Remove folders

You can remove folders and subfolders from your Drive when they are no longer needed. Removed folders are sent to the Recycle bin, where they can be restored within 30 days. After 30 days, they are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Understanding remove vs permanent deletion

Document360 uses a two-stage deletion process for folders. Understanding the difference helps you avoid accidental data loss.

NOTE
System folders cannot be removed or deleted. You can identify system folders by the shield icon next to their name in the Drive.

Before you remove a folder

Removing a folder that contains files used in articles will result in broken image links once the folder is permanently deleted. Before removing a folder, consider the following:

• Check the file dependencies within the folder to identify which articles reference its files. Refer to File actions in Drive for guidance on viewing file dependencies.

• If the files are still needed, move them to another folder before removing this one. Refer to Move a folder for instructions.

• If the folder is set as the default folder, update the default folder setting before removing it to prevent uploads from failing. Refer to Set a default folder for instructions.

• If the folder is mapped to a category, removing it will leave that category without a Drive folder mapping. Refer to Mapping a category with a folder in Drive for more information.

Remove a folder

To remove a folder,

1. Click the Drive icon in the left navigation bar.

2. Click the More icon next to the desired folder.

3. Click Remove. A confirmation prompt appears.

   

4. Click Yes to confirm.

The folder and its subfolders and files are moved to the Recycle bin.

Remove multiple folders at once

To remove more than one folder at the same time,

1. Click the Drive icon in the left navigation bar.

2. Select the checkboxes next to the folders you want to remove.

3. Click Remove from the toolbar that appears at the top.

4. Click Yes to confirm.

Restore a folder from the Recycle bin

If you have removed a folder by mistake, you can restore it from the Recycle bin within 30 days of deletion.

1. Click the Drive icon in the left navigation bar.

2. Click Recycle bin in the left navigation pane.

3. Locate the folder you want to restore.

4. Click the More icon next to the folder and select Restore.

The folder is restored to its original location in the Drive, along with its subfolders and files.

NOTE
Folders in the Recycle bin are permanently deleted after 30 days and cannot be recovered. Restore folders promptly if they were removed in error.

Best practices

• Always check file dependencies before removing a folder. Files used in published articles will result in broken image links once permanently deleted. A dependency check takes seconds and prevents difficult-to-diagnose issues in your knowledge base.

• Move files before removing the folder, not after. Once a folder is in the Recycle bin, its files are inaccessible from the Drive. Relocate any files you still need before confirming the removal.

• Use the Recycle bin as a safety window. The 30-day retention period is a safety net, not a long-term storage solution. Set a team process to review the Recycle bin periodically and restore anything removed in error promptly.

• Do not remove folders to reorganize. If you want to change where a folder sits in the Drive hierarchy, use Move instead of removing and recreating it. Moving preserves all file URLs and avoids the risk of broken links entirely. Refer to Move a folder for instructions.

• Communicate before removing shared folders. If a folder contains assets used by multiple contributors or teams, confirm with them before removing it. What appears unused from one person's view may be actively referenced by another.