---
title: "Delete and restore files in the Drive Trash"
description: "When you delete a Drive file in Talkspirit, it moves to the Trash for 30 days. During that time you can restore it or delete it permanently; after 30 days it is deleted automatically."
category: collaboration
section: drive-and-files
type: Tutorial
lastUpdated: 2026-08-26
locale: en
canonical: https://support.talkspirit.com/en/collaboration/talkspirits-trash
---

# Delete and restore files in the Drive Trash


When you delete a file from the Talkspirit Drive, it moves to the Trash and stays there for 30 days. During that period you can restore it to its original location or delete it permanently. After 30 days, files in the Trash are deleted automatically. You can delete several files at once, and a folder moves to the Trash with all of its contents.

## How do I open the Trash?

Open the Drive from its tab, then select **Trash** in the Drive sidebar.

## How do I delete a file from the Drive?

1. Click the file in the Drive.
2. Select the **Delete** trash icon.

![Drive file selected in the main Drive view, with the Delete trash icon highlighted in the selection action bar](/images/collaboration/talkspirits-trash/01-delete-icon.png)

3. In the confirmation dialog, click **Move to trash** to confirm, or **Cancel** to abort.

![Move to trash confirmation dialog for a single file, with the Move to trash and Cancel buttons](/images/collaboration/talkspirits-trash/02-move-to-trash-dialog.png)

The file leaves the Drive and moves to the Trash.

To delete several files at once, select them and click the **Delete** trash icon: the confirmation dialog reads *Delete N files*, and its confirm button is **Delete**. A folder is moved with all of its contents. For the full multi-file workflow, see [Downloading, moving, or deleting Drive files in bulk](/en/collaboration/download-move-delete-files-from-the-drive-in-bulk).

## How do I permanently delete a file?

1. Move the file to the Trash first.
2. In the Trash, select the file.
3. Click the **Delete** trash icon.
4. In the confirmation dialog, click **Delete**.

Once deleted from the Trash, the file cannot be recovered.

## How do I restore a file from the Trash?

1. Open the Trash.
2. Select the file you want to restore.
3. Click **Restore**.

![Trash view with a file selected and the Restore button visible in the action bar](/images/collaboration/talkspirits-trash/03-trash-restore.png)

The file returns to its original location in the Drive.

> **Note:** Files in the Trash cannot be edited. Restore a file before making changes to it.

## Who can delete files from the Drive?

Group administrators define who can create, edit, and delete files. Where members hold these permissions, they can move files to the Trash, restore them, and delete them permanently. Where deletion is restricted to group managers, other members cannot delete files.

## Next steps

- [Talkspirit Drive](/en/collaboration/talkspirit-drive)
- [Drive rights management](/en/collaboration/drive-rights-management)
- [Downloading, moving, or deleting Drive files in bulk](/en/collaboration/download-move-delete-files-from-the-drive-in-bulk)