This guide explains how to manage the behavior of deleted files and the trash can of kDrive.

Preamble

• When a file is deleted from one of the tools synchronized with kDrive, the kDrive web app (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive) moves the file to its trash can.
• If this kDrive trash can is emptied, it is impossible to recover its contents.
• If the operating system's trash can on the computer where kDrive is installed is emptied, this does not empty the trash can of the kDrive web app.
• The file remains for a minimum of 30 days after it arrives in the kDrive trash can, but some offers may define a retention period of up to 365 days:

⚠ Max. duration that can be chosen for the retention of files in the kDrive trash can:

Delete a file…

… on the kDrive web app

To delete a file and follow its path to the trash can:

1. Click here to access the kDrive web app (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive).
2. Select the file(s) concerned.
3. Click on the trash can icon in the top bar:
   
4. Confirm the deletion:
   
5. A confirmation message appears at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to potentially cancel the deletion.
6. Click on the Trash menu:
   
7. Recently deleted items are displayed here:
   

Deletion is synchronized with the different solutions connected to the same kDrive, for example the mobile app kDrive (app for iOS / Android smartphone or tablet):

1. The Trash menu is located under the Folders icon at the bottom.
2. You can empty the trash from this page, but take note of the information further down in this guide:
   

Deletion is also synchronized (if this option is not deactivated — read further down in this guide) with the desktop app kDrive (desktop application on macOS / Windows / Linux) which will order to send to the computer's trash all data deleted from the Web app (and vice versa):

1. Open the computer's trash.
2. The deleted data is in the trash, and no longer in the main kDrive directory:
   

Manually empty the trash…

… on the kDrive web app

To manually empty the kDrive trash (not recommended as it is better to wait for the scheduled time until automatic deletion):

1. Click here to access the kDrive web app (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive).
2. Click on the Trash menu in the left sidebar.
3. Click on Empty trash:
   
4. Confirm the operation:
   
5. The data is permanently deleted, on the Web app kDrive only; the files remain in the computer's trash.

… on the synchronized computer

1. If the computer's trash is emptied (the Empty button in the example below)…
2. and the deletion confirmed…
   
3. … the trash of the Web app kDrive is not affected and the deleted files will still be there, as long as this kDrive trash is not emptied, manually or automatically after the delay.

Manage the kDrive trash retention period

To access the trash files:

1. Click here to access the kDrive web app (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive).
2. Click on the Settings icon in the top right corner.
3. Check or select the relevant kDrive in the dropdown menu of the left sidebar.
4. Click on Trash Settings.
5. Choose the desired duration from the drop-down menu (between 1 month and 1 year depending on your offer — see at the top of this guide).
6. Review the information about the potential permanent deletion of files moved to the trash before the new deadline you wish to apply, and confirm your choice.
7. Click the button to Confirm:
   

Disable the deletion order on the desktop app

To choose whether deleting a file on the Web app or mobile app should move the synchronized file with the desktop app to the computer's trash:

1. Left-click on the desktop app icon in your computer's notification area (top right on macOS, bottom right on Windows, and double left-click in the taskbar on Linux).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ on the right of the window that appears.
3. Click on Application Preferences:
   
4. Enable or disable the toggle switch to decide whether or not to send the synchronized version to the computer's trash:
   

Resolve a trash issue on the computer

In rare cases, it may happen that despite a setting to move files to the trash (point 4 above), the desktop app permanently deletes the file from the computer that was erased from:

• … the Web app (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive)…
• … the mobile app (application for iOS/Android smartphone or tablet)…
• … another synchronized computer…

instead of placing it in the trash, because:

• Insufficient space: the trash has reached its maximum configured size.
• Trash absence: on some file systems, such as network or removable drives (USB key, for example), there may be no trash.

This list is not exhaustive but it covers the majority of cases that will not be reported to the user. Other issues, such as those related to the use of read-only mounted disks, will be taken into account and reported to the user.

In case of doubt, also make sure that your computer does not instantly delete overly large items when they are placed in the trash, due to the Windows Recycle Bin size for example:

Restore a file from the trash…

To restore a file to its original location when the trash has not yet been emptied on the kDrive web app:

1. Click here to access the kDrive web app (online service ksuite.infomaniak.com/kdrive).
2. Click on Trash in the left sidebar.
3. Select the items to restore.
4. Click on Restore:
   

To revert an entire kDrive to its state before files were moved or reorganized, refer to this other guide.

To restore a previous version of an existing file, refer to this other guide.