Deleted File Recovery

Can You Recover Microsoft Sway Files Deleted After 30 Days?

Maira Mehtab Oct 14, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to recover a Microsoft Sway document that was deleted more than 30 days ago and has been automatically removed from the Deleted folder.

Can Microsoft Sway Files Deleted After 30 Days Be Recovered?

Product: Microsoft Sway
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to retrieve a Sway presentation file that has passed the 30-day retention period in the Deleted folder.
Observed behavior: Sway files are permanently purged and no longer visible in the Deleted folder once the 30-day retention period expires.

Before you start

Check your Microsoft Sway 'Deleted' tab immediately to confirm how long the file has been sitting there, as files are only retained for a strict 30-day window before permanent deletion.

Solution 1Recommended

Understanding Microsoft Sway Retention and Restoration Limits

Once a Sway file remains in the Deleted folder for 30 days, it is permanently purged from Microsoft's servers and cannot be recovered by any means. Recovery is only possible during the initial 30-day window.

Microsoft Sway automatically empties items from the Deleted folder after 30 days to free up cloud storage. Unlike some other Microsoft 365 services like SharePoint or OneDrive, Sway does not feature a secondary-stage recycle bin or an administrative recovery tool for purged files.

If you realize a file is missing, you must act before the 30-day period expires to successfully restore it to your active workspace.

Access the Microsoft Sway dashboard

Open your web browser, navigate to sway.office.com, and log in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Navigate to the Deleted tab

On your 'My Sways' page, click on the 'Deleted' tab located at the top of the dashboard to view files that are still within the 30-day retention period.

Restore available files

If your Sway was deleted less than 30 days ago, click the checkbox on the Sway card and select 'Restore' at the top to move it back to your active list.

Acknowledge permanent deletion

If your file is not listed in the Deleted tab and it has been over 30 days since deletion, the file is permanently gone and no recovery action is possible.

Understanding Microsoft Sway Retention and Restoration Limits

No Administrative Recovery: Even Microsoft 365 administrators or Microsoft Support personnel cannot retrieve Sway files once they have been automatically deleted after the 30-day retention limit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can Microsoft 365 admins recover a Sway deleted after 30 days?

No. Unlike SharePoint or OneDrive files that have administrative recovery options and secondary-stage recycle bins, Microsoft Sway does not provide administrators with tools to retrieve files after the 30-day retention period expires.

How do I restore a Sway if it hasn't been 30 days yet?

Log in to sway.office.com, navigate to your 'My Sways' page, click on the 'Deleted' tab, select the specific Sway you want to retrieve, and click the 'Restore' button.

Can I back up my Microsoft Sway to prevent permanent data loss?

Yes. While Sway is primarily web-based, you can export your presentation to keep a local backup. Open the Sway you want to save, click the three dots (More options) in the top right corner, select 'Export', and choose to save it as a Word document or a PDF file.

Does the 30-day limit apply to Sways in an inactive or deleted account?

If an entire Microsoft 365 user account is deleted, the organization's overall data retention policies dictate recovery limits. However, individual Sways moved to the Deleted tab by an active user are strictly subject to the 30-day automatic purge.

Migration & Recovery