How to Access the Recycle Bin in SharePoint

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to find and manage deleted files in SharePoint's Recycle Bin.

Quick summary

The SharePoint Recycle Bin lets users recover or permanently delete files removed from a site. Accessing it takes just a few clicks from the site's left-side navigation panel.

Steps

On SharePoint's main dashboard, find and click the site that contains the Recycle Bin you wish to access.
Head over to the left-side panel and click 'Recycle Bin'.
The Recycle Bin will open immediately — access your deleted files from there and make your desired changes.
Choose to either permanently delete certain files or restore them to their original location.

📌 Why this matters

Knowing how to access the SharePoint Recycle Bin is essential for anyone managing files in a Microsoft SharePoint environment. The Recycle Bin gives users a safety net to recover accidentally deleted documents before they are permanently lost, reducing the risk of data loss. For teams relying on SharePoint for document management and collaboration, this feature ensures business continuity and gives administrators control over file retention. Mastering this simple workflow helps both end users and IT admins maintain clean, recoverable file systems across SharePoint sites.

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