Mark files as can not be deleted
Currently, when I delete a OneDrive file on a client (phone/tablet/laptop), the file gets deleted on OneDrive and on all other clients. This is the right thing for many situations.
HOWEVER, there are some situations where I want to ensure files are not deleted. Examples are using OneDrive for backups or archiving (e.g. photos/videos).
It would be great to be able to mark files as can not be deleted.

Thanks for the suggestion. This isn’t something we are likely to get to in the near future.
38 comments
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Eli commented
Feature is available on Google cloud. Why not on MS?
I need to clear space on local drive but want to retain it on cloud. How?
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JPaschal commented
Has there been an update to this yet? Can we lock them somehow? This would be very beneficial.
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Anonymous commented
what about now ?
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Anonymous commented
How much effort could this REALLY take? Is there one OneDrive developer? Just give us a lock icon in the web interface that can be set on individual folders and files. If the lock is enabled, only the user that set the lock can unlock it - except for superusers. The lock would represent "if this lock is enabled, the folder or file can't be deleted."
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OK Heres-a-name commented
This is one of those rare times I hope issue reviving an thread. Its 2018 and here is a request of a key function from 2014 that got poorly ignored. I'm now on hour 6 fixing an issue because a colleague hit Delete on a sync'ed folder. If OneDrive is meant to be so *personal*, why dont I have *personal* control on who can mass-delete a shared/sync'ed folder with 18,000+ files in it?
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Anonymous commented
In personal setting it should be posible to deactivate the posibility to delete picture. Reason is that when small kids see picture on phone & ipad, they by mistake delete pictures.
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Will commented
We need the ability to prevent files from being deleted by individuals who have shared access.
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Dr Slinky McVelvet commented
@Douglas Pearce
I agree with everyone else here, OneDrive cannot be considered as a secure place to store files. Case in point, I use 'Symantec System Recovery SSR2013 R2' to create backups of my drives on a monthly basis. Just a few days ago I needed to restore my C:Drive to an earlier time, this is when I noticed that OneDrive has one MAJOR WEAKNESS!!
Allow me to explain...
Last Monday (25 Dec 2017) I saved some important files to my OneDrive for safe keeping. These particular files are not stored locally on my PC to save space.
On Thursday (28 Dec 2017) I needed to restore my C:Drive to an earlier time to rectify an issue I was having with a certain problematic driver. The backup I chose to restore from was the most recent and dated around the end of November.
This is where OneDrive let me down! After restoring my C:Drive all appeared well except I noticed OneDrive was taking a while to sync my files, this is when I noticed that it was now deleting all files that had been saved to my OneDrive since November, the date of my last backup!!
This shouldn't happen!!!! Files that are only stored in the cloud should remain there until deleted by the user. OneDrive should not assume that if you roll back your machine that all files saved after that date are now scrap!
For peace of mind we should all be able to protect important files against deletion otherwise what's the point of OneDrive?
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Lin commented
So microsoft won't let files/folders to be marked as 'DO NOT DELETE'.
Then why the onedrive client keep deleting my files while sync via multiple PCs?
I uploaded some files from PC A at workplace, then sleep it. When I back to home, turn on my sleeped PC B, all my uploaded files from PC A are deleted. Is this the right thing the sync client should do?
Of cource these things are not happed every time, but 30% is a big number, won't it? -
Who cares commented
Unfortunately because it would be an important plus. For this reason, I will try to find one which helps me with that.
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Luke Tongs commented
This should be an option.
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Jim commented
And based on Douglas Pearces' reply, it's obviously not something they'd care to elaborate on.
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Jim commented
Question for OneDrive Administrator: It is disturbing to think that a cloud storage system touted by one of the worlds largest multinational corporations as being a safe place to store one's data could so poorly designed that one false move could result in permanent loss. Please tell me that Microsoft keeps archives of their customers OneDrive folders on separate servers (and for how long) to protect their customers. Thank you.
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Anonymous commented
this is truly a joke, I have just accidentally deleted 100 of hours of work, just to realize it in time to recover. I have purchased this service for this exact reason so it CAN NOT happen. I have had this for maximum a week and it has been nothing but a disappointment. I have been using dropbox for over a year without a single problem, or google drive for more then 3 yeras, all free. This is a ridicules service, I will be refunding this.
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Anonymous commented
Please add this option.
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Bingham commented
This is an absolute REQUIREMENT--- why must Microsoft always have LESS FUNCTIONALITY then Google.
Google documents lets you mark a file-- can not be deleted/shared/downloaded -----
AND YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO GET IT IN THE FUTURE>
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Anonymous commented
This Feature NEEDS to be created.
A PIN System sounds great, or some form of Trash/Guaranteed Back up.Our entire team site was deleted today via mistake, Some of the files were not recoverable & luckily some files being copied via another PC before they synced.
Our Migration to Microsoft Office365 package is currently in negotiation. -
Anonymous commented
One of my clients who also had edit access to the company OneDrive directory deleted the entire folder. Needless to say, we were only able to retrieve what had been emailed around, not everything.
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David Mowatt commented
Agree that OneDrive is just too prone to accidental/malicious deletion.
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Anonymous commented
The problem is that OneDrive has a mind of its own and deletes files enmass sometimes. It's possible to get them back from TRASH so long as you haven't emptied TRASH.