Moving files in Sharepoint

Question

If I move a file from Folder A to Folder B within the same Sharepoint site, is there any trace data of the file remaining in Folder A? Does any of the data still exist in the original location?

Answer 1

Dear @Barry May,       

Thank you for the detailed testing and for sharing clear observations. I truly appreciate the effort you put into helping validate this behavior. 

Based on how SharePoint and OneDrive manage file operations, the outcomes you are seeing are expected and aligned with the platform’s design: 

1/ Moving a file within the same site 

When a file is moved inside the same site, it is simply relocated. The file keeps its identity and version history and no deletion event is triggered.  

Because of that, it does not appear in the site Recycle Bin. This type of move functions more like a change in metadata and location rather than a delete and recreate action. 

2/ Moving a file from one site to another site 

When a file is moved across site boundaries, the system handles the action differently. SharePoint creates a new copy in the destination site and then removes the original from the source site.  

Since the original file is actually deleted from the source, it is placed in the source site Recycle Bin for the standard retention period. From the source site’s perspective, this is considered a true delete operation. 

I hope this explanation helps clarify the behavior you observed. If anything remains unclear or if you would like to explore additional scenarios, I am more than happy to assist further. 

As other users will also search information in this community, your valuable vote will definitely also help other users who have similar queries easily to find the correct channel and useful information more quickly. By upvoting, you are helping to highlight this information for other community members with similar queries, enabling them to find solutions more quickly. 

Thank you for your detailed follow-up, as well as your patience and understanding throughout this troubleshooting process.  

Answer 2

Dear @Barry May,  

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I appreciate the opportunity to help clarify what happens when a file is moved between folders within the same SharePoint site. 

When a file is moved from Folder A to Folder B inside the same site, the file no longer remains in Folder A once the move is complete. During the move, the file may appear to stay in the source location temporarily, but this is part of how the process works in the background. After the move finishes, the file is removed from Folder A and placed in the site’s Recycle Bin. This is expected because the modern Move to operation functions as a copy followed by a delete. 

The file in Folder B retains its full version history. All versions travel with the file when the Move to option is used. 

There are a few places where traces of the file may still be visible depending on your organization’s settings: 

1/ Site Recycle Bin 

After the move, an entry for the file appears in the source site’s Recycle Bin. It remains there according to your organization’s retention settings unless someone restores or permanently deletes it. 

2/ Audit Logs 

SharePoint records file operations such as moves in the Microsoft Purview Audit Log. These entries include the user who performed the action and both the source and destination paths. An IT administrator can review these details in the Purview portal under the SharePoint File Operations category. 

3/ Preservation Hold Library 

If your tenant uses retention policies, labels, or eDiscovery holds, the delete action that occurs during the move may create a compliance copy of the file in the Preservation Hold Library. This library is hidden and visible only to site owners or compliance administrators. The item remains there until the retention or hold period ends. 

4/ Links or Bookmarks 

Links that point to the original path will no longer work once the file is moved. If you need a link that remains stable even after moving a file within the same site collection, the Document ID service can help. The Document ID URL directs users to the file’s new location. However, this feature has certain limitations, such as needing to be enabled at the site collection level and not persisting when files are moved to a site that does not have the feature turned on. 

Additional information is available in the following resources: 

Move or copy files in SharePoint - Microsoft Support 

Audit log activities | Microsoft Learn 

Learn about retention for SharePoint and OneDrive | Microsoft Learn 

Enable and configure unique Document IDs - Microsoft Support 

As community moderators, we kindly ask for your understanding that our access to internal development details is limited. Our primary role is to guide users toward the appropriate resources and support channels. While we may not have visibility into performing deeper backend analysis, we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.  

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions or need further support, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

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