Deleted excel file on SharePoint

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Deleted excel file on SharePoint

ITServices 0

Hello, we have an organization repository and sub-folders, one of my user deleted an excel file in her folder and we are unable to retrieve the deleted file. please help

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Answer 1

Rin-L 15,665 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @ITServices,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I’d be happy to help you look into this. To better understand the situation and guide you effectively, could you please clarify a few details for me:

First, do you know how long ago the user deleted the Excel file?
Have both you and the user checked the Recycle Bin and the Second‑stage Recycle Bin on the SharePoint site? I’d like to know whether the file simply doesn’t appear at all, or if it appears but cannot be restored.
Was the file synced with the user’s OneDrive for Business? If so, could you also check the OneDrive Recycle Bin to see whether the file is listed there?

If you’re able to share a bit more detail in a reply under this post, it would be greatly appreciated. Once I get more information, I’ll do my best within my scope here to point you toward the most appropriate next steps.

Looking forward to your update.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

ITServices 0 Reputation points

2026-03-05T14:46:14.4166667+00:00
First, do you know how long ago the user deleted the Excel file? The excel file was deleted an hour before the complain was raised.

Have both you and the user checked the Recycle Bin and the Second‑stage Recycle Bin on the SharePoint site? I’d like to know whether the file simply doesn’t appear at all, or if it appears but cannot be restored. On the user SharePoint, Recycle Bin option is not available, but on admin center I could see the deleted sites option which the file is not present.

Was the file synced with the user’s OneDrive for Business? If so, could you also check the OneDrive Recycle Bin to see whether the file is listed there? No, the file was created directly in SharePoint
Rin-L 15,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-06T13:59:26.1533333+00:00

Thank you again for your reply, @ITServices!

Typically, when a file is deleted from a SharePoint site, it does not disappear permanently right away. It first goes into the site’s Recycle Bin, so the best next step is to check there using an account that has Site

You can access the Recycle Bin in Site contents page (from the left menu or top navigation):

If the file was accidentally removed from the Recycle Bin as well, SharePoint keeps a second layer of protection. Items deleted from the first-stage Recycle Bin are moved automatically to the Second‑stage Recycle Bin. You can check it by clicking the “Second-stage recycle bin” link at the bottom of the Recycle Bin page.

Please try checking both locations and let me know how it goes!
Rin-L 15,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-09T07:38:57.2033333+00:00

Hi @ITServices,

I just wanted to check in and see if you have any updates or additional information you’d like to share regarding your situation. If there's anything new or if you need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Rin-L 15,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-11T08:11:31.8233333+00:00

Hi @ITServices,

I hope this message finds you well.

This is my second follow-up to check whether your issue has been resolved. I truly want to ensure your experience is as smooth as possible. If your problem is still ongoing or if you have faced any new difficulties, please share more details about the current steps you are stuck on. I am here and happy to provide further help whenever you need it.

While waiting for your response, I will continue tracking other customer questions on the forum to ensure everyone receives timely support. If you have additional questions, please feel free to tag my name in your reply so I can assist you promptly and more personally.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

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Deleted excel file on SharePoint

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