Records deadline check
Cancelled Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or Slack, or removed a leaver? See how long the data has left, based on each provider's published rules.
Choose a system and what happened to see the dates.
Based on each provider's published rules, checked 19 October 2026. Your contract, plan or settings may differ, so confirm with your provider.
Why the deadlines matter
Old email, chat and files used to cost nothing to delete. Now they can be worth money, because AI developers pay companies for de-identified copies of their records, and the years of history are part of what they pay for. Once a provider deletes the data, it cannot be brought back. Our guide to what happens when you cancel Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or Slack explains each rule in full.
Questions
How long does Microsoft keep data after I cancel Microsoft 365?
Microsoft says data you leave behind might be deleted after 90 days and will be deleted no later than 180 days after cancellation. Deleting the subscription outright removes SharePoint and OneDrive content straight away.
What happens to a leaver's email when I remove their licence?
Their email, contacts and calendar are kept for 30 days and then deleted permanently, and an unlicensed OneDrive is archived after 93 days. Convert the mailbox to a shared mailbox first to keep it.
Can I get Google Workspace data back after cancelling?
Usually not. Google says that once you cancel, your users' Google Workspace data is deleted and can't be restored, although some email-verified subscriptions can let users keep their data. Export it first.
Does Slack delete old messages on the free plan?
Yes. Since 26 August 2024, Slack has deleted messages and files more than a year old on free workspaces.
Sources
- What happens to my data and access when my Microsoft 365 for business subscription ends?
- Remove a former employee from Microsoft 365
- About shared mailboxes
- Cancel Google Workspace
- Restore a recently deleted user
- Updates to message and file history on free workspaces
- Export your workspace data
- Unlicensed OneDrive accounts