Deleted File Recovery

Why Are OneDrive Files Still Accessible After Account Deletion?

Adam Davis Oct 12, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to know why shared files and OneDrive data can still be accessed after the file owner's Microsoft 365 account has been deleted or unlicensed.

Why Are OneDrive Files Still Accessible After Account Deletion?

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing deleted user accounts and auditing access to shared files that belong to a removed employee or user.
Observed behavior: OneDrive files remain fully accessible to users who have sharing links, despite the original owner's account being deleted.

Before you start

You will need Microsoft 365 global administrator or SharePoint administrator privileges to check, modify, or revoke the OneDrive retention settings for deleted users.

Solution 1Recommended

Review and Manage OneDrive Retention Settings

Microsoft 365 retains OneDrive files for a configurable period after account deletion to prevent accidental data loss. Administrators can check these settings in the SharePoint admin center.

By default, when a user is deleted or their license is removed, their OneDrive files are retained for 30 days. During this active retention period, any previously shared links will continue to work.

After the retention period expires, the files enter a 93-day deleted state (Recycle Bin) before they are permanently destroyed.

Sign in to Admin Center

Navigate to the SharePoint admin center and log in using your administrator credentials.

Access Retention Settings

Go to the Settings menu and select the 'Retention' option for OneDrive.

Verify Retention Period

Check the configured retention period. While the default is 30 days, administrators can increase this value up to 3,650 days (10 years).

Review and Manage OneDrive Retention Settings

Retention Behavior: If the retention period was previously increased by an admin, files will remain accessible for much longer than the standard 30-day window.

Solution 2

Open a Support Ticket to Revoke Access

If you need to immediately revoke access to a specific deleted account's files or investigate an anomaly, you can request assistance from Microsoft Support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a standard user permanently delete their OneDrive files after their account is closed?

No, once an account is deleted, only a Microsoft 365 or SharePoint administrator has the authority to manage, restore, or permanently delete the retained files during the retention period.

How long do OneDrive files stay in the Recycle Bin after the retention period ends?

Once the configured retention period expires, the OneDrive files are moved to the site collection recycle bin, where they remain in a deleted state for an additional 93 days before being permanently destroyed.

Can administrators increase the default 30-day retention period for deleted accounts?

Yes, Microsoft 365 and SharePoint administrators can increase the default retention period for deleted accounts from 30 days up to a maximum of 3,650 days (10 years) via the SharePoint admin center.

Why can people still view a document if the standard 90-day period has ended?

If a global retention policy is set to a longer duration (up to 3,650 days), or if the specific file was moved or copied to a shared SharePoint site rather than remaining exclusively in the user's personal OneDrive, the document will remain accessible.

Migration & Recovery