Can I recover a file I deleted from the Windows Recycle Bin?

Check OneDrive in your browser, including its Recycle Bin. Sign in with the Microsoft account you were using on the PC. If the document synced before it was deleted, you may be able to restore it there.

Also look through the files still in OneDrive. The recent file entry in Word only points to where the document used to be, so an error there doesn't necessarily tell you whether another copy exists.

Look for a backup too, whether that's an external drive or another copy of the document you saved somewhere else. Even an older version could save you from starting completely over.

If there's no cloud copy or backup, stop using the affected drive as much as you can. Continued use can overwrite deleted data and make recovery less likely.

Data recovery software may be able to find the document, but it's not guaranteed. Don't install the recovery software or save recovered files onto the same drive. Use a separate USB drive for the recovered files. If the document is especially valuable, consider a professional recovery service before trying tools yourself.

OneDrive can be confusing here. A folder visible in File Explorer can be inside the OneDrive folder even if syncing or backup was later turned off. Deleting it locally doesn't necessarily mean a current cloud copy exists, so check both locations rather than assuming they're identical.