{"id":"freeing-space.what-is-the-recycle-vault","url":"/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-recycle-vault","category":{"id":"freeing-space","title":"Freeing up space"},"subcategory":{"id":"recycle-vault","title":"Recycle Vault"},"question":"What is the Recycle Vault, Storage Studio's recoverable trash?","alt_questions":["Where do my deleted files go in Storage Studio?","What happens when Storage Studio removes a file?","Storage Studio recoverable trash","Recycle Vault explained","Is anything Storage Studio deletes recoverable?","What is the Recycle Vault?","What does Recycle Vault do in Storage Studio?","Where do files go when Storage Studio removes them?","storage studio recycle vault","Is Recycle Vault the same as the Trash?","How do I recover something Storage Studio cleared?"],"short_answer":"It's Storage Studio's own recoverable trash: whatever the app removes for you — duplicates, clear-ups, uninstalled apps — goes there instead of being deleted, recoverable for about 6 months.","answer_markdown":"The Recycle Vault is Storage Studio's own recoverable trash. Everything the app removes for you — clearing duplicates, freeing up space, uninstalling an app — goes there instead of being deleted, so you can bring it back.\n\nIt's separate from your Mac's Trash, and separate from Restore Points, which undo moves rather than recover removed files. Items are kept for about 6 months, then cleared automatically. Open it from **More ••• → Recycle Vault**, or ask Tuhi. Full detail: [Recycle Vault manual](/manual/recycle-vault).","answer_html":"

The Recycle Vault is Storage Studio's own recoverable trash. Everything the app removes for you — clearing duplicates, freeing up space, uninstalling an app — goes there instead of being deleted, so you can bring it back.

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It's separate from your Mac's Trash, and separate from Restore Points, which undo moves rather than recover removed files. Items are kept for about 6 months, then cleared automatically. Open it from More ••• → Recycle Vault, or ask Tuhi. Full detail: Recycle Vault manual.

","answer_text":"The Recycle Vault is Storage Studio's own recoverable trash. Everything the app removes for you — clearing duplicates, freeing up space, uninstalling an app — goes there instead of being deleted, so you can bring it back.\n\nIt's separate from your Mac's Trash, and separate from Restore Points, which undo moves rather than recover removed files. Items are kept for about 6 months, then cleared automatically. Open it from More ••• → Recycle Vault, or ask Tuhi. Full detail: Recycle Vault manual.","tags":["recycle vault","restore","undo","recovery"],"related":[{"id":"freeing-space.where-is-the-recycle-vault-stored","question":"Is the Recycle Vault stored on my Mac or on the external drive?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/where-is-the-recycle-vault-stored"},{"id":"freeing-space.how-do-i-restore-a-removed-file","question":"How do I restore a file or folder Storage Studio removed?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/how-do-i-restore-a-removed-file"},{"id":"freeing-space.recycle-vault-vs-restore-points","question":"What's the difference between the Recycle Vault and Restore Points?","url":"/faq/freeing-space/recycle-vault-vs-restore-points"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What is the Recycle Vault, Storage Studio's recoverable trash? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It's Storage Studio's own recoverable trash: whatever the app removes for you — duplicates, clear-ups, uninstalled apps — goes there instead of being deleted, recoverable for about 6 months.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Freeing up space","path":"/faq/freeing-space/"},{"name":"What is the Recycle Vault, Storage Studio's recoverable trash?","path":"/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-recycle-vault"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-recycle-vault","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the Recycle Vault, Storage Studio's recoverable trash?","alternateName":["Where do my deleted files go in Storage Studio?","What happens when Storage Studio removes a file?","Storage Studio recoverable trash","Recycle Vault explained","Is anything Storage Studio deletes recoverable?","What is the Recycle Vault?","What does Recycle Vault do in Storage Studio?","Where do files go when Storage Studio removes them?","storage studio recycle vault","Is Recycle Vault the same as the Trash?","How do I recover something Storage Studio cleared?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Recycle Vault is Storage Studio's own recoverable trash. Everything the app removes for you — clearing duplicates, freeing up space, uninstalling an app — goes there instead of being deleted, so you can bring it back.\n\nIt's separate from your Mac's Trash, and separate from Restore Points, which undo moves rather than recover removed files. Items are kept for about 6 months, then cleared automatically. Open it from More ••• → Recycle Vault, or ask Tuhi. Full detail: Recycle Vault manual.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/freeing-space/what-is-the-recycle-vault"}}]},"fragment":"
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Freeing up space · Recycle Vault

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What is the Recycle Vault, Storage Studio's recoverable trash?

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Short answer: It's Storage Studio's own recoverable trash: whatever the app removes for you — duplicates, clear-ups, uninstalled apps — goes there instead of being deleted, recoverable for about 6 months.

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The Recycle Vault is Storage Studio's own recoverable trash. Everything the app removes for you — clearing duplicates, freeing up space, uninstalling an app — goes there instead of being deleted, so you can bring it back.

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It's separate from your Mac's Trash, and separate from Restore Points, which undo moves rather than recover removed files. Items are kept for about 6 months, then cleared automatically. Open it from More ••• → Recycle Vault, or ask Tuhi. Full detail: Recycle Vault manual.

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