# Baserow Data Recovery and Deletion - Trash and Undo Guide

> Baserow keeps deleted rows, tables, and workspaces in a 3-day trash window - see how undo/redo, the restore popup, and permanent deletion actually work.

Source: https://opennix.org/en/docs/baserow/data-management/data-recovery-and-deletion/


Deleted items in open-source Baserow don't vanish right away - they sit in trash for 3 days before permanent removal, and recent actions can be undone instantly, giving multiple ways to walk back a mistake. This guide covers recovering accidentally deleted workspaces, databases, tables, fields, and rows through Baserow's trash system, undo/redo, and the quick restore popup.

## How data recovery works

Baserow builds in several layers of protection against permanent data loss. Deleted items don't disappear immediately; they stay recoverable through trash (3-day retention), undo/redo (recent actions), and a quick restore popup right after deletion. Knowing which method applies to a given mistake helps fix it fast.

**Recovery methods:**

- **Trash** - holds deleted workspaces, databases, tables, fields, and views for 3 days.
- **Undo/redo** - instantly reverses recent actions like a cell edit or a row deletion.
- **Restore popup** - a quick undo link that stays on screen for about 7 seconds right after a deletion.
- **[Row change history](/docs/baserow/rows/row-change-history/)** - shows how values in a specific row changed over time.

## What can be recovered

Recovery options differ depending on what got deleted.

| Deleted item | Trash recovery | Undo/redo | Retention period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workspace | + | + | 3 days |
| Database | + | + | 3 days |
| Table | + | + | 3 days |
| View | + | + | 3 days |
| Field | + | + | 3 days |
| Row | + | + | 3 days |
| Cell value | - | + | Until the session ends |

A single cell value deletion never lands in trash - the only way back is undo, right after the change. Track how a row's values changed over time in [row change history](/docs/baserow/rows/row-change-history/).

## Undo and redo

Undo and redo instantly reverse recent changes - a cell edit, a row deletion, a field change, and most table operations.

### How to undo or redo

**Keyboard shortcuts** (the fastest route):

- **Undo:** `Cmd/Ctrl + Z`
- **Redo:** `Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Z`

**Toolbar buttons:**

- Click the undo and redo icons in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
- Undo reverses the most recent action.
- Redo re-applies an action that was just undone.

![Undo and redo buttons in Baserow](/images/baserow/data-management/data-recovery-and-deletion-undo-redo-buttons.webp)

### The quick restore popup

Deleting a workspace, table, or row - or making a significant change - triggers a "Restore deleted" popup that stays at the bottom of the screen for roughly 7 seconds. Click **Undo** in that popup to reverse the deletion immediately.

This is the fastest fix for a mistake noticed the moment it happens.

### What undo covers

**Undo reverses:**

- cell value changes;
- row additions and deletions;
- field creation, edits, and deletion;
- view creation and deletion;
- table operations;
- database and workspace deletions.

**Undo limitations:**

- undo history clears when the browser tab closes;
- some bulk operations may not be fully reversible;
- imports and exports typically can't be undone;
- changes made by other workspace members never show up in your own undo history.

## Finding deleted items in trash

Trash holds deleted workspaces, databases, tables, views, and fields for 3 days before they're removed for good.

### Opening trash

1. From the home screen, open **Trash** in the sidebar.
2. Trash lists every item deleted in the past 3 days.
3. Each entry shows **what** was deleted, **where** it came from, **when**, and **who** deleted it.

![Baserow trash interface listing recently deleted items](/images/baserow/data-management/data-recovery-and-deletion-trash-interface.jpg)

### How trash is organized

Trash groups items by workspace. Navigate into a specific workspace to find its deleted databases, tables, views, or fields.

**Each trash entry shows:**

- deletion timestamp (date and time);
- item type (workspace, database, table, view, field);
- its original location before deletion;
- the member who deleted it;
- how many days remain before permanent removal.

## Restoring items from trash

Bring a deleted item back to its original spot straight from the trash view.

### How to restore an item

1. Open **Trash** in the sidebar.
2. Find the item that needs restoring.
3. Click **Restore** next to it.
4. The item returns to its original location right away.

Restored items come back with everything they had:

- **workspaces** restore with all their databases, tables, and data;
- **databases** restore with all their tables, views, and fields;
- **tables** restore with all their rows, fields, and views;
- **views** restore with all their configuration and filters;
- **fields** restore with every value in that column.

