This feature is being rolled out to a limited number of users. If you don't see the Recently deleted tab and need to recover a video, contact us at help.vimeo.com.
When you delete a video, it isn't gone for good right away. From now on it moves to Recently deleted, where it stays recoverable for 30 days before it's permanently removed. So if you change your mind, or delete something by mistake, you can put it back in seconds. This article explains what Recently deleted is, how to restore your content, and how to free up space whenever you want.
What "Recently deleted" is
Recently deleted is a section of your library that works like a safety net: it collects the videos you delete and keeps them for 30 days. While they're here, you can restore them to their original location or delete them permanently to free up space. You'll find it in your library's side navigation, below your folders.
How it works, in short
- When you delete a video, it's moved to Recently deleted rather than erased right away.
- The item stays there for 30 days, then it's automatically and permanently removed.
- At any point within those 30 days you can restore it or delete it permanently.
- Items in Recently deleted still count toward your storage until they're permanently removed, either when you delete them yourself or automatically after 30 days.
At a glance
| Action | What happens |
|---|---|
| You delete a video | It moves to Recently deleted and stays recoverable for 30 days |
| You restore an item | It returns to its original folder (or to the top level of your library if that folder no longer exists) |
| You delete it permanently | It's removed for good and can't be recovered |
| You do nothing for 30 days | It's automatically and permanently removed |
How to delete a video
When you delete a video from your library, you'll see a confirmation: "[Item name]" will be deleted forever after 30 days. Once you confirm, the item moves to Recently deleted and a notification appears.
How to restore a video
- Open Recently deleted from the side navigation.
- Find the video and hover over its row.
- Select Restore.
The item returns to its original folder. If that folder has been deleted in the meantime, the item is restored to the top level of your library. You can also select multiple items and restore them all at once.
On Enterprise accounts, only owners and admins can see Recently deleted and restore items (see "Who can see and manage Recently deleted" below).
Good to know: a restored video keeps its title, description, tags, privacy settings, and embeds.
How to free up space (permanent deletion)
Videos in Recently deleted still count toward your storage. To free it up right away, you have two options:
- A single item: hover over its row and select Delete forever.
- Everything at once: use Empty trash from the banner at the top of the page (available to owners and admins only).
Permanent deletion can't be undone: you'll be asked to confirm, and once it's done the item can no longer be recovered.
Who can see and manage Recently deleted
Visibility and available actions depend on your account type and your role.
Personal and team accounts (self-serve)
| Feature | Who can use it |
|---|---|
| See the Recently deleted tab | All users |
| Restore and permanently delete | All users (items they have permission to manage) |
| Empty trash | Owners and admins only |
The rule is "if you can delete it, you can restore it" — that's why the tab is visible to everyone. Emptying the trash, being a destructive action, stays limited to owners and admins.
Enterprise accounts
| Feature | Who can use it |
|---|---|
| Delete content | All members |
| See the Recently deleted tab and restore | Owners and admins only |
On Enterprise, all members can delete content, but only owners and admins see the Recently deleted section and can restore items. The retention period is 30 days.
Recently deleted and Data Retention (Enterprise only)
If your Enterprise plan includes the Data Retention module, owners and admins get a direct link between the two areas: from the side navigation you can reach the Data Retention page in settings, and from the Data Retention page a banner links back to Recently deleted. This link is visible to owners and admins only.
Note: not every Enterprise plan includes Data Retention (for example, Essentials doesn't, while Base Suite and Marketing Suite do). If your plan doesn't have the module, the Data Retention reference isn't shown.
FAQs
How long does a video stay in Recently deleted?
Deleted videos stay recoverable for 30 days from the moment you delete them. After that, they're automatically and permanently removed.
Can I recover a video after 30 days?
No. Once 30 days have passed, or if you've deleted it permanently with Delete forever, the deletion is final and the video can no longer be recovered.
Do videos in Recently deleted use up storage?
Yes. Items in Recently deleted keep counting toward your storage as long as they're there. To free up space, delete them permanently with Delete forever or clear everything with Empty trash.
Where does a video go when I restore it?
It returns to its original folder. If that folder has been deleted in the meantime, the video is restored to the top level of your library.
I can't see the Recently deleted section. Why?
On personal and team accounts the tab is visible to everyone. On Enterprise accounts, however, Recently deleted is visible to owners and admins only — if you don't have that role, you won't see the tab. To recover content, contact an owner or admin on your account.
Does deleting a video break embeds on external sites?
While the video is in Recently deleted, its embeds on external sites won't work. When you restore it, they work again, because the video's ID and URL are preserved.
Still have questions?
If something isn't clear or you need help, you can contact our support team: help.vimeo.com.