In SharePoint, the site recycle bin is a feature that provides a safety net for deleted content within a site collection. When items such as documents, lists, libraries, or even entire sites are deleted, they are not immediately permanently removed from the site collection. Instead, they are sent to the site recycle bin, allowing users or administrators to restore them if needed.
The site recycle bin in SharePoint typically consists of two stages:
First-stage recycle bin
When an item is deleted, it is moved to the first-stage recycle bin. In this stage, the deleted item is still accessible to the user who deleted it and can be restored back to its original location. The first-stage recycle bin is specific to each user and is not visible to other users.
Second-stage recycle bin
If an item is deleted from the first-stage recycle bin or if the first-stage recycle bin itself is emptied, the item is moved to the second-stage recycle bin. The second-stage recycle bin is typically accessible only to site administrators. Items in the second-stage recycle bin can still be restored but are closer to being permanently deleted.
Retention Period
Deleted files in the SharePoint recycle bin have a total retention period of 93 days. After 93 days, they are permanently deleted. The first-stage recycle bin holds the files initially, and if not restored, they are moved to the second-stage recycle bin. The total lifespan of deleted files is 93 days, combining both stages.
To access and manage the site recycle bin, site administrators can follow these steps:
Navigate to the SharePoint site
Go to the site settings
Under the Site Collection Administration section, click on "Recycle bin"
From there, administrators can view and manage the deleted items in both the first-stage and second-stage recycle bins. They can restore items back to their original locations, delete them permanently, or perform other actions as needed.
It's important to note that the site recycle bin has a limited retention period, after which deleted items are automatically permanently deleted. The specific retention period can be configured by the SharePoint administrator at the web application level.
By utilizing the site recycle bin, SharePoint users and administrators have an additional layer of protection against accidental deletions and can easily restore deleted content, reducing the risk of data loss.
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