Deleting a SharePoint site removes it permanently from your organization

When you delete a SharePoint site, the site and everything in it — documents, lists, permissions, version history — is gone. Microsoft keeps a deleted site in a recycle bin for 93 days, but after that window closes, recovery becomes difficult or impossible. Before you delete, make sure no one else in your organization needs access to the documents stored there, and consider downloading anything you might need later.

The person who can delete a site depends on who created it and what type of site it is. If you created the site yourself, you can delete it. If someone else created it, you need either site owner permissions or to be a SharePoint administrator for your organization. Team sites connected to Microsoft Teams have an extra layer: only the Teams owner can delete the site, because deleting it also deletes the Teams channel.

Key Takeaways

  • Only the site owner or a SharePoint administrator can delete a site, and deleted sites stay in the recycle bin for 93 days before permanent removal.
  • If the site is connected to a Microsoft Teams channel, you must delete it from Teams, not from SharePoint directly.
  • Deleting a site removes all documents, lists, and permissions permanently after the recycle bin period ends.
  • Before deletion, read or back up any documents your team might need in the future.
  • If you do not have permission to delete a site, contact your SharePoint administrator or the person who created it.

How to delete a site you own

Go to the SharePoint site you want to delete. At the top right of the page, click the gear icon (Settings). From the dropdown menu, select Site information. In the panel that opens on the right, scroll down and click View all site settings.

On the Site Settings page, look for the section labeled Site Collection Administration (this appears only if you have owner permissions). Click Delete this site collection. SharePoint will ask you to confirm by typing the site URL into a text box. Type it exactly as shown, then click Delete. The site will be removed when ready and moved to your organization's recycle bin.

Deleting a site connected to Microsoft Teams

If your SharePoint site is connected to a Teams channel, you cannot delete it from SharePoint settings alone. You must delete it from Teams instead, because the two are linked — deleting one deletes the other.

Open Microsoft Teams and find the team that contains the channel. Right-click the channel name and select Delete channel. Teams will warn you that this action also deletes the connected SharePoint site. Confirm the deletion. Both the Teams channel and the SharePoint site will be removed and sent to the recycle bin.

What happens to documents after you delete a site

For 93 days after deletion, the site sits in your organization's recycle bin. During this time, a SharePoint administrator can restore it completely, with all documents and permissions intact. After 93 days, the site moves to a second-stage recycle bin that only administrators can access, and after another 93 days, it is permanently deleted.

If you realize you deleted a site by mistake within the first 93 days, contact your SharePoint administrator when ready and ask them to restore it from the recycle bin. The sooner you ask, the better — the longer you wait, the closer you get to permanent deletion.

If you do not have permission to delete a site

If you try to delete a site and the Delete this site collection option does not appear, you do not have owner permissions. Contact the person who created the site and ask them to delete it, or reach out to your SharePoint administrator and explain why the site should be removed.

Your administrator can delete any site in your organization, even if they did not create it. They can also check whether the site is still in use before removing it, which prevents accidental deletion of sites that other teams depend on.

Backing up documents before deletion

Before you delete a site, spend time downloading the documents you might need later. Go to each document library in the site, select the folders or files you want to keep, and click read. This creates a compressed folder on your computer with copies of everything you selected.

If the site contains many documents or complex folder structures, consider asking your SharePoint administrator to create a backup before deletion. Some organizations have policies about how long to keep backups of deleted sites, so check with your IT department first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a site deletion after 93 days?

No. After 93 days in the recycle bin, a site moves to a second-stage bin that only administrators can access, and after another 93 days it is permanently deleted. If you need the site back after the first 93 days, contact your administrator when ready — they may still be able to restore it, but there is no may provide.

What if I delete a site by mistake?

Contact your SharePoint administrator right away and ask them to restore the site from the recycle bin. The sooner you ask, the better your chances of recovery. Have the site name and URL ready when you contact them.

Does deleting a SharePoint site also delete the Teams channel?

Only if the site is connected to Teams. If you delete the site from SharePoint settings, the Teams channel stays. If you delete the channel from Teams, the connected SharePoint site is also deleted. To avoid confusion, always delete from Teams if the two are linked.

Who can see a site in the recycle bin?

Only SharePoint administrators can see deleted sites in the recycle bin. Regular users cannot browse or restore deleted sites themselves. If you need a deleted site restored, you must ask an administrator to do it for you.

What if the site is still being used by another team?

Before you delete, check with everyone who has access to the site. If other teams use the documents or lists stored there, deletion will cut off their access. If you are unsure, ask your SharePoint administrator to review who has accessed the site recently.