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Delete and restore Office files

Move an Office file to the trash, bring it back with Undo or Restore, or delete it for good from the Trash page or the Documents page.

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Deleting an Office file moves it to the trash rather than removing it, so you can change your mind. Files stay in the trash until you restore them or delete them for good yourself.

Before you start

Move a file to the trash

Choose any of these:

  • In the file: choose File > Move to trash, then confirm with Move to trash. You are taken to the Documents page.
  • On Office Home: in Recent, click the bin at the end of the file's row.
  • On the Documents page: rest the pointer on the file's card and click the bin, Move to trash (recoverable below).

A message confirms the move, with Undo. Click Undo within a few seconds to put the file straight back.

Restore a file

From the Trash page

  1. Open Office Home by clicking the Apps heading in the side menu.
  2. Click Trash in the row of buttons at the top. The heading changes to PlexiOffice Trash.
  3. Find the file and click Restore.

The file goes back to your lists, with its contents as they were.

From the Documents page

  1. Open the Documents page. See The Documents page.
  2. Click Trash below your files. It shows how many files are in it.
  3. Click Restore (the arrow out of a bin) on the file's card.

Delete a file for good

Deleting for good cannot be undone. The file and its version history are gone.

  • On the Trash page: click Delete forever beside the file. It is removed straight away.
  • On the Documents page: open Trash, click Delete forever on the file's card, then confirm with Delete forever.

What you will see

  • With nothing in the trash, the Trash page says Trash is empty and Deleted documents rest here until you remove them for good.
  • On the Documents page, Trash only appears when there is something in it.
  • Trashed files on the Documents page are shown faded, with their names struck through and In trash underneath.

Common questions

How long do files stay in the trash? Until you restore them or delete them forever. Office does not empty the trash on its own.

I deleted a file by mistake a minute ago. If the Undo message is still showing, click it. Otherwise, restore the file from the Trash page.

I want an older version of a file, not a deleted one. Use version history inside the file. See Version history.

Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].