Accidentally deleted a OneDrive file? Here's how to get it back.

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OneDrive and other cloud backup services enable us to keep our files up to date across all out devices. If your PC of choice runs Windows, chances are very high that you’re going to be using OneDrive as your storage app — it is natively supported after all, and its easier to go with the flow than fight the current. With that being said, what happens when backups fail? Seeing as people can delete files off their own hard drives, there nothing stopping you — or an errant child — from deleting an important file off your OneDrive.
Fortunately, you’re able to rescue an accidentally deleted file should you delete with, with a few caveats.

First of all, if you’re deleting a whole bunch of large files — OneDrive may simply delete them permanently rather than storing them in the recycle bin. Secondly, there is a 30-day grace period, after which files are deleted automatically whether you’d like them to be, or not.

How to restore deleted files on OneDrive

On the Web

  1. Open the OneDrive Web app and scan the right pane or hamburger menu depending on your current window size.
  2. There, you’ll see the recycle bin. Microsoft has transmitted the same Windows metaphors to its web-app to make it almost as easy to navigate.
  3. Click on it and find the files you’re looking for.
  4. Select Restore.

On Windows.

  1. While Windows shares a similar workflow to the web, you have a longer leash here since the 30-day limit doesn’t exist. Files deleted from your OneDrive folder on windows are shunted to the local recycle bin.
  2. To restore files deleted from OneDrive, simply scan the recycle bin for the file and click restore.

N.B: Files deleted on one platform cannot always be restored on another platform i.e, you may not delete a file on Windows and then restore it from the cloud, or vice versa.

More about the topics: how to, microsoft, onedrive, tip, windows 10

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