SharePoint Document Issues

How to Remove Deleted SharePoint Sites from Frequent Sites

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users want to know why deleted SharePoint sites still show up in the Frequent Sites section and how to completely remove them from the view.

How to Remove Deleted SharePoint Sites from Frequent Sites

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing the SharePoint home page dashboard and cleaning up site history after a SharePoint site has been deleted.
Observed behavior: Deleted SharePoint sites continue to appear in the Frequent sites list because the section is driven by Microsoft Graph caching, viewing history, and organizational activity.

Before you start

Ensure you have SharePoint Administrator privileges and have installed the latest version of the SharePoint Online Management Shell before attempting to run these PowerShell commands.

Solution 1Recommended

Permanently Delete the Site via SharePoint Online PowerShell

Since there is no built-in UI button to clear individual frequent sites, using PowerShell is the required method for administrators to permanently purge the deleted site and force the list to update.

The Frequent sites list is powered by Microsoft Graph, which caches organizational activity and viewing history. When you delete a site normally, it is moved to the recycle bin and may still be indexed, causing it to linger in your frequent list. Purging it completely forces the backend system to register its permanent removal.

Launch PowerShell

Open the SharePoint Online Management Shell on your computer as an administrator.

Connect to SharePoint Admin Center

Run the command 'Connect-SPOService -Url https://yourdomain-admin.sharepoint.com' and sign in using your global administrator or SharePoint administrator credentials.

Run the Removal Command

Type and execute the command 'Remove-SPODeletedSite -Identity [Site URL]', ensuring you replace [Site URL] with the actual web address of the deleted SharePoint site.

Wait for the Cache to Clear

Once the command executes successfully, allow Microsoft Graph some time to sync the changes and remove the site from the Frequent sites list across your organization.

Permanently Delete the Site via SharePoint Online PowerShell

Synchronization Delay: Microsoft Graph may take up to 24 to 48 hours to fully refresh and clear the purged site from all users' Frequent sites views.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a deleted SharePoint site to disappear from Frequent sites?

After an administrator permanently deletes the site via PowerShell, it typically takes Microsoft Graph between 24 and 48 hours to clear the cache and update the Frequent sites list for all users.

Can regular users remove sites from their Frequent sites list?

No, there is currently no built-in user interface option for regular users to manually remove, hide, or pin specific sites from the Frequent sites section on the SharePoint home page.

Why does SharePoint show deleted sites at all?

The Frequent sites section relies heavily on historical viewing data and organizational activity tracked by Microsoft Graph. If a site was heavily used before its deletion, the cached activity keeps it visible until the site is permanently purged from the recycle bin and the cache updates.

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