Fix Remove-SPOSite Command Deleting SharePoint Site Instead of Redirect
Question details
The user needs to recover a SharePoint site that was accidentally deleted when running the Remove-SPOSite command intended only to remove a redirect URL.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Removing an old SharePoint redirect URL using PowerShell commands.
- Observed behavior
- The Remove-SPOSite command deleted the actual SharePoint site, and neither the target site nor the redirect appears in the Get-SPODeletedSite recycle bin list.
Ensure you have SharePoint Administrator privileges in Microsoft 365 and have the latest version of the SharePoint Online Management Shell installed before proceeding.
Verify the Deleted Site and Remaining Redirects via PowerShell
Confirm whether the site is genuinely deleted or just missing from the active list by querying the SharePoint recycle bin.
Normally, removing a redirect site using Remove-SPOSite should place it in the recycle bin. Checking the deleted sites list helps determine if the site can be restored manually.
Open the SharePoint Online Management Shell and connect to your admin center using the command: Connect-SPOService -Url https://<tenant>-admin.sharepoint.com
Run the command 'Get-SPOSite -Template REDIRECTSITE#0' to verify if the intended redirect was actually removed or if others remain.
Run 'Get-SPODeletedSite' to check if your deleted site collection is present in the recycle bin.
If the site appears in the deleted list, use 'Restore-SPODeletedSite -Identity <URL>' to recover it to its active state.
Escalate to Microsoft 365 Backend Support
If the site is missing from the Get-SPODeletedSite list, it requires backend administrative tools to investigate and recover.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the 'Get-SPDeletedSite' command work in my PowerShell?
The correct cmdlet for SharePoint Online is 'Get-SPODeletedSite'. The command 'Get-SPDeletedSite' is intended for on-premises SharePoint Server environments and will return a 'not recognized' error if used in the SharePoint Online Management Shell.
How long are deleted SharePoint sites kept in the recycle bin?
Deleted SharePoint site collections are typically retained in the SharePoint recycle bin for 93 days. During this window, administrators can restore them using the 'Restore-SPODeletedSite' command before they are permanently purged.
Can removing a redirect URL permanently delete the target site?
Under normal circumstances, deleting a redirect site (which uses the template REDIRECTSITE#0) only removes the redirect pointer. If the target site is deleted alongside it and bypasses the recycle bin, it is a system anomaly that requires Microsoft backend support to resolve.
