M365 File Storage

If you're looking for a breakdown of storage limits of all of SOM's file storage options, please see the main page.

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Understanding OneDrive, Teams & Sharepoint

Sharepoint is Microsoft's online storage platform.  Each Sharepoint site you've visited has its own library of documents.  Sharepoint is the backbone for OneDrive and Teams, also.  OneDrive is essentially just a personal Sharepoint site.  Each Teams site is also a Sharepoint site.  Think of Teams as an interface or skin over Sharepoint, which combines Sharepoint's file storage with newer features such as messaging and chat.

OneDrive: https://somumaryland.onedrive.com
Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com
Sharepoint: https://somumaryland.sharepoint.com/_layouts/15/sharepoint.aspx

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Time Limits for Deleted Files

When an M365 file is deleted, it is held in the Recycle Bin for a time before moving to the Second-stage Recycle Bin for a time.  Eventually it is not accessible to users at all, but it is still preserved through a mechanism called Litigation Hold.  SOM IS can usually still retrieve documents at this point.  Please see the workflow below.

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Restoring via Previous Versions

If a document has been changed and you need an earlier version of it restored, use Previous Versions.

Teams

Go to the Team.  Click Files > Open in Sharepoint. 

Now follow along with the rest of the Sharepoint walkthrough.

Sharepoint

Click the three vertical dots next to a file and go to Version History.

Here you'll see a list of versions of the file.  Hover over one of the dates.  An arrow will appear.

 Click the arrow and you can View the file, Restore it, or Delete this version.

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OneDrive

Though it looks slightly different, the Previous Versions workflow for OneDrive is the same as Sharepoint.  Click the three vertical dots next to a file > Version History > three dots > Open File or Restore.   

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Restoring via Recycle Bin

 If a file has been deleted, recover it from the Recycle Bin.

Teams

Go to the Team.  Click Files > Open in Sharepoint. 

Now follow along with the rest of the Sharepoint walkthrough.

Sharepoint

Find Recycle Bin on the left.  Select a file and click Restore.  It will be restored to its restored to its original location.

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OneDrive

The Recycle Bin workflow for OneDrive is the same as Sharepoint.  Find Recycle Bin on the left.  Select a file and click Restore.  It will be restored to its restored to its original location.

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Second-stage Recycle Bin

If an item is deleted from the Recycle Bin, it goes into the Second-stage Recycle Bin next.  

Teams

Go to the Team.  Click Files > Open in Sharepoint. 

Now follow along with the rest of the Sharepoint walkthrough.

Sharepoint

Find Recycle Bin on the left.  Now find Second-stage recycle bin at the bottom of the screen.

Select an item, and click Restore to send it to its Original location.

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OneDrive

Find Recycle Bin on the left.  Now find Second-stage recycle bin at the bottom of the screen.

Select an item, and click Restore to send it to its Original location.

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Recover Lost Files

If your files cannot be found in either the Recycle Bin or Second Stage Recycle Bin, please open up a helpdesk ticket and give us as much information as you can about the missing file, such as name, last known location, file type date deleted, etc.

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