How to Recover a Deleted Shared Account in Microsoft 365

If you've mistakenly deleted a shared account in Microsoft 365, you can recover it within a specific timeframe. Typically, you have 30 days from the deletion date to restore the account. Here’s how to locate and effectively restore a deleted shared account.

What to do immediately after an account is deleted

As soon as you realize that a shared account has been deleted, check the timeframe for recovery. You typically have up to 30 days to restore the account before it is permanently deleted. During this period, avoid making changes that could complicate the recovery process, such as deleting other accounts or implementing major changes in your Microsoft 365 environment. Inform your organization’s IT team to ensure everyone is aware of the situation and can assist if necessary.

How to find the deleted shared account

To locate the deleted shared account, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using your admin credentials.

2. In the left navigation pane, select Users.

3. Click on Deleted users.

This section will display all accounts deleted within the recovery window. Search for the shared account by name or email address. If you don't see it immediately, use the search function to filter the results.

Steps to restore the deleted account

Once you've located the deleted shared account, restore it by following these steps:

1. In the Deleted users list, find the account you wish to restore.

2. Click on the account to select it.

3. Click on the Restore button at the top of the page.

4. Follow any on-screen prompts to confirm the restoration.

What happens after recovery?

After restoring the account, the user should regain access as it was before deletion. However, note that some data may not be recoverable depending on how long ago the account was deleted. For example, if the account was deleted more than 30 days ago, it would be permanently removed from the system. Users may also need to reset their passwords and reconfigure settings such as sharing permissions.

Common issues during the recovery process

During the recovery process, you might encounter several common issues:

• Account not found: If you can't find the deleted account, ensure you're checking the right section and that the account was deleted within the last 30 days.

• Restoration errors: If the restoration fails, verify your admin permissions. You need appropriate rights to restore user accounts.

• Data loss concerns: Remember that restoring a deleted account may not recover all data if the account was deleted a while ago.

Conclusion

After completing the recovery steps, confirm that the shared account is functioning as expected. If you encounter any issues, check the account settings or contact Microsoft support for further assistance. Regularly monitor account changes to prevent future accidental deletions.