### Who can restore

**Workspace admins** can restore any deleted item within their workspaces - workspaces, databases, tables, views, and fields alike.

**Members with sufficient access** can restore items inside the databases or tables they can already reach, but they can't bring back an entire deleted workspace or database. See [Manage Workspace Permissions](/docs/baserow/collaboration/manage-workspace-permissions/) for how member roles work.

### Restore limitations

**Past the 3-day mark.** Once trash removes an item for good, nothing - not trash, not any other method - brings it back. Export important data regularly to keep a copy outside that 3-day window.

**Cell value edits.** A changed cell value never reaches trash - reverse it with undo right after the edit, or check row change history if it's available.

## Permanently deleting from trash

Emptying trash removes items for good before the 3-day window would have expired on its own. This action can't be undone.

### Emptying trash

**Delete a single item:**

1. Open **Trash**.
2. Find the item.
3. Click **Delete permanently** next to it.
4. Confirm the permanent deletion.

**Empty an entire workspace's trash:**

1. Open **Trash**.
2. Navigate to the workspace.
3. Click **Empty this workspace's trash**.
4. Confirm to permanently remove everything sitting in that workspace's trash.

Nothing brings back a permanently deleted item, not even Baserow support - double-check the data really isn't needed before emptying trash.

### When emptying trash makes sense

**Freeing up storage.** Trashed items still count against storage limits until they're gone for good.

**Clearing sensitive data.** Emptying trash is how confidential information actually leaves the system rather than just the visible interface.

**Cleaning up mistakes.** Permanently remove test data or items created by accident.

**Ahead of a workspace handoff.** Clear trash before transferring ownership so the new owner can't pull back old data.

## How deletion works for each item type

Every item type has its own deletion flow, with the full steps and consequences covered separately.

- [Delete a Database](/docs/baserow/database-builder/delete-a-database/) - needs database-level access; removes every table, view, and field inside it.
- [Delete a Table](/docs/baserow/tables/delete-a-table/) - needs table-level access; removes every row, field, and view inside it.
- [Delete a Workspace](/docs/baserow/workspaces/delete-a-workspace/) - needs admin rights; removes every database, table, and byte of data in the workspace.
- [View Customization](/docs/baserow/views/view-customization/) - deleting a view removes only its configuration, not the underlying table data.
- [Field Customization](/docs/baserow/fields/field-customization/) - deleting a field permanently removes it and every value stored in that column.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What happens once the 3-day trash window closes?** The item is gone from Baserow's servers for good and can't be recovered by any method, including through support. The 3-day period is fixed, with no extension - export anything important before deleting it, or on a regular schedule as a backup habit.

**Can I see who deleted a given item?** Yes, trash shows the username of whoever deleted each item alongside the deletion timestamp, which makes tracking down accidental deletions straightforward.

**Does trash count against my storage limit?** Yes, items sitting in trash still count toward workspace storage until they're permanently removed or the 3-day window closes on its own. Emptying trash is one way to reclaim space when a limit is close.

**Can a single field be restored out of a deleted table?** Only after the whole table is restored first. Once the table is back, its fields behave normally again - there's no way to pull one field back without its parent table.

**What happens to linked records after a restore?** [Link-to-table fields](/docs/baserow/field-types/link-to-table-field/) reconnect automatically once both linked tables come back from trash. If one of the two tables was already permanently deleted, the link field in the surviving table simply goes empty.

**Can another member's deletion be undone from my session?** No, undo and redo only apply to actions taken in your own current browser session - changes another workspace member made never appear in your undo history. A workspace admin can still pull the item back through trash, or check [row change history](/docs/baserow/rows/row-change-history/) to see who changed what.

**How is data kept safe beyond the 3-day trash window?** Run [table exports](/docs/baserow/tables/export-tables/), [view exports](/docs/baserow/views/export-a-view/), or a full [workspace export](/docs/baserow/workspaces/export-workspaces/) on a regular schedule to build backups that outlive the trash window. For automated backups, the [Baserow API](/docs/baserow/webhook-api/database-api/) or [webhooks](/docs/baserow/webhook-api/webhooks/) can push data out to an external backup system.

## What's Next

That wraps up the Data Management section - head back to the [Baserow documentation overview](/docs/baserow/) to pick the next topic.