How do I retrieve files that disappeared from my desktop, but linked with to a deactivated onedrive?

Dear Park, Jeffrey
Welcome and thank you for sharing your issue in the Q&A forum.

Based on the information you provided, I understand that you are facing difficulties accessing your old study materials, which are crucial for your upcoming exams. I truly apologize for this inconvenience, but please be assured that I will work with you to find a solution.

According to my research, you can attempt the following steps to address the issue:

 First, you need to Check Locally: Look for files with a Solid Green Tick (indicating they are Locally Available). If found, IMMEDIATELY COPY & PASTE these files to a secure location outside of the OneDrive folder.

• Open Finder --> Navigate to the OneDrive - [Old School Name] folder. Check the Status column.

 Next, you must unlink the old, deactivated account to prevent future synchronization errors:

• Click the OneDrive icon on the Menu Bar --> Settings (Gear icon) --> Preferences --> Navigate to the Account Tab.
• Find the old account --> Click Unlink this Mac. This must be done to prevent synchronization errors and remove the old account from your Mac.

 Simultaneously, you should ensure your new account is set up correctly:

• In the Account Tab, confirm that only your college account is active. Check the Sync and Backup tab to manage where your current Desktop/Documents are backed up, avoiding future synchronization errors.

If all the steps above are unsuccessful, the final and most effective step is to contact the IT Department of your old school. Only the IT Administrator can intervene with a deactivated account or manually provide those documents to you.

In the meantime, could you please provide a screenshot of the error message that appears when you try to open the inaccessible documents? This will allow me to check the technical details and determine the most optimal next course of action for you.

If you prefer not to share this information publicly, feel free to respond privately. I’ll follow up with a secure message to collect the necessary details.

Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to assisting you further and resolving this matter promptly.

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