When you delete a record in Salesforce, it doesn’t vanish right away. It moves to the Salesforce Recycle Bin, where it stays for 15 days. After that, it’s gone for good unless you recover it in time.
Think of the Recycle Bin as a safety net. You get two weeks to change your mind or fix a mistake. After 15 days, Salesforce permanently deletes the record from the system.
Understanding the Salesforce Recycle Bin
The Salesforce Recycle Bin is a temporary storage space for deleted records. It helps users recover accidentally deleted data within a limited timeframe. This is key to understanding Salesforce Recycle Bin retention.
There are two types: User Recycle Bin and Org Recycle Bin. The User Recycle Bin holds records you deleted. The Org Recycle Bin shows everything deleted across the org, if you have the right permissions.
You can access the Recycle Bin in Salesforce Lightning by searching “Recycle Bin” in the App Launcher. In Salesforce Classic, it’s on the left sidebar under the “Home” tab. It’s easy to find once you know where to look.
Most standard and custom objects are supported in the Recycle Bin. But not all data types go there like attachments or large data sets. That’s important to remember when planning data recovery.
What Happens When You Delete a Record in Salesforce?
When you delete a record, it isn’t gone right away. It becomes a Salesforce Deleted Record and is soft-deleted. That means it’s moved to the Recycle Bin, not erased forever.
Related data doesn’t always follow. Some items like attachments or activities may still remain. But others, like child records with master-detail relationships, can be deleted too.
Deleted record visibility depends on your role and permissions. You’ll see only what you deleted unless you have access to the Org Recycle Bin. This makes Salesforce Record Recovery easier if you act in time.
Retention Period (How Long Do Deleted Records Stay?)
The standard Salesforce Data Retention Policy is 15 days. After that, records are permanently deleted.
But they can vanish sooner. If you manually clear the bin or use a hard delete API, they’re gone instantly. Deleted records also disappear if your Org Recycle Bin hits its limit.
Salesforce allows storage of up to 25 times your data storage in deleted records. When that’s full, older records get auto-removed, even before 15 days. So acting fast is key.
Can You Extend the Recycle Bin Duration in Salesforce?
No, you can’t change the Salesforce Recycle Bin Time Limit from the user interface. The 15-day period is fixed across all orgs.
However, there are workarounds. You can schedule regular data backups or use the API to archive records externally. These methods help retain access to deleted data longer.
The edition type doesn’t change this rule. Whether you're on Professional or Enterprise, the retention window stays the same. So, plan your recovery or backup process wisely.
How to Recover Deleted Records Before They Expire
If your record is still in the Salesforce Recycle Bin, you can usually get it back. There are a few ways to recover it, depending on how comfortable you are with tools or code.
Here’s how to restore deleted data in Salesforce step by step:
Manual Recovery (UI method)
- Go to the Recycle Bin tab in Salesforce.
- Search or filter to find your deleted record.
- Select the checkbox next to it and click Undelete.
Using SOQL + Apex (for devs/admins)
- Run a query using ALL ROWS like:
SELECT Id FROM Account WHERE IsDeleted = TRUE ALL ROWS - Use Apex to perform undelete on the returned records.
Using Data Loader or Workbench (API method)
- Choose the Undelete operation.
- Upload a CSV with record IDs you want to recover.
- Execute and verify restored records in your org.
What Happens After Records Are Permanently Deleted?
Once a record is hard deleted in Salesforce, it’s gone for good. There’s no native way to recover it after this point. That’s why timing and backup strategies matter so much.
Let’s break down what your options are when Salesforce’s data retention policy has run its course.
What You Can Do Once Records Are Gone
You can’t reverse a hard delete, but you can prepare for it. Here are your backup and restore options:
- Salesforce Backup & Restore (included in some editions): Allows scheduled backups and point-in-time recovery.
- External Backups: Export data regularly using tools like Data Loader, Workbench, or reports.
- Third-Party Tools: Platforms like OwnBackup or Spanning offer automated backups and rollback features.
What About Compliance and Legal Requirements?
Businesses in regulated industries must align with data retention policies. If your org must retain data beyond 15 days, native Salesforce settings won’t cover you.
That’s why having a formal data retention plan is key and not just for recovery, but for staying compliant.
Best Practices for Managing Deleted Records in Salesforce
Even though Salesforce offers a Recycle Bin, you shouldn’t rely on it alone. Once the 15-day window closes or your org hits storage limits, deleted records may disappear forever. Here's how to stay ahead.
- Set Up Regular Backups: Use Salesforce Backup & Restore or tools like OwnBackup to schedule frequent backups.
- Enable Deletion Alerts: Set up alerts or approval flows for sensitive objects to avoid accidental data loss.
- Use Custom Logging: Track who deleted what using audit trails or custom fields that log deletion attempts.
- Educate Your Users: Train your team on the difference between soft deletes (recoverable) and hard deletes (permanent).
- Review Recycle Bin Activity: Regularly review the Recycle Bin to spot patterns or catch risky deletes early.
By following these steps, you reduce the risk of permanent loss and stay audit-ready.
FAQs About Salesforce Recycle Bin Retention
Q1: How long do deleted records stay in the Salesforce Recycle Bin?
Salesforce retains soft-deleted records in the Recycle Bin for 15 days. After this period, they are automatically and permanently deleted.
However, your data may also be removed sooner if your organization exceeds the Recycle Bin storage threshold, which is 25 times your data storage limit. Once either condition is met, Salesforce starts purging the oldest records.
Q2: Can I recover records after they’ve been hard deleted?
Unfortunately, no. A hard delete means the record bypasses or exits the Recycle Bin and is completely wiped from your org.
There's no native way to recover it unless you have a backup solution in place, like Salesforce’s Backup and Restore or a third-party tool such as OwnBackup. That’s why having a backup policy is essential.
Q3: How can I restore deleted records in Salesforce?
If your record is still within the 15-day window and hasn’t been hard deleted, you can recover it using multiple methods. For a few records, head to the Recycle Bin UI, find the record, and click Undelete.
For large batches, use the Data Loader, Workbench, or SOQL Undelete statements. Developers can also use Apex for programmatic recovery.
Q4: What’s the difference between soft delete and hard delete in Salesforce?
A soft delete moves the record to the Recycle Bin, giving you a chance to recover it. It retains relationships and metadata temporarily.
A hard delete, on the other hand, removes the record permanently. It can happen via API, manual purge, or when the bin is full. Only soft-deleted records are recoverable.
Q5: Can I change the 15-day limit?
Salesforce does not provide a built-in way to modify the Recycle Bin retention duration. The 15-day limit is fixed and applies across all editions, including Professional and Enterprise.
If you need longer retention, your best option is to invest in automated backups or archival strategies that let you store deleted data outside of Salesforce’s native system.
Final Thoughts - Stay in Control of Your Salesforce Data
Understanding Salesforce's Recycle Bin behavior is critical to avoiding irreversible data loss. With a standard retention period of 15 days and no option to extend it, relying solely on the Recycle Bin is risky especially when your org is approaching its storage threshold.
While soft-deleted records can be recovered easily within the time limit, hard deletions are permanent. That’s why it’s essential to put proactive data protection measures in place.
Make sure your team:
- Knows the difference between soft and hard deletes
- Follows internal policies for critical record deletion
- Uses Salesforce-native or third-party backup solutions to safeguard your data
- Reviews data storage regularly to avoid early purges
Want to take control of your data retention and recovery? Talk to RT Dynamic about building a robust data protection strategy that fits your Salesforce environment. From automated backups to advanced recovery workflows, we can help you minimize risk and stay compliant.
