MS Teams: Delete or Restore a Teams Channel

Summary

This article describes how to delete or restore a channel in Microsoft Teams. With relevant permissions (Team owners, or whomever owners choose), you have the ability to:

  • Delete a channel
  • Restore a channel
     

First: Understand Two types of channels

First, it's important to understand two types of channels in Teams: Standard and Private. Learn more about them in this Microsoft article.  The type of channel is relevant because what occurs on the SharePoint side is significantly different.

  • Standard Channel: Creates a folder in a default library on a site connected to Teams
  • Private Channel: Creates a totally separate SharePoint site where channel documents are stored

 

How-To

Task: Delete a Teams Channel

 

Instructions: Delete a Teams Channel

Keep in mind that once you delete a channel, you also lose its entire conversation history:

  • When you delete a Standard Channel it deletes the channel, but leaves the folder with documents intact on a SharePoint site.
  • When you delete a Private Channel it deletes both the channel AND the site that is connected to it (and all the documents you had on the site).
     

Step 1. In MS Teams, go to the channel you would like to delete and select the "More options" icon.

Step 2. From the drop-down menu, select "Delete this channel".
 

Task: Restore a Teams Channel


Instructions: Restore a Teams Channel

Note: Deleted channels can be restored within 21 days:

  • Channels can be restored within 21 days of deletion, but no new channels can be created with the same name as the deleted channel within that 21-day window.
  • During the 21-day period, a deleted channel continues to be counted towards the 200 channel or 30 private channel per team limit.
  • After 21 days, a deleted channel and its content are permanently deleted and the channel no longer counts towards the per team limit.

Step 1. In MS Teams, go to the team with the channel you would like to restore and select the "More options" icon.

Step 2. From the drop-down menu, select "Manage team".

Step 3. Under the "Channels" tab, expand the "Deleted" list of channels. Select "Restore" for any channels you would like to restore.

The restored channels will now appear back on the Team. NOTE: In case of a Private channel, the site connected to that private channel will also be restored.
 

Outcome

The channel is either deleted or restored. 

 

Further Readings 

MS Teams: Manage Notifications in Teams 

Tip: If you’re considering deleting a channel because you’re being inundated by notifications about new messages, you can instead just turn off notifications. 

 

Need additional help?

For assistance concerning site creation, content sharing, file synchronization, or other common SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, or Office app activities, we recommend our Microsoft 365 Learning sites:

Learn more about the great tools our Microsoft 365 Learning sites offer!

Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.  

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