Recovering Deleted Items: Files, Emails & Data Recovery

Accidentally deleted something? This guide explains how to recover files, emails, and data across OneDrive, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams, plus prevention tips.

OneDrive File Recovery

Restore from Recycle Bin

1. Open OneDrive or SharePoint
2. Click Recycle Bin in the left sidebar
3. Find the deleted file
4. Click the checkbox to select it
5. Click Restore
6. The file returns to its original location

Recovery Window

• Personal OneDrive: 93-day recovery window
• SharePoint: 93-day recovery window
• Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently deletes items
• Site admins can restore from the second-stage Recycle Bin

Version History

1. Right-click a file, then Version history
2. Select the version you want
3. Click restore or download
4. Choose to replace the current version
5. The file is restored to that point in time

Email Recovery

Outlook Deleted Items Recovery

1. Open Outlook
2. Click the Deleted Items folder
3. Select the email to recover
4. Drag it to the desired folder
5. The email is restored to that folder

Permanently Deleted Emails

1. Hard-deleted emails may be recovered for 30 days
2. Use “Recover deleted items from server”
3. Emails are unrecoverable after 30 days
4. Contact ALCO USA support for archive recovery

Recover an Entire Mailbox

• Possible if deleted within 30 days
• Contact your ALCO USA admin
• Restore to an alternate mailbox
• Merge content into the current mailbox

SharePoint Document Recovery

First-Stage Recycle Bin

1. Go to the SharePoint site
2. Click Recycle Bin
3. Select the deleted document
4. Click Restore
5. The document returns to the library

Second-Stage Recycle Bin

• Available to site admins
• 93-day recovery period
• Accessed from Site Settings
• Can restore deleted libraries or files

Teams Chat & Files

Recovering Deleted Messages

• Messages deleted within 30 days
• Contact the team owner or admin
• Restore may be possible from backups
• No user-level recovery option

Deleted Files in Teams

1. Go to the Files tab
2. Click Recycle Bin
3. Select the file to recover
4. Click Restore
5. The file returns to the Teams channel

Database & Backup Recovery

Check Backup Status

1. Access account settings
2. Look for backup and recovery options
3. Initiate recovery if available
4. Recovery may take 3-5 business days

Prevention Best Practices

Prevent Accidental Deletion

1. Use read-only mode for important files
2. Restrict delete permissions
3. Enable retention policies
4. Create backup copies
5. Archive completed projects

Backup Strategy

• Duplicate critical documents
• Archive old projects
• Use external storage
• Schedule regular backups
• Test restore procedures

Limitations & Risks

What Cannot Be Recovered

• Permanently deleted items after the recovery window
• Items purged from the Recycle Bin
• Emails purged over 30 days ago
• Data from deactivated accounts

Troubleshooting

Cannot Find Deleted Item

• Check both Recycle Bins
• Verify the deletion date
• Ask a team member if they have a copy
• Contact support if urgent

Restore Button Grayed Out

• Check your permissions
• Verify you’re a site owner or admin
• The item may be permanently deleted
• Contact your admin for assistance

Contact

For data recovery assistance, reach our team:

Email: Team@alcousa.org

Phone: +1(208) 391-7176

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 6 PM EST