---
title: How to Restore Deleted Files with the Recycle Bin
description: "Deleted the wrong file on your game server? Your File Manager's Recycle Bin keeps deleted files and folders for 7 days so you can restore them in a couple of clicks."
source: "https://nodecraft.com/support/knowledgebase/nodepanel/how-to-restore-deleted-files-with-the-recycle-bin"
image: "https://dynamic-assets.nodecraft.com/signedurl/w7vokBAexMnVlnMZ1Q/image.jpg?modifications=W3sibmFtZSI6InRleHQiLCJ0ZXh0IjoiSG93IHRvIFJlc3RvcmUgRGVsZXRlZCBGaWxlcyB3aXRoIHRoZSBSZWN5Y2xlIEJpbiJ9XQ&s=825f1715538e7396f4f96bec924ab832134a476ac8e05440d646825650fb0251"
published: "2026-10-12T20:47:53.460Z"
updated: "2026-10-12T20:47:53.460Z"
---

# How to Restore Deleted Files with the Recycle Bin

Deleted the wrong file on your game server? Your File Manager's Recycle Bin keeps deleted files and folders for 7 days so you can restore them in a couple of clicks.

Deleted the wrong file? Files and folders you delete in the File Manager go to the Recycle Bin first, so you can restore them for up to **7 days**.

- Each server's Recycle Bin holds up to 20 GiB. When it's full, the oldest items are permanently deleted to make room.
- Items in the Recycle Bin count toward your plan's storage until they're permanently deleted.
- Only deletions made in the File Manager go to the Recycle Bin. Files removed over FTP/SFTP are deleted right away.

## Deleting Files and Folders

1. In your `File Manager`, tick the files or folders you want to delete and click `Delete`.

  ![The Nodecraft File Manager with the journeymap and logs folders ticked, and the Delete button in the toolbar outlined in red.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/2178x1012/3a751d4b2d/recycle-bin-delete-button.webp/m/1000x0/smart)
2. Click **Move to Recycle Bin**.

  ![The Move to Recycle Bin window, which reads 'You can restore these for up to 7 days', with the Delete permanently checkbox unticked and a Move to Recycle Bin button.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/834x716/d0f3fcc981/recycle-bin-move-to-recycle-bin.webp/m/)

> **Note: To skip the Recycle Bin, tick Delete permanently or press Shift + Delete. Very large items, and anything deleted while your disk is full, can only be deleted permanently.**

## Restoring Files and Folders

1. Click `Recycle Bin` at the bottom of the File Manager's folder panel. If the panel is hidden, use the `Recycle Bin` button in the toolbar.

  ![The bottom of the File Manager's folder panel, with the Recycle Bin button outlined in red and a badge showing 4 items.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1500x1060/b8cef12625/recycle-bin-open.webp/m/1000x0/smart)
2. Tick the items you want back and click **Restore**, then confirm.

  ![The Recycle Bin listing deleted items with their original location, size, deletion date and time until they expire. The custom-loot folder is ticked and the green Restore button is outlined in red.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/2178x534/fb1e37ec0d/recycle-bin-restore.webp/m/1000x0/smart)

Items go back to their original location, and any missing folders are recreated. The `Expires In` column shows how long each item has left. You can also right-click an item to restore just that one.

### When a File Already Exists

If another file or folder is already in an item's original location, the item is marked already exists instead of being restored. Click `Replace It` to restore it anyway. The current file is moved to the Recycle Bin, so nothing is lost.

![The Recycle Bin showing notes.txt marked 'already exists' with a Replace It button outlined in red, under a message that some items could not be restored.](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/2178x682/a3603e9246/recycle-bin-already-exists.webp/m/1000x0/smart)

## Emptying the Recycle Bin

To free up storage straight away, select items and click `Delete Permanently`, or click `Empty Recycle Bin` with nothing selected to clear everything. This can't be undone.

## Troubleshooting

- **Why isn't my deleted file in the Recycle Bin? **It was deleted permanently, deleted over FTP/SFTP, deleted more than 7 days ago, or removed to make room when the bin was full. Restore it from a backup instead.
- **Can I get back an older version of a file I edited? **No. The Recycle Bin only keeps deleted items. Use a backup to roll back edits or overwritten files.