Personal Vault

Click on 'Personal Vault' in your My Files list, authenticate to unlock it, and verify if the missing documents were accidentally moved there.

Check Outlook Links: If your Outlook PDF attachments were actually OneDrive cloud links, restoring the original files to their correct location in OneDrive should automatically fix the broken attachments in Outlook.

Solution 2

Perform Another OneDrive Restore

Attempt to restore your OneDrive to a different point in time before the files originally went missing to undo the incorrect restore.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft OneDrive Support

If manual recovery fails, request backend assistance from the OneDrive support team to recover deeply lost files.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a OneDrive restore if I picked the wrong date?

Yes, you can undo a restore by running the 'Restore your OneDrive' process again and selecting a custom date and time just before the previous restore was performed.

Why did files disappear from my Outlook attachments after restoring OneDrive?

If the attachments were shared as OneDrive cloud links rather than physical copies, restoring OneDrive to a date where those files did not exist or were in a different location will break the file links in Outlook.

How long are deleted files kept in the OneDrive Recycle Bin?

For personal Microsoft accounts, deleted files are typically kept in the Recycle Bin for 30 days before being permanently deleted. For work or school accounts, the retention period is usually 93 days.

Can community members on Microsoft forums recover my OneDrive files?

No, community members and forum moderators do not have backend access to Microsoft servers. You must contact the official OneDrive support team directly to assist with deep file recovery.

Migration & Recovery