How to Configure Deleted Item Retention in Exchange Server?

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  • Published on
    July 25th, 2022
  • Read Time
    3 minutes
Summary:-Deleting unneeded files is a basic need for maintaining your Exchange server. Although when users delete items from the Deleted Items default folder, Delete, Shift+Delete, or by Emptying Deleted Items Folder, the removed data is moved into the recoverable Items\Deletions folder. Even though the time duration of the deleted items remains on the folder is based on the configuration of Deleted Item retention with the Exchange Server database or mailbox. The default time of the mailbox database configured to retain deleted items is 14 days, and to increase this, you need to select the value range between 0 to 24,855 days.

This blog will describe the steps to configure deleted item retention settings in Exchange Server using the Exchange admin center. But what if your Exchange Database (EDB) file gets corrupted during the configuring process, you can use the Sysinfo EDB to PST Converter Tool which can quickly restore mailbox or database data from the inaccessible EDB file.

What do Users need to Know Before Begining?

  • It will take time of approx five minutes for configuration.
  • There is a requirement to assign permissions before you can start the procedures. However, if you want to see the permission available, check out the Messaging records management entry in the Messaging policy and compliance permissions of Exchange Server.
  • Make sure that your Exchange server works perfectly.

How to Configure Deleted Item Retention for a Mailbox?

You can use the Exchange Admin Center (EAC) to configure deleted item retention for a mailbox. Follow the simple steps correctly.

  1. Go to Recipients >> Mailboxes.
  2. In the lists of mailboxes, choose the required mailbox and click on the Edit icon.
  3. Once the mailbox property page opens on your screen. Go to  Mailbox usage and click on the More options. Here, you have to select one of the following:
  • First, use the default retention settings from the mailbox database.
  • Then you have to configure deleted item retention settings for the mailbox.
  • Now, select the deleted items days: It shows you the time duration that deleted items take before they’re permanently removed and can’t be restored by the user. Note:- The default days to keep the deleted items is 14, and for necessity, you can select it manually between 0 to 24,855.
  • Check the option Don’t permanently delete items until the database is backed up.

How to Configure Retention for Exchange

  1. Go to the Servers >> Databases.
  2. In the lists of mailboxes, choose the required mailbox database and click on the Edit icon.
  3. In the mailbox database property wizard, click Limits, and choose one of the following:
    • Keep deleted items for (days):- 14 Days or select manually between 0 to 24,855 days.
    • Please enable the option Don’t permanently delete items until the database is backed up.

Finally, deleted item retention is completed.

Also Know: How to Restore Exchange Server Mailboxes?

Conclusion

This blog teaches us about deleted item retention and the steps to configure deleted item retention using the  Exchange admin center in the exchange server. For Exchange data (EDB) file corruption or damage, you may also use EDB to PST Converter Software. The demo version allows you to convert 25 items per mailbox folder.

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