folder in sharepoint not there and checked both recycle bins and it is not there how to retrieve

Question

folder in sharepoint not there and checked both recycle bins and it is not there how to retrieve

Answer 1

Dear Tracy Richards,

Thanks for reaching out about your missing SharePoint folder. I understand you've already thoroughly checked both the end-user Recycle Bin and the second-stage Recycle Bin (Site Collection Recycle Bin) without success, which can certainly be frustrating. I'm here to help guide you through the next steps for recovery. 

When a folder isn't found in either Recycle Bin, it is typically either permanently removed or moved elsewhere. Retrieving it may require advanced options and administrative privileges within your SharePoint or Microsoft 365 environment. 

To help us determine the next steps, could you please confirm the following: 

• When did the folder disappear, or when was it last seen? Knowing this will help us pinpoint potential recovery points. 
• Are you the owner or administrator of the SharePoint site? Permissions can sometimes affect folder visibility. 
• Was the folder part of a synced library (e.g., via OneDrive sync)? It's possible it may have been accidentally moved, or there may have been local changes. 

For situations like this, your SharePoint or Microsoft 365 administrator is crucial, as they can perform checks beyond standard user permissions: 

• Audit Log Search: Your administrator can search the audit logs to identify who deleted or moved the folder and when. Search the audit log in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal. 
• Site Restore: In critical cases, a site collection administrator can request a site restore to a previous point in time. Microsoft maintains backups for a limited period. Restore a SharePoint site collection. 

If, after performing these checks, the folder still cannot be found, the next step would be for your Microsoft 365 administrator to open a support ticket directly with Microsoft. They can do this by signing into the Microsoft 365 admin center and navigating to the Support section. This will allow for a deeper investigation into the service's backend. 

Instruction: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/get-help-support?view=o365-worldwide

Once we have this additional information, we can better guide you and your administrator on the most effective path for recovery. 

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