What Happens to a Deleted SharePoint Site? Recovery, Data, and Permissions Explained

What Happens to a Deleted SharePoint Site?

When a SharePoint site is deleted, it's initially moved to the site collection's Recycle Bin. This provides a temporary window for recovery, allowing administrators to restore the site and its associated content. However, the duration for which the site remains in the Recycle Bin is subject to certain factors and limitations.  

SharePoint Site Data Recovery Timelines

The recovery timeline for a deleted SharePoint site depends on its deletion status:

• 93-Day Retention: Deleted sites are typically retained in the Recycle Bin for 93 days.  
• Second-Stage Recycle Bin: After 93 days, sites move to the second-stage Recycle Bin for a limited time.
• Permanent Deletion: Sites not recovered within the specified retention periods are permanently deleted.  

How to Recover Deleted SharePoint Site Files and Data When Necessary?

Restore Files from the Recycle Bin within Recycle Bin Retention

• Access the Recycle Bin: Navigate to the site collection's Recycle Bin.  
• Locate the deleted site: Find the site you want to restore.
• Restore the site: Select the site and choose the "Restore" option.

Restore Files After Recycle Bin Retention

• Backup and Recovery Tools: If the site has been deleted from the Recycle Bin, you may need to use SharePoint's backup and recovery tools or third-party solutions to restore files.
• IT Department Assistance: Contact your IT department for guidance on complex recovery scenarios.

★What Happens to a Deleted SharePoint Site After 30 Days:

After 30 days, a deleted SharePoint site moves to the second-stage Recycle Bin. This means it's closer to permanent deletion and has a shorter window for recovery.

Effects of Deletion on Permissions and Access

User Roles and Group Permissions

• Removal: When a SharePoint site is deleted, all associated user roles and group permissions are automatically removed. This means that users who were previously granted access to the site will no longer have permission to view or modify its content.
• Impact on Collaboration: The loss of user roles and permissions can disrupt collaborative workflows and processes that relied on the site. Teams may be unable to access shared documents, work on projects together, or participate in discussions.

Collaboration Disruptions

• Workflow Interruptions: Workflows that were tied to the deleted site may become inoperable, leading to delays or disruptions in business processes.
• Communication Challenges: The loss of a central hub for collaboration can hinder communication and information sharing among team members.
• Project Delays: Projects that relied on the site's resources or collaboration features may experience delays or setbacks.

Content Loss

• Permanent Deletion: Any data that is not backed up or restored before the Recycle Bin retention period expires will be permanently lost.
• Irreversible Consequences: Once content is permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered.
• Data Integrity Risks: The loss of critical data can compromise business operations and potentially lead to financial or reputational damage.

Conclusion

What happens to a deleted SharePoint site? It will move into Recycle Bin. The recovery timeframes vary depending on the deletion status. Besides, deleting a site will affect the user permissions and collaboration. It is wise to consider using any SharePoint backup options to protect important data.

For example, you can take advantage of MultCloud. Famous as a multiple cloud manager, it enables you to add and manage all your cloud drives in one platform. What's more, its core features: cloud transfer, cloud sync, cloud backup, remote upload, team transfer, making it efficient and easy to migrate data across clouds online. Different from traditional methods, it does not require that you first download data from source cloud to local, and then re-upload to the destination cloud.