Squirrel End User Guides for SharePoint
2 min read · Last updated · Page version 7
If a file in SharePoint or Teams has turned into something you cannot open, or you need one back that has been archived, start here. Nothing on these pages needs IT experience.
The short version
Squirrel moves files that have not been touched for a long time out of SharePoint and into low-cost storage. It leaves a small placeholder behind - a stub - with the same name plus .html on the end. Opening the stub brings the real file back.
You do not lose anything. Version history, dates and the original location all come back with the file.
The guides
- Restore a file - the common one. How to get an archived file back, how long it takes, and what to do if the stub has been deleted.
- Archive a file yourself - if your administrator has enabled it, you can archive files you are finished with.
- Stub files explained - what the placeholder is, why the file looks different, and what it does in OneDrive and Teams.
- What happens during a restore - the stages a file goes through on its way back.
- Version history - what is kept when a file is archived and restored.
- The Archive and Restore buttons - the buttons your administrator can add to SharePoint, including restoring a whole folder at once.
Common questions
A file has .html on the end of its name. That is the stub. Open it and use the restore link. See restoring a file.
I deleted the stub by accident. The file is still archived. Your IT team can restore it for you.
How long does a restore take? Usually seconds. Large files can take a minute or two, and files kept in very long-term storage can take up to 24 hours. You do not have to wait - the file appears in SharePoint on its own when it is ready.
Will I lose my version history? No. See version history.
Need help right away? Contact your IT team, or email support@smikar.com.