Delete items from the site collection recycle bin

Items that have been deleted from a site Recycle Bin are kept in the site collection Recycle Bin (or second-stage Recycle Bin). If you're a site collection administrator, you can permanently remove these items by deleting them from the site collection Recycle Bin.

Notes: 

• The SharePoint Recycle Bin is different from the Recycle Bin in Windows. To recover files deleted in Windows from your desktop or apps, try the Windows Recycle Bin first. To put your Windows recycle bin on your desktop, see Show or hide the Recycle Bin.

• If you're looking for the recycle bin for OneDrive, go to your OneDrive site and select Recycle bin in the left pane.

Updated January, 2018 thanks to customer feedback.

Online 2019 and 2016 2013 2010

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Delete items or empty the Second-Stage Recycle Bin in SharePoint Online

Caution: When you delete an item from the Second-Stage or Site Collection Recycle Bin, it is permanently removed.

1. On the left Quick Launch pane of the Site page, choose Recycle Bin.

   

   If you don't see the Recycle Bin, and you do have permissions, try the following steps.

   1. Click Settings and then click Site settings. If you don't see Site settings, click Site information and then click View all site settings. Some pages might require you to select Site contents, and then Site settings.

   2. Click Recycle bin under Site Collection Administration.

      

2. At the bottom of the Recycle Bin page, click second-stage recycle bin.

   

3. Do one of the following:

   • Delete one or more items    Hover and click the circle next to the item(s) you want to delete and then click Delete.

     

   • Delete all items    Clear all check marks and click Empty recycle bin.

     

4. In the confirmation box, click Delete.

Delete items or empty the Second-Stage Recycle Bin in SharePoint Servers 2019 and 2016

Caution: When you delete an item from the Second-Stage or Site Collection Recycle Bin, it is permanently removed.

1. On the left Quick Launch pane of the Site page, choose Recycle Bin.

   

   If you don't see the Recycle Bin, and you do have permissions, try the following steps.

   1. Click Settings and then click Site settings.

   2. Click Recycle bin under Site Collection Administration.

      

2. On the Recycle Bin page click second-stage recycle bin.

   

3. Do one of the following:

   • Delete one or more items    Click the check box next to the item(s) you want to delete and then click Delete Selection.

   • Delete all items    Click the box next to Type, and then click Delete Selection.

     

4. Click OK.

Delete items or empty the Second-Stage Recycle Bin in SharePoint 2013

Caution: When you delete an item from the Second-Stage or Site Collection Recycle Bin, it is permanently removed.

1. On the left Quick Launch pane of the Site page, choose Recycle Bin.

   If you don't see the Recycle Bin, and you do have permissions, try the following steps.

   1. Click Settings and then click Site settings.

   2. Click Recycle bin under Site Collection Administration.

      

2. In the recycle bin dialog, click Deleted from end user Recycle Bin.

   

3. Do one of the following:

   • Delete one or more items    Click the check box next to the item(s) you want to delete and then click Delete Selection.

     

   • Delete all items    Click the box next to Type, and then click Delete Selection.

     

4. Click OK.

Delete items or empty the Second-Stage Recycle Bin in SharePoint 2010

Caution: When you delete an item from the Second-Stage or Site Collection Recycle Bin, it is permanently removed.

1. On the left Quick Launch pane of the Site page, choose Recycle Bin.

   

   If you don't see the Recycle Bin, and you do have permissions, try the following steps.

   1. Click Site Actions , and then click Site settings.

   2. Click Recycle bin under Site Collection Administration.

      

2. At the top of the Recycle Bin page, click second-stage recycle bin.

3. Do one of the following:

   • Delete one or more items    Click the check box next to the item(s) you want to delete and then click Delete Selection.

   • Delete all items    Click the box next to Type, and then click Delete Selection.

     

4. Click OK.

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