Does Emptying the SharePoint Second-Stage Recycle Bin Free Space?
Question details
The user is asking whether permanently deleting files from the SharePoint or OneDrive second-stage recycle bin will release and free up their account or site storage quota.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing cloud storage space and attempting to free up capacity by clearing deleted files from the recycle bin.
- Observed behavior
- The user is unsure if clearing the second-stage recycle bin directly impacts and releases their available storage quota or if the files continue to occupy space.
Ensure that you absolutely no longer need any of the files currently sitting in the second-stage recycle bin, as items deleted from this location are permanently removed and cannot normally be restored.
Empty the Second-Stage Recycle Bin to Free Up Storage
Emptying the second-stage (site collection) recycle bin will permanently delete the items and successfully free up your SharePoint or OneDrive storage space.
Both the first-stage and second-stage recycle bins count against your total site storage quota. To fully reclaim this space, you must clear the second-stage bin.
Keep in mind that storage metric reports are not always instantaneous. It might take some time for the system to update and reflect the newly freed space.
Navigate to your SharePoint site and click on 'Recycle bin' in the left-hand navigation pane.
Scroll to the very bottom of the first-stage recycle bin page and click the link labeled 'Second-stage recycle bin'.
Click 'Empty recycle bin' to permanently delete all items. Confirm the prompt to release the storage space used by these files.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do files stay in the SharePoint second-stage recycle bin?
Files typically remain in the SharePoint recycle bins for a total of 93 days. This 93-day retention period spans both the first-stage and second-stage bins combined. Once this time expires, they are permanently deleted automatically.
Can I recover files after they are deleted from the second-stage recycle bin?
No, once items are manually deleted from the second-stage (site collection) recycle bin, they are permanently removed from the server and cannot be restored by users or site administrators.
Why is my SharePoint storage not updating after emptying the recycle bin?
SharePoint storage metrics do not always update in real-time. It can take up to 24 to 48 hours for the Microsoft backend to process the deletion and accurately reflect the newly freed storage space on your dashboard.
