This article covers how to delete files and folders in DekkoCORE, how to revoke sharing access without deleting content, and what options exist for recovering deleted content. It covers both the DekkoCORE web application and DekkoDrive behaviours.
Only file owners and users with Full permissions can delete files. If you cannot click on the delete option, your permission level does not allow deletion. See the Sharing Files article for a full breakdown of permission levels.
Deleting files and folders
Deleting via the web application
- Select the file(s) and/or folder(s) you want to delete.
- Click on the …More in the action bar.
- From the dropdown menu select Delete
- Confirm that you would like to delete the chosen item(s) in the pop up window.
- If the Archive policy is enabled for your Tenancy, the item(s) will be moved to the Archive (visible in the left navigation panel). If Archive is not enabled it will be permanently deleted.
Your Tenancy Manager(s) controls whether the Archive is enabled through Tenancy Policies. When enabled, deleted items are moved to the Archive and can be restored by the file owner until the expiry period (days) passes, after which they are permanently deleted. When disabled, all deletions are immediate and permanent. Please contact your Tenancy Manager if you are unsure about your Tenancy policies.
What happens when you delete a shared file
When you delete a file that has been shared with other users, the following occurs:
- All recipients immediately lose access to the file.
- The encryption keys for the deleted file are erased.
- The encrypted data is overwritten and then permanently removed.
Recipients who previously downloaded the file will still have their local copy. Recipients who only had in-app viewing access will no longer be able to view the file.
Revoking sharing access without deleting
If you want to remove a user's access to a file without deleting the file itself, you can update the sharing configuration:
- Select the file or folder.
- Click Share to open the sharing panel.
- Remove the user(s) from the shared list, or change their permission level.
- Click Share to save the changes.
The removed user will no longer be able to view or download the file. The file remains in your Hub and is still accessible to you and any other users who remain on the shared list.
Using share expiry
You can also set a time-based expiry when sharing a file or folder. When the expiry date is reached, all recipients lose access automatically. The file is not deleted; only the recipients' access is revoked. Your own access is not affected.
To set an expiry, use the expiry option in the sharing panel when sharing content. See the Sharing Files article for full sharing instructions.
Recovering deleted content
Restoring from the Archive
If the recycle bin policy is enabled for your tenancy and you deleted content through DekkoCORE, you can restore it from the Archive:
- Open the Archive from the left navigation panel on the dashboard.
- Select the file(s) you want to restore.
- Click Restore in the action bar.
- If you need to share the file(s), follow the standard steps in the Sharing Files article
Content that cannot be recovered
The following deletions are permanent and cannot be undone:
- Files deleted via the DekkoDrive desktop application (unless prevented by Tenancy Policy).
- Files permanently deleted from the Archive (after the retention period or by the clear out option within the Tenancy Policy).
- Files lost through an account reset. When your account is reset, all files, messages, and profile data are permanently deleted. Files that were shared with you with Full permissions are not deleted, as they remain accessible to the original owner and other shared users.
- Files deleted by another user who owned the content.
If you need access to a file that was shared with you and has since been deleted by the owner, contact the owner directly and ask them to re-share it. If the file was permanently deleted by the owner, it cannot be recovered.
Audit trail for deleted files
Deleting a file does not remove its audit history. Audit logs for deleted content are retained for the duration of your organisation's agreement with DekkoSecure. Hub administrators and Tenancy Managers can still view the audit trail for deleted files through the standard audit logging interface.
See the In-App Audit Logging article for details on accessing audit logs.
FAQ
I cannot click the Delete button
Only file owners and users with Full permissions can delete content. If you can’t click the delete option when you select a file, you do not have the required permission. Contact the file owner to request Full permissions, or ask them to delete the file on your behalf.
Files have disappeared from my Hub
If files you previously had access to are no longer visible, this does not necessarily mean they were deleted. Possible explanations include:
- The file owner removed your sharing access.
- A share expiry was reached and your access was automatically revoked.
- The file owner moved the files to a different folder within the Hub.
- The file owner deleted the files.
Check with the file owner or another user in the Hub to confirm what happened. If you are a Hub Administrator or Tenancy Manager, you can review the Audit Log for details.
I deleted a file by mistake
If you deleted the file through the web application and your Tenancy has the recycle bin policy enabled, check the Archive in the left navigation panel. You can restore the file from there.
If you deleted the file through DekkoDrive, the deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed. If you have a local copy of the file, you can re-upload it.