How Long Do Deleted Items Remain in the Recycle Bin?

Recycle Bin and Trash Can: A Security Net for Unexpected Deletion of Files

Whether it is the Recycle Bin for Windows, the Trash Can for Mac or Linux, or the Recycle Bin for online storage services such as OneDrive and Google Drive, they all provide us with a buffer that temporarily saves deleted files to prevent permanent data loss due to accidental operations. But how long is the validity period of these "safety nets"? This article will give you a detailed answer.

Recycle Bin Functions

The Recycle Bin (or Trash Can) is a special storage location on the computer that temporarily saves deleted files, rather than clearing them out of the system immediately. This provides users with the opportunity to regret and recover unexpectedly deleted files.

It should be noted that the Recycle Bin is not only available in Windows systems. Mac and Linux systems also have similar functions called "trash cans" respectively. Android and iOS devices move deleted photos and videos to the "Recent Deleted" folder, and these files can also be restored.

How long does the deleted files remain in the Recycle Bin?

The time when deleted files remain in the Recycle Bin depends on the operating system settings. Most systems retain files by default until the Recycle Bin reaches a certain size or the user manually empties it.

• Windows Recycle Bin: You can customize the size of the Recycle Bin, or set it to automatically delete old files when the space is full.

• Mac and Linux Trash Cans: By default, files do not have specific retention time limits in the trash cans until the user clears them manually.

• OneDrive Recycle Bin: When you log in to OneDrive using a Microsoft account, items in the Recycle Bin will be automatically deleted 30 days after they are placed. Users who log in with a work or school account will automatically delete items in the Recycle Bin after 93 days unless the administrator changes this setting.

• Google Drive Recycle Bin: Deleted items in the Google Drive Recycle Bin can be kept for up to 30 days . During this time, you can restore the project from the Recycle Bin to its original location. These items will be permanently deleted after 30 days or after manually clearing the recycling bin.

• SharePoint Recycle Bin: In SharePoint in Microsoft 365, the project remains in the site recycle Bin for 93 days after it is deleted in its original location. During this time, these items will be retained unless someone permanently deletes them from the recycle bin or emptys the recycle bin.

How to recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin?

Recovering deleted files from the Recycle Bin or Trash can is very simple. Simply open the Recycle Bin and check if the required files are in it. If so, you can select them for recovery and the restored files will return to their original location.

How to recover deleted files after clearing the Recycle Bin?

If the files have been permanently deleted, they cannot be recovered from the Recycle Bin or from the Trash Can. But don't worry, you can still try the following:

• Method 1: Recover files using file history If you have backed up files using file history, you can easily restore them from the backup.

• Method 2: Use data recovery software If there is no backup available, you can try professional data recovery software to recover permanently deleted files. MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a good choice. This tool can restore files on the device that are not overwritten by new data.

• Method 3: Recover from previous backups If you have backed up files using third-party data backup software (such as MiniTool ShadowMaker), you can restore deleted files from previous backups.

Summarize

The Recycle Bin provides a layer of protection for accidentally deleted files, but understanding their limitations is crucial. Even if you clear the Recycle Bin, you can still recover permanently deleted files through built-in features such as file history or third-party data recovery software. Regular backups and use of cloud services can provide additional protection for your data.

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