SharePoint Files Disappear: How to Recover SharePoint Files

Do you find SharePoint files disappear?

SharePoint is a web-based platform developed by Microsoft for document management, collaboration, and content sharing within organizations. It serves as a central hub where users can store, organize, share, and access information from any device with an internet connection.

Nevertheless, data loss can be a substantial concern for users who are responsible for administering critical files on SharePoint. SharePoint will automatically delete files. The document deletion feature is available in SharePoint Server 2016 to protect users from potential risks.

Users were able to specify their preferences for file deletion, including the duration of the deletion, whether it was provisional or permanent. As a result, numerous organizations will implement backup solutions for Microsoft Office 365 to safeguard against data loss.

Possible reason: Why your SharePoint files disappear without trace

Except for automatic deletion, some users also have discovered that their critical files have vanished without any indications or traces. Here are some probable reasons that may cause SharePoint file missing:

Accidental Deletion: Files may be accidentally deleted by users or moved to the Recycle Bin, making them temporarily unavailable in their original location.

Version Control: SharePoint has versioning features, and sometimes users may be viewing an older version of a file, leading them to believe the most recent one has disappeared.

Sync Problems: If users are syncing SharePoint files to their local devices via OneDrive, sync issues may prevent files from appearing correctly or at all.

Corrupt or Failed Migration: When migrating data to SharePoint or between libraries, files may not transfer correctly or become inaccessible due to errors in the process.

Retention Policies or Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Organizational policies may archive or move files to a different location if they meet certain criteria, such as inactivity or content sensitivity.

Easily recover disappeared SharePoint files

When collaborating with colleagues, SharePoint users frequently encounter data loss issues. While some individuals consistently back up critical data, others neglect to do so to conserve storage space and expenses.

Therefore, many users are searching for methods to recover files that have been permanently deleted in Windows without using backups. Fortunately, professional Windows data recovery programs such as AOMEI FastRecovery can help. With just a few clicks, this tool enables users to scan and retrieve deleted files from computers.

🤗 Simple: Scan, select, and save the recovered files without needing special skills or experience.
✨ All-encompassing: Apply to a variety of data loss scenarios, including system crashes, deletions, formatting, and the emptying of the recycle container.
⚡ Efficiency: Recover over 2000 categories of deleted and lost data, such as photos, videos, office files, and zip files.
🙆🏼‍♀️ Convenient: During the scanning procedure, you can filter, preview, and retrieve deleted or lost files.
⭕ Compatibility: Support all Windows 11/10/8/7 and Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Traditional ways to fix SharePoint files disappear

The SharePoint files missing issue can be resolved by implementing the following solutions. These methods enable you to effortlessly retrieve files that were inadvertently deleted from your computer.

Solution 1. Verify and request authorization.

According to what was mentioned earlier, the files and folders may be accessible to all users or a specific group of users. Because of the unexpected loss of specific files, the license granted to you may have been withdrawn. You can check the permission or contact the host to change the permission settings.

Solution 2. Check file filter

Metadata allows for the possibility of filtering out files through the usage of a view. Because of this, it is possible that you will not be able to see some of the files. Visit your filtering and check it out.

Verify that the option "Show items only when the following is true" is selected. If it is, modify it to "Show all items in this view."

Solution 3. Indicate the search option/preferences.

You will need to regain access to the files or folders you desire because they may have been relocated to a different location by other users. You can do this by contacting the user or searching the files in all of the site collections.

The filename could be entered into the search box, and then set Results found in Everything.

Solution 4. Recover removed files from SharePoint

If you still unable to locate the vanished SharePoint files, the files may have already been deleted. However, you were fortunate enough to be able to retrieve the deleted SharePoint files from the Recycle folder.

Step 1. Navigate to the original SharePoint site from which the files were purged and select the "Recycle bin" option from the toolbar.

Step 2. Select the deleted SharePoint files > click Restore.

If the Recycle bin does not contain any deleted SharePoint files, it is possible that they were irreversibly deleted. Kindly proceed to the subsequent approach.

Conclusion

The solutions provided in this post could effectively resolve the issue of SharePoint files disappearing. Users may contact the proprietor to retrieve SharePoint files that are missing due to permission settings. For files that are lost due to filters or location changes, users may re-check and search their files.

If the SharePoint data was deleted, please refer to the Recycle bin or seek assistance from a data rescuer.