Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover Missing OneDrive Files After Moving from a Shared Folder

Muhammad Talha Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to locate and recover files that went missing after transferring them from a shared folder to a personal folder.

How to Recover Missing OneDrive Files After Moving from a Shared Folder

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving files from another person's shared OneDrive folder to a personal, unshared OneDrive folder.
Observed behavior: Files disappeared from both the local computer and OneDrive online the day after they were moved.

Before you start

Log in to the web version of OneDrive to ensure you are viewing the most up-to-date file status, as desktop sync delays or conflicts can sometimes hide files temporarily.

Solution 1Recommended

Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin for Both Users

Moving files from a shared folder often deletes them from the original location. Checking the recycle bin is the most effective way to recover them.

Access your recycle bin

Restore files

Look for the missing files or folders, select the checkboxes next to them, and click 'Restore' at the top of the page.

Ask the original owner

If the files are not in your recycle bin, contact the original owner of the shared folder and ask them to check their own OneDrive Recycle bin, as the files may have been deleted from their account during the move.

Check the OneDrive Recycle Bin for Both Users

Retention Period: Files in a personal OneDrive recycle bin are kept for 30 days before being permanently deleted. Work or school accounts may retain them for 93 days.

Solution 2

Review Your Shared List and Recent Activity

The files might still exist but lost their shared permissions when moved, or they were relocated to a different directory.

Solution 3

Contact Your Microsoft 365 Administrator

If you are using a work or school account, an IT administrator has access to advanced recovery tools.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do files disappear when moved from a shared OneDrive folder?

When you move a file from a shared folder to a personal, unshared folder, it loses its shared permissions. Depending on how the move was executed (especially via the desktop sync client), it may be removed from the original owner's account and fail to sync properly to yours, causing it to disappear.

Can the original owner still see the files I moved out of their folder?

Typically, moving files out of a shared folder removes them from the original location. The original owner will no longer see them in their active folders, but they may be able to find and restore them from their OneDrive recycle bin.

Are files permanently lost if they aren't in my OneDrive recycle bin?

Not necessarily. Since the files originally belonged to the person who shared the folder, they are most likely resting in the original owner's recycle bin. If using a business account, a Microsoft 365 administrator may also have administrative tools to recover them.

Migration & Recovery