Does Deleting a Microsoft Teams Team Delete Its SharePoint Site?
Question details
The user needs to understand whether deleting a Microsoft Teams team will also permanently remove the associated SharePoint site, and if there is a way to retain the site and its data.
- Product
- Microsoft Teams and SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user wants to delete an existing Microsoft Teams team but needs to retain the files, folders, and data stored in the connected SharePoint site.
- Observed behavior
- Deleting a Microsoft Teams team automatically deletes the connected Microsoft 365 group, the connected SharePoint site, and all underlying files and content.
Ensure you have administrative permissions or site owner access to both the Microsoft Teams team and the destination SharePoint site where you plan to migrate your files.
Migrate SharePoint Content Before Deleting the Team
Because there is no standard option to disconnect a team from its SharePoint site before deletion, the safest workaround is to manually copy or move your data to a new, standalone SharePoint site.
Microsoft Teams and SharePoint are tightly integrated through Microsoft 365 Groups. When you delete the Team, the entire unified group is deleted.
To avoid data loss, you must transfer your critical documents to an independent site before initiating the deletion process in Microsoft Teams.
In Microsoft Teams, navigate to the specific channel belonging to the team you want to delete. Click on the 'Files' tab at the top of the window, and select 'Open in SharePoint' to access the connected document library.
In the SharePoint web interface, select all the files and folders you wish to retain by clicking the check circles next to their names in the document library.
Click on 'Copy to' or 'Move to' in the top command bar. Browse to the new destination SharePoint site you have prepared, select the desired folder, and click 'Copy here' or 'Move here'.
Once the file migration is fully complete and you have verified the data in the new site, return to Microsoft Teams. Click the three dots (More options) next to the team name, and select 'Delete the team'.
Simplify Document Management with WPS Office
If complex team bindings and site architectures in Microsoft 365 slow down your workflow, consider WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for document creation and sharing without forcing complex site structures.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Start Collaborating: Open WPS Office, sign in to enable cloud features, and easily save or share documents in standard Microsoft formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a deleted Microsoft Teams team and its SharePoint site?
Yes. When a team is deleted, Microsoft 365 typically retains the deleted team and its associated SharePoint site in a 'soft-deleted' state for 30 days. An administrator can restore it from the Microsoft 365 admin center or Microsoft Entra ID admin center during this window.
What happens to files shared in private Teams channels when the Team is deleted?
Private and shared channels have their own separate, lightweight SharePoint site collections. However, because they are bound to the parent team, when the parent Team is deleted, these connected sites and all their files are also permanently deleted.
Is there a way to disconnect a SharePoint site from Teams instead of deleting it?
Currently, Microsoft does not offer a native feature to simply disconnect or 'un-teamify' a Microsoft 365 group-connected SharePoint site while keeping the site active. The recommended workaround is to migrate the data to a standalone communication or team site.
How do I move files from my Teams SharePoint site to a standalone site?
Open the Files tab in your Microsoft Teams channel, select 'Open in SharePoint', select the files or folders you want to save, click 'Copy to' or 'Move to' from the toolbar, and then choose your new standalone destination site.
