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How to recover disappeared Excel file that created by my ex colleague?

Anonymous
2025-06-09T02:59:36+00:00

Two Excel file are disappeared . It originally created by my ex colleague. After she resigned, my current colleague and I keep on working on it. But the files are disappeared. How can I recover it? We have lots of data inside.

I just wonder if it is because of my ex colleague account is deleted by the system.

The Excel file are so important to our team,, hope someone can help us to recover them.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For education | Android

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-09T03:39:29+00:00

    Hi Stephy Lam,

    Welcome to Microsoft Community. Thank you for reaching out.

    Based on your description, I understand that the Excel files which created by your ex-colleague disappeared while you are working on it. I recommend a few steps as below:
    Check OneDrive or SharePoint

    • If the files were stored in OneDrive or SharePoint:
    • Go to the OneDrive/SharePoint site. then use the search bar to look for the file names or keywords.
    • Check the Recycle Bin and Second-stage Recycle Bin. Use the “Restore your OneDrive” feature to roll back to a previous state (available for up to 30 days).

    Ask IT Admin to Recover Files

    • When the ex-colleague’s account was deleted, the files may have been deleted with it. I suggest contacting the Microsoft 365 admin to:
    • Check if the account is still in the Deleted Users list (retained for 30 days).
    • Restore the account temporarily to access the files.
    • Transfer ownership of OneDrive files to another user.

    Search for Backups or Email Attachments

    • Ask if the files were ever emailed or backed up.
    • Check Outlook for attachments or shared links.

    Check Shared Teams or Channels

    • If the files were shared in Microsoft Teams, check the Files tab in the relevant channel.
    • Files shared in Teams are stored in the associated SharePoint site.

    If the issue persists after trying these steps, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I am here to assist further.  

    Best regards

    Alex - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-12T02:14:28+00:00

    Hi Stephy Lam,

    Is there any update from you? If yes, please feel free to let us know. 

    Best regards,
    Alex – MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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