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How to Recover Microsoft Lists from a Deleted User's OneDrive
Question details
The user needs to retrieve Microsoft Lists that were stored on a deleted user's personal SharePoint or OneDrive site, which are no longer visible in the standard admin interface.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to access and recover crucial data lists after an employee's user account has been deleted.
- Observed behavior
- The personal site is no longer accessible via the normal URL or Microsoft 365 Admin Center, requiring alternative administrative recovery methods before the retention period expires.
Ensure you have SharePoint Administrator privileges and access to the SharePoint Online Management Shell. Verify that the user account was deleted within the last 93 days, as this is the standard retention period for Microsoft to retain deleted sites.
Restore the Deleted OneDrive Site using PowerShell
Use the SharePoint Online Management Shell to restore the deleted user's personal site and access the lists via the Site Contents page.
Because the site is no longer visible in the standard admin center GUI, SharePoint Online PowerShell is required to force the restoration.
Once restored, the data should be moved to a permanent team site to prevent future data loss.
Launch PowerShell as an administrator and connect to your SharePoint admin center using the Connect-SPOService command.
Use the Restore-SPODeletedSite cmdlet along with the deleted user's specific OneDrive or personal SharePoint URL to make the personal site accessible again.
Navigate to the restored OneDrive URL in your web browser and modify the end of the link to '/viewlsts.aspx?view=14'. This will bypass default views and display all lists and libraries.
If the specific lists are still missing, check both the first-stage and second-stage recycle bins within the Site Contents page to restore them to their original location.
Move, export, or recreate the recovered Microsoft Lists into an active, permanent team SharePoint site so they are no longer tied to a single user's lifecycle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to recover a deleted user's OneDrive lists?
By default, Microsoft retains a deleted user's OneDrive and personal SharePoint data for 93 days. After this retention period, the data is permanently deleted from the Microsoft servers and cannot be restored.
Why can't I see the deleted user's OneDrive in the Admin Center?
Once a user account is deleted and a certain amount of time passes, their personal site may disappear from the standard Microsoft 365 Admin Center interface. In these cases, you must use the SharePoint Online Management Shell (PowerShell) to locate and restore the site.
How do I access the lists once the site is successfully restored?
After restoring the site via PowerShell, you can access the lists by opening the site and appending '/viewlsts.aspx?view=14' to the URL. This directs your browser to the Site Contents page, which displays all stored lists, folders, and document libraries.
