Delete or restore files from your OneDrive recycle bin in Android, iOS, or Windows mobile
Applies ToOneDrive for Business Microsoft 365 admin OneDrive (work or school) OneDrive (home or personal)

Files deleted from OneDrive are kept in the OneDrive Recycle Bin for 30 days for personal accounts. The files can be restored to OneDrive before then, or you can permanently delete them from your OneDrive.

Note: If your recycle bin is full, the oldest items will be automatically deleted after three days. If you're signed in with a work or school account, items in the recycle bin are automatically deleted after 93 days, unless the administrator has changed the setting. See more information about how long deleted items are kept for work or school accounts.

Select your device's OS (Android, iOS, or Windows mobile) from one of the tabs below:

Delete files

  1. Tap and hold the file you want to delete. (To delete multiple files, after selecting a file, check the circles next to each additional file you want to delete).

    Note: You can only delete 200 files at a time. If you need to delete more than 200 files at once, go to OneDrive.com.

  2. Tap Delete OneDrive delete file.

  3. When asked to confirm your deletion, select OK.

Recover a file from the Recycle Bin

  1. Tap the Me icon Person icon in OneDrive app for iOS at the bottom right of your screen, select the account, and then tap Recycle Bin.

  2. In the Recycle Bin view, select the files you want to restore.

  3. To restore the files back to your OneDrive, tap Restore OneDrive restore file

Empty the Recycle Bin

  1. Tap the Me icon Person icon in OneDrive app for iOS at the bottom right of your screen, tap the account you're using, and then tap Recycle Bin.

  2. In the Recycle Bin view, select the files you want to delete.

  3. Tap Delete OneDrive delete file to remove the files permanently.

    Note: Android users have the option to empty the entire Recycle Bin at once by tapping Delete All in the upper right.

See how much storage space you have (personal OneDrive accounts only)

In the OneDrive app, tap the Me icon Person icon in OneDrive app for iOS at the bottom right of your screen, and then look at the Storage Space line to see your total storage and space available or to purchase additional storage.

Delete files

  1. Tap and hold the file you want to delete. (To delete multiple files, after selecting a file, check the circles next to each additional file you want to delete).

    Note: You can only delete 200 files at a time. If you need to delete more than 200 files at once, go to OneDrive.com.

  2. Tap More More icon in the OneDrive app for iOS, then tap Delete OneDrive delete file.

  3. When asked to confirm your deletion, select Delete.

Recover a file from the Recycle Bin

  1. Tap the Me icon Person icon in OneDrive app for iOS in the upper left of your screen, select the account, and then tap Recycle Bin.

  2. In the Recycle Bin view, select the files you want to restore.

  3. To restore the files back to your OneDrive, tap Restore OneDrive restore file

Empty the Recycle Bin

  1. Tap the Me icon Person icon in OneDrive app for iOS in the upper left of your screen, tap the account you're using, and then tap Recycle Bin.

  2. In the Recycle Bin view, select the files you want to delete.

  3. Tap Delete OneDrive delete file to remove the files permanently.

See how much storage space you have (personal OneDrive accounts only)

In the OneDrive app, tap the Me icon Person icon in OneDrive app for iOS in the upper left of your screen, and then look at the Storage Space line to see your total storage and space available or to purchase additional storage.

Delete files

  1. Tap Select Select files, then select the file or files you want to delete.

    Note: You can only delete 200 files at a time. If you need to delete more than 200 files at once, go to OneDrive.com.

  2. Tap Delete Delete icon for OneDrive for Windows 10 mobile.

  3. When asked to confirm your deletion, select Delete.

Recover a file from the Recycle Bin

  1. Tap Menu OneDrive Menu > Recycle bin. (For Windows 8 or 8.1, tap Menu OneDrive Menu > Settings > Accounts. Select the account, then tap View Recycle Bin.)

  2. Tap Select Select files and tap the check box of the files you want to recover, then tap Restore Restore icon for OneDrive for Windows 10 mobile.

Empty the Recycle Bin

  1. Tap Menu OneDrive Menu > Recycle bin. (For Windows 8 or 8.1, tap Menu OneDrive Menu > Settings > Accounts. Select the account, then tap View Recycle Bin.)

  2. In the Recycle Bin view, select the files you want to delete.

  3. Tap Delete Delete icon for OneDrive for Windows 10 mobile to remove the files permanently.

See how much storage space you have

In the OneDrive app, tap Menu OneDrive Menu > Settings OneDrive settings > Accounts. On the Accounts page, each of the accounts connected to your OneDrive app is shown, with total storage and space available for each.

Need more help?

Contact support icon

Contact Support For help with your Microsoft account and subscriptions, visit Account & Billing Help.

For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem, and select Get Help. If you still need help, shake your mobile device and select Report a problem.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.