OneDrive's Recycle Bin: How to empty or recover deleted files

If you’ve ever deleted a file from OneDrive and then realized you still need it, you’re not alone. The good news is that Microsoft thought of this exact moment and gave OneDrive its own safety net, otherwise known as the Recycle Bin. 🙂 It’s like a holding area where your deleted files take a short vacation before disappearing for good. Whether you want to bring a file back to life or clear out the clutter for extra peace of mind, it doesn’t hurt to know how to access OneDrive’s Recycle Bin. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly where the OneDrive Recycle Bin is on Windows PCs, Android devices, and iPhones, and how to use it to restore or permanently delete files. NOTE: This tutorial shows how to work with OneDrive’s Recycle Bin on a PC with Windows, an Android smartphone or tablet, and an iPhone. Each type of device has dedicated sections with instructions to help you out. Scroll down to the sections relevant to your device.

What happens if I delete a file or folder from OneDrive?

When you delete a file or folder from your OneDrive, it doesn’t permanently go away, at least not right away. OneDrive, just like Windows, has a Recycle Bin for all the things you delete. The removed files and folders are kept and can still be recovered for a while. However, this time is limited, so if you change your mind about something you deleted, you should act sooner rather than later. If you’re signed in with a personal Microsoft account, OneDrive stores deleted files and folders in its Recycle Bin for up to 30 days. If your Recycle Bin gets large enough to exceed 10% of your total OneDrive storage, they may be permanently removed sooner. If your Recycle Bin does not exceed 10% of your total storage, then all deleted files and folders are kept for 30 days after the date they are removed. OneDrive’s Recycle Bin folder If you’re signed in with a work or school account (Microsoft 365 business or education account), your items are kept for 93 days in OneDrive’s Recycle Bin unless the administrator of your subscription has changed this setting. If a Microsoft 365 account becomes unlicensed or is deleted, its OneDrive content is retained for 30 days before being moved to the Recycle Bin for another 93 days, after which it is permanently deleted. If a retention policy applies, the files may instead be archived, which could involve reactivation fees and ongoing storage charges. A positive feature is that the Recycle Bin doesn’t count against your OneDrive storage limit. Once a file is deleted, it no longer uses your available storage space. If you consider the limitation mentioned earlier and how it works, the Recycle Bin is a temporary 10% extra storage space on top of your OneDrive storage plan. Now that you know what happens if you delete a file or folder from OneDrive, what about getting it back before it’s too late? Or what about getting rid of everything in your OneDrive’s Recycle Bin when you’re sure you no longer need anything inside it? Depending on the device you’re using (Windows PC, Android device, iPhone), skip to the chapters that apply to you and find out the answers:

How to empty or recover deleted files in OneDrive’s Recycle Bin on a PC

If you’re working on a Windows computer, here’s how to find deleted files in OneDrive, how to recover those you still need, and how to empty OneDrive’s Recycle Bin:

Where is OneDrive’s Recycle Bin on a PC?

I’ll start bluntly: neither Windows 10 nor Windows 11 has an individual OneDrive Recycle Bin folder that you can access. When you delete a file or folder that is synced with OneDrive, it goes to the Recycle Bin on your computer. Open the Recycle Bin and restore your deleted files from there. Restore deleted files from Windows 11’s Recycle Bin However, if you have emptied the Windows Recycle Bin or have deleted your files from it, you can access OneDrive’s Recycle Bin using a web browser. So, if you’re wondering where the OneDrive Recycle Bin is and how to access it from your PC, here’s how: Regardless of whether you’re using Windows 11 or Windows 10, click or tap the OneDrive icon in the system tray. In the OneDrive popup that shows up, click or tap Recycle bin. Open OneDrive's Recycle bin in Windows Alternatively, regardless of the operating system you’re using, you can open a web browser of your choosing and go to the OneDrive website, where you’ll need to sign in with your Microsoft account. Once OneDrive loads your files, click or tap the Recycle bin option in the left sidebar. Its icon looks like a trash can. OneDrive's Recycle bin location Then, you get access to the list of files and folders that were deleted from OneDrive in the last 30 or 93 days, depending on your account’s type (personal or business). So let’s see now…

How to recover OneDrive’s deleted files on a PC

As mentioned earlier, you can restore your deleted files from the Recycle Bin on a Windows PC. However, if those files aren’t there anymore, you may find them in OneDrive’s Recycle Bin using a web browser. Follow the steps above to access OneDrive’s Recycle Bin, select the file(s) you want to recover, and then tap Restore at the top. You can also check the box next to each file you want to restore. Restore deleted files from the OneDrive website NOTE: One aspect to keep in mind is that files deleted from your Personal Vault only show up in your Recycle Bin if the Personal Vault is unlocked before you check the Recycle Bin. If you prefer, you can also select and click/tap the ellipsis (...) button of a deleted file, or simply right-click it, to access the menu in the following screenshot. In it, you can then click or tap Restore to get the deleted file back. Click the ellipsis button and then Restore Either way, OneDrive will immediately move the deleted file(s) you selected to its (their) original location(s) in your OneDrive. But what if you want something else, like getting rid of files? Here’s…

How to delete files from OneDrive’s Recycle bin

If you know you’ll never need one or more files from your OneDrive, you can permanently get rid of them. To do that, click or tap to select the file in the Recycle bin, and then press the Delete button in the list’s top-left corner. To select multiple files, check the box next to their name, instead of clicking directly on their name. How to delete a file from OneDrive's Recycle bin If you prefer, you can also open the options menu for a deleted file by selecting it and clicking or tapping the ellipsis (...) button, or by simply right-clicking it. From that menu, shown in the screenshot below, choose Delete to permanently remove the file. Click the ellipsis button and then choose Delete Moreover, you can also delete all the files in your OneDrive’s Recycle bin if you want to. Here’s…

How to empty OneDrive’s Recycle Bin

So, do you want to delete all the files in OneDrive’s Recycle Bin? Nothing could be easier! 🙂 All you have to do is click or tap the Empty Recycle Bin button at the top of the Recycle Bin page on the OneDrive website. How to empty OneDrive's Recycle Bin That’s it! Next, let’s see how to do all these things in OneDrive for Android, too:

How to empty or recover deleted files in OneDrive’s Recycle Bin on Android

If you’re using an Android smartphone or tablet and want to find the files you deleted in OneDrive, whether to recover them or empty your Recycle bin completely, this is what you need to know:

Where is OneDrive’s Recycle Bin on an Android smartphone or tablet?

