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How to restore or permanently delete a note from Trash in Notes

Deleted notes wait in Trash for 30 days. Learn how to undo a delete, restore a note, delete one for good, or empty Trash.

Level: beginner · Updated 26 Oct 2026

Before you start

How Trash works in Notes

When you delete a note in Notes, it does not disappear straight away. It moves to Trash and waits there for 30 days. During that time you can bring it back. After that it is deleted for good.

Before you start

  • You can move a note to Trash only if you are allowed to delete it.
  • You can restore a note only if you are allowed to restore it.

Move a note to Trash

Open the note and select the bin icon at the top, called Move to Trash. Notes does not ask you to confirm, because the note can be recovered. A message tells you the note was moved to Trash and offers Undo. You can also use the note's actions menu on the notes list.

Restore a note from Trash

  1. Select Trash in the left menu.
  2. Select the note you want back.
  3. Look at the banner at the top. It says This note is in Trash and how many days are left before it is deleted for good.
  4. Select Restore in the banner.

You can also open the actions menu for a note in the Trash list and choose Restore. If Trash is empty, you will see Trash is empty.

Delete one note for good

If you are sure you do not need a note, open its actions menu in the Trash list and select Delete forever. Notes asks Delete this note forever? and tells you it will be removed from every device and cannot be undone. Select Delete forever again to confirm, or Cancel to keep it in Trash.

Empty the whole Trash

In Trash, the notice at the top has an Empty Trash button. Select it and Notes asks how many notes it will delete forever. Everything in your Trash is removed from every device, with its attachments and history. Select the red button that shows the number of notes, for example Delete 3 notes, to go ahead.

Notes owned by someone else are not yours to delete, so they are left alone. If something goes wrong part-way, Notes tells you how many were deleted before it stopped, and you can try again.

Good habits

  • Check Trash before you empty it. Deleting for good cannot be undone.
  • Restore important notes within 30 days.
  • If you only want a note out of the way, use Archive instead of Trash.

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Steps

  1. Open the note and select the bin icon (Move to Trash) at the top of the note. The note leaves the screen and a message says it was moved to Trash.
  2. If you did it by mistake, select Undo in the message that appears.
  3. Select Trash in the left menu. A notice reminds you that notes are deleted for good 30 days after you put them here.
  4. Select the note from the list. A banner at the top says how many days are left before it is deleted for good.
  5. Select Restore in the banner. The note goes back to your notes.
  6. To remove one note now, open its Actions menu in the Trash list and select Delete forever, then confirm.
  7. Select Empty Trash in the Trash notice and confirm. Everything in Trash that you own is removed for good and cannot be brought back.

Troubleshooting

Still stuck? Contact support or ask in the community.