Find lost or missing files in onedrive

If you have lost files or folders on your computer, please follow the steps below. If you're looking for files on your mobile app, read about finding files in OneDrive for Android, iOS, or Windows Phone.

Select your version of OneDrive from one of the tabs below:

OneDrive OneDrive for work or school

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Search for your files on OneDrive.com

If you have Files On Demand enabled, or if you choose to only sync certain folders, going online will allow you to search all your files and folders.

1. Sign in to the OneDrive website at https://www.onedrive.com.

2. Use Search everything to look for your files.
   
   

   Note: Files in your Personal Vault don't appear in search results.

Look in the Recycle bin

1. On the left side of the page, click Recycle bin.
   
   

2. If you find the item you're looking for, select it and choose Restore at the top of the page. If you cannot find the item in a long list, you may choose to Restore all items at the top of the page.

   Note: Files deleted from your Personal Vault will only show up in your recycling bin if your Personal Vault is unlocked before you check the recycle bin. Also, you need to unlock Personal Vault before you try to restore files that were deleted from Personal Vault. You can use the Show Personal Vault items command in the recycle bin to unlock the Personal Vault and see those items.
   
   

3. Microsoft 365 subscribers can restore their entire OneDrive to a previous time. Go to Files Restore to undo all the actions that occurred on both files and folders within the last 30 days. Learn more about Restoring your OneDrive.

Check for files in your Personal Vault

Files from your Personal Vault don't show up in your search results. If you haven't checked already, you'll want to confirm that your missing files are not in your Personal Vault.

Also, you need to unlock Personal Vault before you try to restore files that were deleted from Personal Vault. That's because files deleted from your Personal Vault will only show up in your recycling bin if your Personal Vault is currently unlocked before you check the recycle bin. Similarly, you can only restore files that were deleted from your Personal Vault, if when the Personal Vault is unlocked.

You can use the Show Personal Vault items command in the recycle bin to unlock the Personal Vault and see those items.

Search for your files on another Microsoft account

It might be that you are not logged in to the correct Microsoft account and your files are safely on another OneDrive.

If you are a OneDrive for work or school user, you might have accidentally saved your files to your business account instead of your personal account. To check for the files in OneDrive for work or school, check the OneDrive tab above.

Did you use someone else's computer or account when saving the file? If so, sign out of your OneDrive and sign in again using the other account.

If you still cannot find your files

It may be that a file has not yet synced. Files saved with Office 2016 upload to OneDrive first, and then sync with your local PC. If you're having trouble syncing Office files, the Office Upload cache system may be interfering with OneDrive sync. Try turning off the related setting in OneDrive settings.

On iOS devices that have photos optimized for iCloud, the photo is not stored on the device and cannot be uploaded to OneDrive. To disable iCloud optimization on your iOS device, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos and uncheck Optimize Storage.

If the OneDrive account has been inactive for 2 years, the files may have been deleted.

Next steps

Files not found via search or in the OneDrive Recycle bin usually cannot be retrieved. To have someone from support investigate, please provide the following information:

• The names of the files or folders you are trying to find. If the files are photos/videos, tell us the date you took them.

• Approximately when you last accessed the files, and on which device (e.g., PC, Android, iPhone).

• Consent that we can search your file history for you.

If you've followed the steps in this article and still need help, email the OneDrive support team.

Search for your files on OneDrive online

If you have Files On Demand enabled, or if you choose to only sync certain folders, going online will allow you to search all your files and folders.

1. Select the blue OneDrive icon, choose More, then View online.

2. Use Search OneDrive to look for your files.
   
   

Look in the Recycle bin

1. On the left side of the page, click Recycle bin.
   
   

2. If you find the item you're looking for, select it and choose Restore at the top of the page. If you cannot find the item in a long list, you may choose to Restore all items at the top of the page.

3. OneDrive for work or school users can restore their entire OneDrive to a previous time. Go to your OneDrive online Settings to undo all the actions that occurred on both files and folders within the last 30 days.
   
   
   
   Learn more about Restoring your OneDrive.

Find your SharePoint files in OneDrive

To learn more, see Find your SharePoint files in OneDrive.

Search for your files on another Microsoft account

It might be that you are not logged in to the correct Microsoft account and your files are safely on another OneDrive, such as your personal OneDrive account. To check, sign out of your OneDrive and sign in again using the other account.

If you still cannot find your files

It may be that a file has not yet synced. Files saved with Office 2016 upload to OneDrive first, and then sync with your local PC. If you're having trouble syncing Office files, the Office Upload cache system may be interfering with OneDrive sync. Try turning off the related setting in OneDrive settings.

On iOS devices that have photos optimized for iCloud, the photo is not stored on the device and cannot be uploaded to OneDrive. To disable iCloud optimization on your iOS device, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos and uncheck Optimize Storage.

Next steps

Files not found via search or in the OneDrive Recycle bin usually cannot be retrieved. To have your IT administrator or someone from support investigate, please provide the following information.

• The names of the files or folders you are trying to find. If the files are photos/videos, the date you took them.

• Approximately when you last accessed the files, and on which device (e.g., PC, Android, iPhone).

• Consent that we can search your file history for you.

Need more help?

	Get online help See more support pages for OneDrive and OneDrive for work or school. For the OneDrive mobile app, see Troubleshoot OneDrive mobile app problems. OneDrive Admins can also view the OneDrive Tech Community, Help for OneDrive for Admins.
	Contact Support If you still need help, contact support through your browser or shake your mobile device while you're in the OneDrive app. OneDrive Admins can contact Microsoft 365 for business support.
	Got feedback? OneDrive UserVoice is your place to suggest the features you'd like to see us add to OneDrive. While we can't guarantee any specific features or timelines, we will respond to every suggestion that gets at least 500 votes. Go to the OneDrive UserVoice.