Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover Deleted User Files in OneDrive After 30 Days

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to know if and how files belonging to a deleted user's personal SharePoint site or OneDrive can be recovered after the 30-day tenant retention period has expired.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive / Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to retrieve important documents from a former employee or deleted user account after the default 30-day retention timeframe has passed.
Observed behavior: The deleted user's files become unavailable, and standard administrative recovery options are no longer visible or active.

Before you start

Before proceeding, gather the exact deletion date of the user account, the user's email address, the site URL, and verify if your organization has any active retention policies configured in Microsoft 365.

Solution 1Recommended

Contact Microsoft 365 Support for Backend Recovery

Since standard recovery options expire after the tenant's retention period, an administrator must immediately open a support ticket to request backend data recovery.

Data recovery after the standard 30-day retention period is not guaranteed and depends heavily on the exact deletion date, your organization's retention policies, and Microsoft's backend backups.

Time is critical, as permanently deleted data may soon become completely unrecoverable. Only a Microsoft 365 administrator can perform this action.

Access the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Navigate to https://admin.microsoft.com/ in your web browser and log in using your Microsoft 365 administrator credentials.

Navigate to the Support Section

Click on 'Support' in the left-hand navigation menu, then select 'Help & support' to open the service request panel.

Open a Service Request

Create a new support ticket detailing the issue. Be sure to provide the deleted user's account email, the precise deletion date, the specific OneDrive or SharePoint site URL, and any relevant retention policy details.

Follow Up with Microsoft Support

Submit the request and monitor your admin center or email for a response from the Microsoft Support team to determine if recovery is still viable.

Microsoft Support Reference: For a detailed guide on the support process, administrators can review the official documentation at https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/admin/contact-support-for-business-products.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default retention period for a deleted user's OneDrive?

By default, Microsoft 365 retains a deleted user's OneDrive data for 30 days. During this window, an administrator can easily restore the account and its files from the admin center. After 30 days, the files are typically marked for permanent deletion.

Can a regular user recover files from a deleted account?

No, regular users do not have the necessary permissions. Only a user with Microsoft 365 administrative privileges can access the admin center to restore a deleted account or contact Microsoft Support for backend file recovery.

How can I prevent data loss when an employee leaves the company?

To prevent data loss, administrators should configure Microsoft 365 retention policies, place a hold on the user's OneDrive, or transfer file ownership to an active user or a shared SharePoint site before deleting the user's account.

Do Microsoft 365 retention policies override the standard 30-day deletion limit?

Yes. If your organization has specific retention policies applied to OneDrive or SharePoint, the data will be retained according to those rules, even if the user account is deleted and the standard 30 days have passed.

Migration & Recovery