Trash and earlier versions

Files keeps what you delete for 30 days, and older copies of files that are replaced, so most mistakes can be undone.

The Trash

Move to Trash puts a file or folder in the Trash of the space it was in. It stays there for 30 days, then it's deleted for good. Moving something to the Trash also stops it being shared.

Trash, at the bottom of the sidebar, shows what was deleted from My files and from your groups' spaces, with where each thing came from and when.

To put something back:

1. Open Trash.
2. Open the menu beside it and choose Put back.

It goes back where it was. If something else has its name there now, it comes back as "name (restored)".

To get rid of something now, choose Delete for good from its menu. Empty Trash deletes everything in the Trash for good, including what came from your groups' spaces. Neither can be undone.

Photos uses the same Trash. A photo you delete in Photos is in this Trash too, and you can put it back from either app.

Earlier versions

When a file is replaced by a newer copy, for example when an app saves over it, Files keeps the one before.

• Up to 10 earlier versions of each file are kept, each for 30 days.
• Files of up to 256 MB keep earlier versions.
• Earlier versions go to the Trash with their file, and come back with it.

To bring one back:

1. Open the file's menu and choose Get info.
2. Under Earlier versions, press Bring back beside the one you want.

The copy it replaces is kept as an earlier version too, so you can change your mind. If a file is shared with you to view, you can see its earlier versions but only its owner can bring one back.

To get back more than a file or two, an admin can use Backups and snapshots.