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Summary: This article provides guidance on restoring deleted items in Microsoft Teams and OneNote, highlighting the types of data that can be recovered and the permissions required. It emphasizes the role of SharePoint and explains the restoration process for various items.

Microsoft Teams serves as a dynamic platform for facilitating real-time collaboration and communication using a plethora of tools including chat, calls, video sharing, video conferencing, seamless application integration, and efficient file sharing and storage capabilities. Notably, it has adapted to the demands of hybrid work environments, garnering a remarkable surge in its active user base, reaching approximately 270 million users monthly by the year 2022. In this blog, we will delve into the process of restoring deleted items within Microsoft Teams and OneNote, regardless of the circumstances leading to their deletion.

An overview of Microsoft Teams data

When initiating the creation of a Team within Microsoft Teams, an automatic generation of a corresponding SharePoint site takes place. This SharePoint site serves as the central repository for all files associated with the created Team. As the initiator and owner of the Team, you possess the privilege, along with other team members, to access and manage files pertinent to your Team via this SharePoint site. Within the Teams interface, a pivotal component is the General channel, which serves as a designated space for essential communications and file storage. All files linked to this channel are seamlessly integrated and stored within the SharePoint platform. Should a file be inadvertently removed, it finds a temporary abode in the SharePoint Recycle bin, where it will reside for a duration of 93 days before permanent deletion.

Items that can be restored in Teams
  • Chat and team channel messages
  • SharePoint Teams sites and their sub-sites
  • Files attached to Team and chat messages
  • OneNote Notebooks
  • Wiki page (wiki tab)
Who can recover deleted files of Teams?

The Team owner, responsible for initiating the Team’s creation, holds the authority to allocate permissions to fellow team members for the purpose of restoring deleted SharePoint site contents. In instances where explicit permissions are not configured, default access is automatically conferred upon all Team channel members, granting them the capability to restore deleted SharePoint site items from the Recycle bin. This empowerment extends to all members within the SharePoint team, enabling them to recover files deleted by their peers. Nevertheless, when it comes to recuperating deleted libraries and lists, exclusive rights are reserved for the owner or the member who originally deleted them, ensuring a secure and controlled data restoration process, particularly for the “restore deleted SharePoint site” function.

Recover a deleted Channel file

Follow the steps here to recover a deleted Channel file:

  • Open the Files tab of the Channel.
  • Select Open in SharePoint.
  • Select Recycle bin in SharePoint.
  • This contains all the files deleted from every Channel in the Team.

  • Select the file(s) you wish to recover.
  • Select Restore from the top of the page.
Scenarios when you cannot restore deleted files in Team

There are some situations when you cannot restore deleted Team files. Some situations are listed below:

  • If the parent directory of the file is deleted, you won’t be able to restore the deleted file. To recover it, you must first recreate the parent directory and then attempt to restore the deleted file.
  • The original file is deleted, then the versions of that original file cannot be restored after it has been deleted. So try to restore the original file.
  • When the library of a file is deleted, it cannot be restored unless its library is restored first. After this, you can restore the file.
  • When you do not have permission, you cannot restore the deleted files of the Team.

Conclusion

When it comes to safeguarding your files within Teams, ensuring the security and accessibility of your data is paramount. One crucial step in this endeavor is implementing a reliable backup solution. Backing up your Microsoft Teams data is a prudent and intelligent measure to protect against accidental or intentional data loss.

Enter Kernel Migration for SharePoint, a versatile and comprehensive tool designed to facilitate SharePoint Migration. This robust software empowers you to seamlessly migrate site collections, lists, libraries, workflows, versions, and metadata across a variety of sources and destinations, including SharePoint, Google Drive, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, and Public folders. What sets Kernel Migration apart is its compatibility with all versions of SharePoint, ranging from 2010 and 2013 to 2016, 2019, and SharePoint Online (Office 365). With Kernel Migration for SharePoint at your disposal, you can confidently manage your data migration needs while maintaining the utmost security and reliability.

Kernel Migration for SharePoint