Deleting file and folder from Preservation Hold Library

Question

I've this simple script and basically I'm trying to delete all the files and folder inside Prevention Hold Library for this user but I'm getting this error in the Website and in PowerShell.

This user used to have OneDrive on hold but I already remove the hold but still not sure why I am getting this error. I heard from my senior that there is 30 days Retention Policy so anybody know it might be why I'm getting this error?.

if so, is there a way to still remove it so that we can free up the space immediatly?.

   Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://company-my.sharepoint.com/personal/yzqpsn_nam_corp_gm_com -useWebLogin  
     
   Get-PnPListItem -List 'Preservation Hold Library' -PageSize 1 | ForEach-Object {  
     
       $Filename = $_.FieldValues.FileLeafRef  
     
       Write-Host "Removing $Filename" -ForegroundColor Cyan  
     
       Remove-PnPListItem -List 'Preservation Hold Library' -Identity $_ -Force  
     
   }  

Answer 1

Hi @Aase Nomad ,

1.Please make sure all files are not checked out to another user.

2.You could try to use following PowerShell commands:

#Parameters  
$SiteURL = "https://xxx.sharepoint.com/sites/xxx"  
$ListName = "xxx"  

#Connect to the Site  
Connect-PnPOnline -URL $SiteURL -Credentials (Get-Credential)  

#Get the web & document Library  
$Web = Get-PnPWeb  
$List = Get-PnPList -Identity $ListName  

#Function to delete all Files and sub-folders from a Folder  
Function Empty-PnPFolder([Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Folder]$Folder)  
{  
    #Get the site relative path of the Folder  
    If($Folder.Context.web.ServerRelativeURL -eq "/")  
    {  
        $FolderSiteRelativeURL = $Folder.ServerRelativeUrl  
    }  
    Else  
    {         
        $FolderSiteRelativeURL = $Folder.ServerRelativeUrl.Replace($Folder.Context.web.ServerRelativeURL,[string]::Empty)  
    }  

    #Get All files in the folder  
    $Files = Get-PnPFolderItem -FolderSiteRelativeUrl $FolderSiteRelativeURL -ItemType File  

    #Delete all files in the Folder  
    ForEach ($File in $Files)  
    {  
        #Delete File  
        Remove-PnPFile -ServerRelativeUrl $File.ServerRelativeURL -Force -Recycle  
        Write-Host -f Green ("Deleted File: '{0}' at '{1}'" -f $File.Name, $File.ServerRelativeURL)         
    }  

    #Process all Sub-Folders  
    $SubFolders = Get-PnPFolderItem -FolderSiteRelativeUrl $FolderSiteRelativeURL -ItemType Folder  
    Foreach($SubFolder in $SubFolders)  
    {  
        #Exclude "Forms" and Hidden folders  
        If( ($SubFolder.Name -ne "Forms") -and (-Not($SubFolder.Name.StartsWith("_"))))  
        {  
            #Call the function recursively  
            Empty-PnPFolder -Folder $SubFolder  

            #Delete the folder  
            Remove-PnPFolder -Name $SubFolder.Name -Folder $FolderSiteRelativeURL -Force -Recycle  
            Write-Host -f Green ("Deleted Folder: '{0}' at '{1}'" -f $SubFolder.Name, $SubFolder.ServerRelativeURL)  
        }  
    }  
}  

#Get the Root Folder of the Document Library and call the function to empty folder contents recursively  
Empty-PnPFolder -Folder $List.RootFolder  

#Now delete the document library  
Remove-PnPList -Identity $ListName -Recycle -Force  
Write-host -f Green "Document Library Deleted Successfully!"  

For Reference: Fix “List cannot be deleted while on hold or retention policy” Error on SharePoint Online
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Answer 2

You are getting the errors because of the possible issues below:

• You will need to wait out the 30 days after you remove the hold.
• If you do not want to wait out the 30 days, exclude it from the hold. (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/troubleshoot/administration/exclude-sites-from-retention-policy#exclude-a-site-from-the-retention-policy)
• There might a lingering orphaned hold on that site(s). You can identify or check with PowerShell or open a ticket with Microsoft to identify and remove.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I also found this to be useful though it is not a Microsoft doc

https://www.sharepointdiary.com/2021/10/how-to-delete-files-from-preservation-hold-library.html