Recover Permanently Deleted Files from Box
Yes, you can often recover permanently deleted files from Box, but only if you act within a limited window and have the right account type. Box keeps deleted files in a Trash folder for 30 days by default, and after that, recovery depends on your admin’s retention settings or a paid recovery feature. This article explains the exact steps, time limits, and workarounds for getting your data back.
How Box Deletion Actually Works
When you delete a file in Box, it doesn’t vanish instantly. It moves to the Trash folder, which you can access from the left sidebar in the web app. From there, you can restore it yourself with a single click. The 30-day default applies to all standard accounts, but enterprise admins can change this to 0, 30, 60, or 90 days depending on the plan.
If you delete a file from the Trash (or use the “Delete Forever� option), it enters a second stage. Box keeps these “purged� files for an additional 30 days from the purge date, but only for accounts with the Unlimited Version History add-on or certain Business plans. This is the hidden recovery window that most users don’t know about.
Step-by-Step: Recover from Trash (First 30 Days)
- Log in to box.com and click Trash in the left menu.
- Find your file. Use the search bar at the top if you have many items.
- Hover over the file, click the … (ellipsis) menu, and select Restore.
- The file returns to its original folder. If that folder was also deleted, Box recreates it.
If you deleted a folder, the entire folder structure is restored. Files that were individually deleted from inside a folder come back to that folder, even if the folder itself still exists.
Recovering After Emptying Trash (Days 31–60)
Once you empty the Trash or delete a file from it, the file enters a “purged� state. For most personal accounts, this is the end—the data is gone from Box’s servers. However, for Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise plans, Box retains purged files for 30 more days. Here’s how to get them back:
- Contact your Box account administrator. Only admins can access the purged-file recovery tool.
- The admin goes to Admin Console → Users & Groups → select the user → Files → Recover Deleted Files.
- Choose a date range (up to 30 days back) and search for the file.
- Click Recover—the file is restored to the user’s root folder, not the original location.
If you’re the admin, you can also do this for any user in your organization. The recovery tool shows all files purged in the selected period, even if the user emptied their trash multiple times.
When Recovery Is Impossible (After 60+ Days)
If more than 60 days have passed since you emptied the trash (30-day trash + 30-day purge retention), Box permanently deletes the file from its servers. No amount of admin access or support tickets can bring it back. The only exception is if your organization purchased Box Shield or an extended retention add-on, which can keep deleted files for up to 90 days or longer, but this is rare and must be configured before the deletion.
What About Box Drive and Mobile Apps?
Files deleted from Box Drive on your desktop still go to the Box Trash, not your computer’s recycle bin. However, if you deleted a file while Box Drive was offline, it might still exist in your local cache. Check ~/Library/Caches/Box (Mac) or %LOCALAPPDATA%\Box\Box\Cache (Windows) for orphaned files. This is a long shot but has worked for some users.
On mobile apps, deletion works the same as the web—files go to Trash. But if you used the “Remove Download� option on a mobile device, that only removes the local copy; the cloud version stays safe.
Preventing Permanent Loss: Best Practices
- Check trash regularly—set a monthly reminder to review what’s there.
- Use version history—Box keeps up to 100 versions of a file for 180 days. If you overwrote a file, restore an older version instead of deleting.
- Enable two-factor authentication—prevents malicious deletions from a compromised account.
- Download critical files—for truly irreplaceable data, keep a local backup or use a third-party backup service that syncs Box to another drive.
- Talk to your admin—ask if your plan includes the 30-day purge recovery and what the retention policy is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Box permanently delete files after 30 days or 60 days?
It depends on your plan. Personal accounts: 30 days total. Business and Enterprise accounts: 30 days in Trash, then 30 more days of purge retention, so 60 days total. Check your admin console to confirm your exact policy.
Can I recover a file deleted by another user in my Box account?
Yes, if you have admin privileges. Go to Admin Console → Users & Groups → select that user → Files → Recover Deleted Files. You can restore files they deleted, even if they emptied their own trash.
Will Box support recover files after the retention period?
No. Box’s documentation states that after the retention window, files are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered by any means, including support requests. There is no hidden backup.
What if I deleted a file from Box Drive but also from my computer’s recycle bin?
If the file was synced to Box before deletion, it’s still in Box Trash. If it was only local and never synced, check your computer’s recycle bin or use file recovery software like Recuva or PhotoRec—but that’s outside Box’s control.
Is there a way to extend the 30-day trash window?
Only admins can change the trash retention period in Admin Console → Settings → Content. Options are 0, 30, 60, or 90 days, but the 90-day option requires a Business Plus or Enterprise plan. This must be set before deletion.
Does Box keep backups for legal or compliance reasons?
Box does not offer a separate backup service. However, if your organization uses Box Governance (an add-on), it can preserve deleted files for regulatory purposes. This is an enterprise feature and must be configured in advance.
In short, act fast. The moment you realize a file is gone, check Trash, then contact your admin immediately. Every day reduces your chances. For future peace of mind, set up a regular export of important folders to an external drive or another cloud service.
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