Find lost or missing files in OneDrive
If you've lost OneDrive files or folders, choose one of the OneDrive app options below.
: When searching, don't just use filenames, search with descriptions, tags, dates and places, e.g. "cat", "sunny", "April" or "Paris". Make sure you search in all your views: My files, Photos, Shared and Recycle bin.
How to find files
You'll find help below in these sections:
Or use our guided troubleshooter to help you search for and restore your files.
Search for your files on OneDrive.com
Even if you're using the OneDrive sync app on a desktop, we recommend searching your OneDrive storage online - it's the best place to find anything.
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Sign in to the OneDrive website at https://www.onedrive.com.
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Use Search everything at the top of the page to look for your files. You can either search for a file by name or you can scroll through the list of files that display.
: Files in your Personal Vault don't appear in search results. Your Personal Vault is a location in the cloud that's protected by identity verification, and it's available only for home and personal plans. If you have it, you'll see it in the OneDrive My files folder.
Look in the Recycle bin
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On the left side of the page, select Recycle bin.
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If you find the item you're looking for, select it and choose Restore at the top of the page.
: Files deleted from your Personal Vault only show up in your recycling bin if your Personal Vault is unlocked before you check the recycle bin. You can unlock the Personal Vault and see those items if you select Show Personal Vault items in the recycle bin. If you don't see this option, your Personal Vault may already be unlocked.
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Microsoft 365 subscribers can restore their entire OneDrive to a previous time. You can use 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.
If you delete something from the recycle bin, your admin may be able to restore it. See Manage the Recycle Bin of a SharePoint site.
Check for files in your Personal Vault
Files from your Personal Vault don't show up in your search results so you may want to confirm that your missing files are not in your Personal Vault.
To unlock the Personal Vault and see the items there, select Show Personal Vault items in the recycle bin. If you don't see the command, your Personal Vault is already unlocked.
Search for your files on another Microsoft account
If you can't find files you deleted, check whether you're logged in to the correct Microsoft account—your files might be 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, review the OneDrive for work or school tab near the top of this article.
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 the OneDrive account has been inactive for two years, the files may have been deleted.
Folder was removed from your OneDrive
If you get an email or notification saying "[Folder name] was removed from your OneDrive" it means that a shared folder was deleted.
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You will not be able to restore or recover a folder shared with you.
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If you shared a folder with other people and they deleted its contents, you can find the contents in your recycle bin.
Restore OneDrive files
If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can restore your 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.
Need more help?
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Contact Support For help with your Microsoft account and subscriptions, visit Account & Billing Help. For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and select Get Help. If you still need help, select Contact Support to be routed to the best support option. |
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Admins Admins should view Help for OneDrive Admins, the OneDrive Tech Community or contact Microsoft 365 for business support. |
How to find files
You'll find help below in these sections:
Or use our guided troubleshooter to help you search for and restore your files.
Search for your files on OneDrive online
Even if you're using the OneDrive sync app on a desktop, we recommend searching your OneDrive storage online - it's the best place to find anything.
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Sign in to OneDrive with your work or school account.
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Use Search OneDrive to look for your files.
Look in the Recycle bin
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On the left side of the page, select Recycle bin.
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If you find the item you're looking for, select it and choose Restore at the top of the page.
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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 Teams or SharePoint files
All files that you upload, create, or share in Teams can be found by selecting the OneDrive cloud icon on the left side of Teams for desktop. Learn more.
For SharePoint files, read Find your SharePoint files in OneDrive for work and school.
Search for your files on another Microsoft account
If you can't find files you deleted, check whether you're logged in to the correct Microsoft account—your files might be 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.
Folder was removed from your OneDrive
If someone deletes a folder they shared with you, it will no longer be available to you.
If you get an email or notification saying "[Folder name] was removed from your OneDrive" it means that a shared folder was deleted.
:
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You will not be able to restore or recover a folder that has been shared with you.
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If you shared a folder with other people and they deleted its contents, you can find the contents in your recycle bin.
Restore OneDrive files
If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can restore your 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.
Next steps
If files aren't found in a search or in the OneDrive Recycle bin, they usually can't be retrieved. Your IT administrator may be able to investigate further, but they will need the following information.
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The names of the files or folders you're trying to find. If the files are photos/videos, the date you took them.
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Approximately when you last accessed the files, and on which device (e.g., PC, Android, iPhone).
Find the file you're looking for
You can search for text within files and even photos. To search for text in a file or photo:
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In the OneDrive app, at the top of any file view, tap Search
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Enter the text you want to search for in the Search box.
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Tap the search icon at the bottom right of the screen.
Change how files are sorted
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In the OneDrive app, open the folder you want to sort, and then tap the arrow next to the current sort order, for example A-Z.
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Select how you want the files sorted. You can sort by name, date, size, or extension.
If you still can't find your files
OneDrive mobile apps search your OneDrive storage online - it's the best place to find anything - but if searching for your files doesn't find what you're looking for, try these tips:
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Look in the Recycle bin.
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Check for files in your Personal Vault.
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Search for your files on another Microsoft account.
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If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous time.
: If someone deletes a folder they shared with, it will no longer be available to you.
Find the file you're looking for
You can search for text within files and even photos. To search for text in a file or photo:
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At the top of any file view, tap Search
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Enter the text you want to search for in the Search box.
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Tap Search at the bottom.
Change how files are sorted
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In the OneDrive app, open the folder you want to sort, and then tap the arrow next to the current sort order, for example Sort by name (A to Z).
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Select how you want the files sorted. You can sort by name, date, or size.
If you still can't find your files
OneDrive mobile apps search your OneDrive storage online - it's the best place to find anything - but if searching for your files doesn't find what you're looking for, try these tips:
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Look in the Recycle bin.
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Check for files in your Personal Vault.
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Search for your files using another Microsoft account.
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If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous time.
:
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If someone deletes a folder they shared with, it will no longer be available to you.
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If you have an iOS device that has photos optimized for iCloud, photos aren't stored on the device and can't be uploaded to OneDrive. To disable iCloud optimization on your iOS device, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos and clear Optimize Storage.
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