SharePoint Recover Deleted File in Seconds

Losing business-critical data can be damaging to your company’s daily operations. Learn how to tackle this problem with SharePoint Recover Deleted Files tips.

Before we jump into the explanation of how you can recover the deleted file in SharePoint, let’s quickly set something straight. With SharePoint, as well as with many other Microsoft applications, you can perform recovery on two levels:

1. The first-level recovery. End-users can perform it without the help of an IT admin. If you deleted a file, this doesn’t mean it is gone forever – the file just went to the SharePoint Recycle Bin from where you can restore it. 
2. The second-level recovery can be performed by administrators only. It requires access to the site collection level.

We will walk you through the recovery process and help you to restore the deleted SharePoint file on both levels. This way, you can restore any documents, files, folders, libraries, or sites. Note that there are cases when recovery from a recycle bin is impossible. But don’t worry, as security specialists, we will show you a solution.

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How to recover deleted documents from the first-stage Recycle Bin

To recover deleted docs and return them to their original location, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Admin’s account and select your SharePoint site.
2. Click on the Settings gear icon and choose Site Contents.
   
3. Click on the Settings gear icon and choose Site Contents.
4. When the page is open, find the Recycle Bin in the top right corner and click it. 
5. Find and select the deleted document by left-clicking on it, and then click Restore.

The document has been restored to its original location.

Note:

• In some cases, you may not see the Recycle Bin icon, because in some SharePoint versions, it might’ve been disabled. To fix this, contact the administrator; in case you are the administrator, go visit Configure SharePoint Recycle Bin Settings.
• The ability to restore files has an expiration date. In the case of the second-stage Recycle Bin, its retention time is 93 days maximum. Note that your admin might’ve chosen any other (shorter) number. After that period, the file will be erased and accessible only through your admin panel in the site collection Recycle Bin. 

Read also:

7 SharePoint Best Practices (End Users Edition)

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How to restore a file from the second-stage Recycle Bin

All files that have been deleted or automatically erased from a first-stage Recycle Bin of a SharePoint site are sent to the second-stage (or site collection) Recycle Bin. It can be accessed and restored only by the site administrator. 

*Note that this second-stage Recycle Bin function should be enabled; otherwise, you can’t access it. 

1. Go to the site and log in to your account with your administrator’s credentials. 
2. On the left pane, select Recycle Bin. In case you don’t see it, go to the Settings icon and press Site Settings. If you don’t see Site settings, choose Site information, and then View all site settings. In some cases, you also need to select Site contents, and then you’ll see the Site settings option.
3. Click Recycle Bin and then, at the bottom, click Second-stage Recycle Bin.
4. Choose the items you want to restore and click Restore. Now, all the items have been restored to their original place.

When it is impossible to restore SharePoint files from Recycle Bin

There are some cases when it is impossible to recover lost or deleted SharePoint files and sites. It is important for a site administrator as well as for end-users to know those limitations beforehand. They can cause irreversible data loss, so be prepared. 

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Here are some notes to take into account:

1. The retention time can be set on any period of up to 93 days. After this time, the quota is exceeded and the oldest files get purged irreversibly.
2. If a site collection admin has deleted files manually from this bin, they can’t be restored without a third-party backup.
3. If the site collection Recycle Bin option wasn’t enabled, your files can’t be restored from it. 
4. Your SharePoint data was damaged with ransomware.

These are just a  few scenarios where it would be impossible to recover deleted SharePoint files.

The only way to avoid data loss, in this case, is to make regular backups of your SharePoint files. And we advise you to backup your data as soon as possible; otherwise, your money and reputation are at stake.

Read How to Backup SharePoint to know all you need.

Stop delaying and start securing your business from losing critical data, time, and money right now by backing up your Office 365 files!