How to delete a document library in SharePoint

A SharePoint document library serves as a secure place where users can store files, manage them, and collaborate with other site users. More often than not, you may need to delete document libraries when they're not needed for reasons like:

• Organizing the site structure.
• Cleaning up obsolete content.
• Removing duplicate libraries.
• Freeing up storage space.

Document libraries can be deleted either through the SharePoint Online browser interface for single deletions or through PowerShell for bulk operations.

Method 1: Delete a document library through the SharePoint Online browser interface

Prerequisite

Ensure you have the Site owner or Full Control permissions on the SharePoint site.

Steps

1. Sign in to SharePoint Online and navigate to the site that contains the document library.
2. Open the document library you want to delete.
3. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner and select Library settings.
4. Select More library settings.
5. On the library settings page, click Delete this document library under Permissions and Management.
6. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

The deleted library will be moved to the site recycle bin, where it can be restored within the retention period (up to 93 days, including both recycle bin stages) if needed.

Note: You can also delete document libraries from the Site contents tab.

1. Navigate to Site contents on the left pane.
2. Hover over the document library and click Delete from the Show actions menu.

Limitations to consider

• Library deletion must be done individually.
• There is limited visibility into dependencies or linked content before deletion.

For bulk or automated deletion, PowerShell can be used.

Method 2: Delete a document library using PowerShell

PowerShell is useful when you need to delete document libraries in bulk or automate SharePoint cleanups.

Prerequisites

1. Before using PowerShell, ensure that:
   • You have SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator rights.
   • The PnP.PowerShell module is installed.
2. Install and connect to SharePoint Online using the script below:
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   Install-Module PnP.PowerShell -Scope CurrentUser
   Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://tenant.sharepoint.com/sites/ProjectSite -Interactive

Delete a single document library

Use the following command to delete a document library by specifying its name:

Remove-PnPList -Identity "Project Documents" -Force

Delete multiple document libraries

Use this script to delete multiple document libraries at once:

$libraries = @("HR Documents", "Finance Documents", "Legal Documents")

foreach ($lib in $libraries) {
    Remove-PnPList -Identity $lib -Force
}

Supported parameters

The following parameters can be used while deleting document libraries in SharePoint:

Streamline document library reporting and management with SharePoint Manager Plus

Before deleting a document library, it is important to review its permissions, activity, and dependencies to avoid accidental data loss. SharePoint Manager Plus provides centralized visibility and reporting to help administrators make informed decisions before deleting a library.

Best practices for SharePoint document library management

Follow these guidelines to ensure safe deletion, prevent data loss, and maintain consistency across your SharePoint environment:

FAQ