OneDrive is the cloud storage platform released by Microsoft for users. Once you set up OneDrive on your Windows PC and log in with your Microsoft account, you can back up important files to the cloud. Microsoft offers 5GB of free storage per account, with 50GB for $2 per month. An Office 365 subscription provides 1 TB of OneDrive storage for free. This guide shares four ways to recover deleted files from OneDrive.

Part 1: How to Recover Deleted Files from OneDrive Recycle Bin

By default, files deleted in OneDrive will be stored in the Recycle Bin for a period. Before they are permanently removed, you can quickly recover deleted files from OneDrive. This way only works for recently deleted files in OneDrive.

Step 1. Access https://onedrive.live.com/ in a web browser.

Step 2. Log in with your Microsoft account.

Step 3. Choose the Recycle bin folder on the left sidebar.

Step 4. View and select the files you want to recover.

Step 5. Click the Restore button on the top menu bar.

Step 6. If the files are removed from the OneDrive Recycle Bin, click the Second-stage recycle bin and try again. The Second-stage recycle bin is only available to OneDrive for Business.

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted OneDrive Files from Recycle Bin or Trash

If you have OneDrive syncing enabled on your PC or Mac, the files backed up will appear on your hard drive. Therefore, you can try the Recycle Bin or Trash to recover deleted files from OneDrive.

On Windows

Step 1. Click the Recycle Bin on your desktop or in File Explorer.

Step 2. Find the deleted OneDrive file.

Step 3. Right-click on it and choose Restore.

On Mac

Step 1. Open the Trash folder from the Dock.

Step 2. Locate the deleted file you want to recover.

Step 3. Right-click on the file and choose Put Back.

Part 3: How to Recover Deleted Files from OneDrive by Restoring

Microsoft has added a useful data protection feature. It lets you recover deleted files from OneDrive to a previous version. This feature restores your entire OneDrive account to its original condition and retrieves the lost files.

Step 1. Go to https://onedrive.live.com/ in a browser.

Step 2. Log in with your OneDrive account.

Step 3. Go to Settings and choose Options if you sign in to a personal Microsoft 365 account. Or head to Settings and Restore if you log in with a work or school account.

Step 4. Click the Restore your OneDrive option in the sidebar.

Step 5. Next, click the Verify your identity button.

Step 6. Select a date from the dropdown list and click Restore.

Part 4: How to Recover Deleted Files from OneDrive Without Backup

If you cannot recover permanently deleted files from OneDrive, try Apeaksoft Data Recovery. It can scan your hard drive for lost files, including those in OneDrive. The user-friendly interface makes it easy to use.

How to Recover Deleted OneDrive Files Without Backup

Step 1. Scan hard drives

Launch the file recovery software after you install it on your PC. There is another version for Mac. Go to the Hard Drive Recovery tab and select the disk where the deleted OneDrive files were previously stored. Click the Start Scan button to begin scanning your drive.

Step 2. Preview deleted files

Once the data scan finishes, you can preview deleted files by type or directory. Go to the Type List tab, select the desired file types, and browse the deleted files. Alternatively, head to the Path List tab and navigate to the right location. To view deleted files only, check Only Show Deleted.

Step 3. Recover deleted files from OneDrive

Select all files you want to retrieve and click the Recover button. Next, set an output folder and click the Recover button again.

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