Empty Second Stage RecycleBIn

Question

Hi, 

I have a SharePoint Online Classic Site Collection and Modern Site Template. both of them have Thousands of files on the Second Stage RecycleBin. is there a way to empty the 2nd stage without manually selecting the files or multiple select then delete? 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi GOST1892,

In theory, it can empty your second reclebin at one time. I think it will cost a lot of time for 500gb definetely.

If you need script in detial, TechNet Forum is devote to the related question. I can only give you a direction in my ability.

Also, I have found some useful thread in TechNet forum, you can refer:

1. According to the thread in Microsoft TechNet mentioned "there is no way to remove all of them.  You'll need a script that does a Get-SPODeletedSite and stores that to a variable and then a ForEach loop that calls Remove-SPODeletedSite for each entry in the array stored in the variable. 

2. How to delete a Big File from Second Stage Recycle Bin the second make answer.

Answer 2

There is no more powerful toll than Power Shell this time.

See Clear-PnPRecycleBinItem and Empty2nd Stage Recycle Bin.

Does this Powershell have a limit of somesort? the 2nd stage I'm trying to delete has like 500gb as of the moment simply using clear doesn' seem to go away. but if I put in some condition like file extension it works. ( to reduce the number of items to be deleted) 

I went over the article and it doesn't seem to state any limit on how much it can delete on one go. 

Nevertheless the command is definitely what I need just a bit lacking :) any other insights would be very much appreciated.

Answer 3

There is no more powerful toll than Power Shell this time.

See Clear-PnPRecycleBinItem and Empty2nd Stage Recycle Bin.