Deleted File Recovery

Fix SharePoint Online Recycle Bin Error The Item Cannot Be Restored

Maira Mehtab Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

An administrator is unable to restore deleted files from a SharePoint Online subsite recycle bin due to a recurring error message.

How to Fix SharePoint Online Recycle Bin Error: The Item Cannot Be Restored

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to recover deleted files from a site or subsite recycle bin using the web interface or PowerShell.
Observed behavior: The system displays 'The item cannot be restored' for all files in the affected subsite library, and the issue persists across different administrator accounts, browsers, and networks.

Before you start

Ensure you have the required SharePoint administrator permissions for the affected site collection and do not permanently empty the recycle bin contents while troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Force File Restoration Using PnP PowerShell

Use SharePoint PnP PowerShell commands to bypass user interface glitches and force the restoration of the recycle bin items.

Sometimes the SharePoint web interface fails to restore items due to browser caching or frontend UI limitations. Using PnP PowerShell allows administrators to interact directly with the backend and force the restoration process.

Open PowerShell

Launch PowerShell as an Administrator on your computer.

Connect to the SharePoint Subsite

Type 'Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://yourdomain.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite/subsite -Interactive' and press Enter to authenticate with your administrator credentials.

Execute the Force Restore Command

Run the command 'Get-PnPRecycleBinItem -RowLimit 10000 | Restore-PnPRecycleBinItem -Force' to attempt a forced recovery of the deleted items in that subsite's recycle bin.

Force File Restoration Using PnP PowerShell

Check the Original Library: Ensure that the original document library where the files were stored has not been deleted. If the parent library is missing, the items cannot be restored until the library is recovered.

Solution 2

Escalate to Microsoft Support for Backend Recovery

If the issue is isolated to a single subsite and PowerShell fails, the site metadata may be corrupted, requiring backend intervention from Microsoft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I getting 'The item cannot be restored' error in SharePoint?

This error typically occurs due to corrupted item metadata, missing parent document libraries, insufficient permissions, or deeper backend synchronization issues specific to a SharePoint subsite collection.

How long are deleted files kept in the SharePoint Online recycle bin?

SharePoint retains deleted items for a total of 93 days. This retention period spans both the first-stage (site) and second-stage (site collection) recycle bins. After 93 days, items are permanently deleted.

Will clearing my browser cache fix this SharePoint recycle bin error?

If the issue is caused by a simple web UI glitch or stale session data, clearing your browser cache might help. However, if the error persists across different devices, browsers, and administrator accounts, it is likely a backend database issue requiring PowerShell or Microsoft Support intervention.

Migration & Recovery