Deleted File Recovery

How to Safely Restore and Compare Files Moved from OneDrive to SharePoint

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs a secure method to compare and restore sales files that were incompletely copied from a personal OneDrive to a Teams SharePoint site, resulting in duplicate and empty folders.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive / SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving files from a personal OneDrive account to a Teams SharePoint site.
Observed behavior: Duplicate and empty folders appeared due to an incomplete file transfer, requiring a secure comparison and restoration of the missing files.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary administrator or owner permissions in both your personal OneDrive and the target Teams SharePoint site before attempting file restoration.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore Files Using OneDrive Restore or Recycle Bin

The most reliable way to recover the original folder structure without creating duplicates is by using OneDrive's native restore features rather than manually copying files back.

Manually copying missing files can lead to duplicate folders and version conflicts. Using the built-in OneDrive restoration tools ensures the original directory structure is preserved.

Access OneDrive Online

Check the Recycle Bin

Navigate to the Recycle Bin in the left-hand menu to locate the originally deleted folders or files.

Restore Selected Files

Select the missing folders or files and click the 'Restore' button at the top to return them to their original location.

Use 'Restore your OneDrive'

Alternatively, click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right, select 'Restore your OneDrive', and choose a date prior to the transfer to roll back your entire OneDrive state.

Solution 2

Relocate Affected Folders Before Restoring

Use this method if partial restores are causing duplicate or empty folders to overlap with existing files.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft 365 Administrator or Support

If files are still missing or you need a detailed file comparison report between OneDrive and SharePoint, escalate the issue to an administrator.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did moving files from OneDrive to SharePoint create empty folders?

Empty folders typically appear when a file transfer is interrupted, or a network timeout occurs before all the contents are fully copied and synced from your personal OneDrive to the SharePoint server.

Can I automatically compare files in OneDrive and SharePoint?

Microsoft 365 does not offer a direct one-click visual comparison tool for bulk folder contents between OneDrive and SharePoint. Users typically need to rely on folder size and item count properties, or ask an IT administrator to run audit reports.

How far back can I restore my OneDrive data?

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can use the 'Restore your OneDrive' feature to undo all actions that occurred on any files and folders within the last 30 days.

Migration & Recovery