What Is the Process for Recovering Deleted Files in Microsoft 365 E3?

In Microsoft 365 E3, deleted files can be recovered from the Recycle Bin in OneDrive or SharePoint within the retention period. If files are permanently deleted, administrators can use retention policies or backup solutions for recovery.

Step-by-Step Guide to Recovering Deleted Files in Microsoft 365 E3

Microsoft 365 E3 offers several recovery options to retrieve deleted files. These include user-level recovery through the Recycle Bin and administrator-level recovery for permanently deleted files.

1. Recover Deleted Files from OneDrive

Deleted files in OneDrive are stored in the Recycle Bin for up to 93 days.

• Open OneDrive in a web browser.
• Select Recycle Bin from the left menu.
• Locate the deleted file or folder.
• Select the file and click Restore to recover it.

Note: After 93 days, items are moved to the Second-Stage Recycle Bin, where admins can restore them.

2. Recover Deleted Files from SharePoint

SharePoint also uses a two-stage Recycle Bin for file recovery.

• Go to the SharePoint document library where the file was stored.
• Click Recycle Bin in the left navigation pane.
• Find the deleted file, select it, and click Restore.
• If the file isn’t there, check the Second-Stage Recycle Bin (accessible by admins).

3. Restore Entire OneDrive or SharePoint Libraries

Microsoft 365 allows users to restore their entire OneDrive or SharePoint libraries to a previous state.

• In OneDrive, click Settings > Restore your OneDrive.
• Select a restore point from the last 30 days or create a custom one.
• Confirm the restore to recover all files to the selected state.

This is especially useful for recovering from mass deletions or ransomware attacks.

4. Use Microsoft 365 Compliance Features

For files deleted beyond the retention period, compliance tools can recover content if retention policies are enabled.

• Go to the Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal.
• Navigate to Content Search or eDiscovery tools.
• Search for the deleted files and export them if available.

5. Administrator Recovery via PowerShell

Admins can use PowerShell to recover permanently deleted files.

• Connect to SharePoint Online using PowerShell.
• Run commands like Get-SPODeletedSite or Restore-SPODeletedSite to recover files or sites.

Table: File Retention Timelines in Microsoft 365 E3

Best Practices for Preventing Data Loss

• Enable retention policies for critical data.
• Use Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to prevent ransomware.
• Regularly back up data using third-party tools compatible with Microsoft 365.

Need help managing file recovery in Microsoft 365 E3?

Medha Cloud provides expert support and customized solutions for Microsoft 365 file recovery and data retention.