Can't open recent excel files. Get message "File is either deleted or not currently accessible"

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Level 1

4 points

Can't open recent excel files. Get message "File is either deleted or not currently accessible"

Opened the file yesterday. Trying to access from recent file list and get the message above. I copy the path and use finder, Go To and do not get any results.

I don't save files in iCloud. I save them on MacBook in my "Documents" folder.

iCloud does not have a trash folder

When I copy the file location in the Recent Files this is the path that is copied,

/Users/thebraves4/Library/Mobile Documents/.Trash/CR Expenses.xlsx

And I paste it in Finder's Go To Folder, it does not find the file. If I delete the file name and search /Users/thebraves4/Library/Mobile Documents/.Trash/, then it brings up iCloud drive but that does not have a trash folder.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Aug 25, 2025 12:38 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 25, 2025 01:22 PM in response to EllienReg

The file paths above point to the location that files synced with iCloud are stored on your Mac. Do you have the option to sync Desktop & Documents with iCloud Drive enabled?

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

iCloud does not have a trash folder, but there is a recently deleted folder where deleted files live for 30 days before permanent deletion. You can access that folder via a browser.

Recover deleted files on iCloud.com - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Aug 25, 2025 02:22 PM in response to EllienReg

If you have Desktop & Documents synced with iCloud Drive, a copy of everything you save on your Mac on either the Desktop or in the Documents folder (and any/all subfolders) is synced with iCloud Drive. Synced ≠ backed up. If you delete the file from your Mac, it's also deleted from iCloud Drive. However, the copy on iCloud Drive may be saved in Recently Deleted.

Your screenshot is of Recent files in MS Excel, not iCloud. Click this link to sign into iCloud Drive, look in the Recently Deleted folder there.

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Answer 3

Aug 25, 2025 01:31 PM in response to EllienReg

It appears that the iCloud Desktop and Documents feature enabled. This path (/Users/thebraves4/Library/Mobile Documents/.Trash/CR Expenses.xlsx) usually means iCloud Desktop and Documents is enabled.

Log into iCloud.com and check there, and in the iCloud Drive Recently Deleted folder. Otherwise, it is likely that the file has been deleted. (The Recently Deleted folder usually contains files that were recently deleted, and were not deleted again from the recently deleted folder.)

On the off chance that iCloud has gotten itself tangled, reboot macOS, and check again.

Then and as mentioned earlier, you will want to restore from Time Machine, or from a backup of iCloud Drive.

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Answer 4

EllienReg Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 25, 2025 02:41 PM in response to neuroanatomist

I believe that the file was moved to iCloud in error, but it is weird because we never store files in iCloud, but it likely sync'd there because desktop and documents files were selected to sync to iCloud.

The issue is that I can't see that file in recently deleted in iCloud.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 5

EllienReg Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 25, 2025 02:27 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Thanks, I did try this but that recently deleted folder in iCloud does not have the file.

Crazy how the path in MS Excel shows a trash folder but that the location is not valid in either Finder, nor is it iCloud or OneDrive or Google Docs.

I'm not even sure how these files were moved from my local hard drive.

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Answer 6

EllienReg Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 25, 2025 02:31 PM in response to KiltedTim

I think you are correct, that it appears that the files were deleted. I have not sync'd Time Machine backup since I created the files as I am moving countries and my backup hard drive is in the container being shipped here. These files were created with only the copies on my hard drive.

I'm wondering how this even happened as I have not saved copies anywhere but my hard drive, and now 3 files that I opened that day are all not accessible now.

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