Microsoft 365

Recover a lost, deleted or overwritten file

Deleted a file from OneDrive or SharePoint?

1. Go to m365.cloud.microsoft and open OneDrive (or the SharePoint site).
2. Select Recycle bin in the left-hand menu.
3. Select the file and choose Restore.

Deleted work files are normally kept for up to 93 days.

Saved over a file, or want an older version?

Files in OneDrive and SharePoint keep a version history.

1. Right-click the file in File Explorer (or in OneDrive on the web) and choose Version history.
2. Find the version from before the change, then select Restore (or open it and save a copy).

Office closed before you saved?

• Windows: reopen the app (for example Excel) and look for the Document Recovery pane. Or go to File > Info > Manage Workbook (or Manage Document) > Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
• Mac: reopen the app. Recovered files usually open automatically. In Finder, you can also press Shift + Command + G and go to ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Excel/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft (swap Excel for Word as needed), and look for files starting with "AutoRecovery save of".

When you find the file, use File > Save As straight away and give it a new name.

Avoid it next time

Save files in OneDrive or SharePoint with AutoSave turned on (top left of Word and Excel).

Still missing?

Raise a ticket with the file name, where it was saved and roughly when it went missing. Files saved only on a computer's Desktop may be recoverable if the computer is backed up.