===== ♻️ How to Restore All Archived Files in a SharePoint Online Site =====

[[https://www.smikar.com/restore-archived-sharepoint-site-files/|Restoring an entire SharePoint Online site]] from [[https://www.smikar.com/squirrel/|Squirrel]] is a streamlined and reliable process. This guide walks you through the steps required to fully restore all previously archived files within a selected site.

> ⚠️ **Important Note:** Only files that were archived by Squirrel will be restored. Any files that were not archived will remain unaffected.

In this example, we’ll restore files from a previously archived SharePoint site named **"Engineer."**

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===== 📋 Steps to Restore an Archived SharePoint Site =====

^ **Step** ^ **Description** ^ **Image** ^
| **Step 1: Access the Squirrel Dashboard** | Log into the Squirrel web portal and navigate to the **Restore** section from the main menu. | {{:software:squirrel:squirrel_menu_new.png?400}} |
| **Step 2: Select the SharePoint Site for Restoration** | Locate the archived site (e.g., “Engineer”) in the list of sites. Click **Restore Site** to begin. | {{:software:squirrel:site_archive_settings.png?400}} |
| **Step 3: Confirm the Restoration Process** | A confirmation prompt will appear, notifying that the restore may take time and affect users. Click **OK** to continue. | {{:software:squirrel:restore_site_prompt.png?400}} |
| **Step 4: Monitor the Restore Progress** | The site will be added to the **Restore Queue**. Navigate to the queue section to monitor progress in real-time. | {{:software:squirrel:restore_queue.png?400}} |
| **Step 5: Verify the Restored Files** | Once restoration is complete, return to SharePoint Online. Go to the “Engineer” site and confirm the presence of restored files. | {{:software:squirrel:sharepoint_ui_documents.png?400}} |
| **Step 6: Validate Access and Integrity** | Open several restored files to verify access, metadata, and version history. Check permissions if needed. | {{:software:squirrel:version_history.png?400}} |

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===== ✅ Conclusion =====

Restoring archived files from **Squirrel** is fast, reliable, and minimally disruptive to your SharePoint environment. This full-site restore feature:

- Brings back only archived files (non-archived files remain untouched)
- Maintains folder structures and original metadata
- Restores content exactly where it was archived from

By leveraging Squirrel’s smart restoration tools, administrators can ensure a seamless balance between **storage efficiency** and **data availability** — while maintaining control and visibility over file lifecycle management.