# 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.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-trash-and-restore
Section: Office > Office basics
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-15

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

- **Plans.** The trash is on every plan.
- **Desks are separate.** Files in Office have their own trash. Desks and rooms have theirs. See [Archive, trash and restore rooms and desks](https://plexiidesk.com/help/desk-archive-trash).

## 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](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-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**.

> **Tip:**
> Before you delete something for good, restore it and look at it once more. Restoring is one click, and deleting can be undone only until you choose **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](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-version-history).

## Related tasks

- [The Office Home page](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-home)
- [The Documents page](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-documents-page)
- [Version history](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-version-history)
- [Find, star and pin your Office files](https://plexiidesk.com/help/office-find-and-star-files)
- [Archive, trash and restore rooms and desks](https://plexiidesk.com/help/desk-archive-trash)