If you use the OneDrive app on an Android smartphone or tablet, open it and sign in with your account (if necessary). In the app, tap your picture icon in the top-left corner. Tap your avatar in the top-left corner Then, tap the Recycle bin option in the menu that shows up. This is how to access the OneDrive Recycle bin on Android. How to access OneDrive's Recycle bin on Android OneDrive’s Recycle bin is now loaded, showing your deleted files and folders. OneDrive's Recycle bin in Android You found the files deleted from your OneDrive. Now let’s see…

How to recover OneDrive’s deleted files on an Android smartphone or tablet

On your Android device, tap the name of the file(s) you want to restore from OneDrive’s Recycle Bin. When you are done making your selections, click or tap the button in the top-right corner of the screen, whose icon looks like three stacked dots. Select the file or files to restore from OneDrive In the menu displayed, select Restore. Restore deleted files from the OneDrive app for Android Alternatively, you can tap the ellipsis (...) button next to a file you want to recover from your OneDrive, then tap the Restore option in the menu shown at the bottom. Alternative way to restore files from OneDrive's Recycle Bin Either way, the file(s) you selected is (are) restored immediately to its (their) original location(s) in your OneDrive.

How to delete files from OneDrive’s Recycle bin permanently

In case you decide you will never need one or more files from your OneDrive, you can permanently erase them. To do that, first locate the file(s) in the Recycle bin from your OneDrive, select it (them) by touching and holding, and tap the three-stacked-dots button in the top-right corner. Access the options menu for a deleted file Choose Delete in the menu displayed. Permanently erase a file from OneDrive's Recycle bin Alternatively, you can tap the ellipsis (...) button next to a file you want to permanently remove from your OneDrive, then tap the Delete option in the menu displayed at the bottom of the screen. Another way to permanently erase a file from OneDrive's Recycle bin While this works for a single file, you may want to erase everything in your OneDrive’s Recycle bin. Here’s…

How to empty OneDrive’s Recycle bin on an Android phone or tablet

In case you decide you don’t want any traces left of the files you’ve deleted from your OneDrive, you can permanently delete everything. To empty OneDrive’s Recycle bin on your Android device, don’t select any files on the Recycle bin screen and tap the Delete All button in the top-right corner. How to empty OneDrive's Recycle bin on Android Everything is gone in an instant, leaving you with a clean and tidy Recycle bin.

How to empty or recover deleted files in OneDrive’s Recycle Bin on an iPhone

If you own an iPhone, and you’re looking for your deleted files in OneDrive, here’s what you should know:

Where is OneDrive’s Recycle Bin on an iPhone?

On your iPhone, OneDrive’s Recycle bin location is the same as on Android. To get to it, open the OneDrive app, and sign in with your account (if necessary). Then, tap your avatar or picture in the top-left corner of the OneDrive app. Tap your account in the OneDrive app for iPhone Next, tap Recycle Bin in the menu that opens. Now, you know where OneDrive’s Recycle Bin is on iOS. 🙂 Tap Recycle Bin in the OneDrive app for iPhone And now, the OneDrive app displays your deleted files and folders from the last 30 days. The list of deleted files in OneDrive's Recycle Bin Next, let’s see…

How to recover deleted files from OneDrive on an iPhone

When accessing the Recycle Bin in the OneDrive app on your iPhone or iPad, you see all the deleted files. First, select the files that you want to restore by tapping their names. Then, tap the Restore icon in the bottom-left corner of the OneDrive app. Those files are immediately restored to their original location. Restore deleted files from the OneDrive app for iPhone Alternatively, you can tap the ellipsis button next to any deleted file and choose Restore in the menu that shows up at the bottom of the display. Restore a file from OneDrive's Recycle Bin Do you want the opposite? This is…

How to delete files from OneDrive’s Recycle Bin permanently

Unfortunately, the OneDrive app for iPhone doesn’t have a button for emptying the Recycle Bin, like the one on Android. However, it allows you to permanently delete the files you select manually. To do that, first locate the file(s) in the Recycle Bin from the OneDrive app on your iPhone and select them by touching and holding their names. Then, tap the trashcan icon labeled Delete in the bottom-right corner of the screen. How to delete files from OneDrive's Recycle Bin Alternatively, you can erase files individually by tapping the ellipsis button next to them and choosing Delete in the menu shown at the bottom. How to permanently delete a file from OneDrive's Recycle Bin This is it!

Did you recover your deleted files from OneDrive?

OneDrive’s Recycle Bin is more than just a digital trash can: it’s your second chance to recover important files before they disappear for eternity. Now that you know where OneDrive’s Recycle Bin is and how to access it on all your devices, you can handle accidental deletions without going through a panic attack. Whether you’re getting rid of old files or rescuing something important, you’re now in control. If you’ve used the Recycle Bin to recover something recently, I’d love to hear your story in the comments. If you ran into trouble, share that too. There’s always more we can learn from each other.