# Recover Deleted Notes using History feature

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/recover-deleted-notes-using-history-feature/37985>\
**Category:** Lounge\
**Created:** [6 May 2024 11:16 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/recover-deleted-notes-using-history-feature/37985 "2024-05-06T11:16:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LeoW](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/leow/32/22171_2.png) [@LeoW](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/LeoW)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2024 11:16 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/recover-deleted-notes-using-history-feature/37985/1 "2024-05-06T11:16:47Z")

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Every **accidentally delete a note, or many notes?**

Make sure History is enabled in General Options first. This is required. Mine is set for 90 days.

You will need this tool, **SQLite studio** for your platform:

> **[GitHub - pawelsalawa/sqlitestudio: A free, open source, multi-platform SQLite...](https://github.com/pawelsalawa/sqlitestudio?tab=readme-ov-file)**
>
> A free, open source, multi-platform SQLite database manager. - pawelsalawa/sqlitestudio

I tested the Windows Portable version and it worked!

In Joplin, **if you accidentally delete a note, it doesn't go into a recycling bin,** but there is a way to retrieve it. You can use the `restoreNoteRevision` command to recover deleted notes, provided you have the note history feature enabled and are within the configured keep period. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:

1. **Open your Joplin profile directory** : Go to `Help > Open Profile Directory` in Joplin.

2. **Locate the `database.sqlite` file** : Make a copy of this file as a backup.

3. **Use a SQLite database browser** : Open the copied `database.sqlite` file with a tool like **SQLiteStudio**. **Highly recommended!!**

4. **Find your deleted note** : In the `revisions` table, sort by either updated\_time or `created_time` to find your most recent changes. You can sort in Asc or Dec order. There is also a great search box that will find all notes with the word "lion" for example.  
"title\_diff" and body\_diff" will contain the actual note data.

5. **Identify the note** : Look for the `item_id` of the deleted note in the `revisions` table.

6. **Restore the note** : In Joplin, open the Command Palette (`Ctrl + Shift + P` on Windows/Linux or `Cmd + Shift + P` on macOS) and type `restoreNoteRevision` followed by a space and the `item_id` you found.

7. **Check the 'Restored Notes' notebook** : Your note should now be in a new notebook named 'Restored Notes'.

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**Author:** ![dpoulton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/dpoulton/32/29723_2.png) [@dpoulton](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/dpoulton)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2024 12:15 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/recover-deleted-notes-using-history-feature/37985/2 "2024-05-06T12:15:59Z")

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> [@LeoW](#):
>
> In Joplin, **if you accidentally delete a note, it doesn't go into a recycling bin**

Just for the information of those that may not be that confident with delving into a SQLite database:

- From version 3.x Joplin does have a "Trash" folder. Joplin 3.x is currently available as a [pre-release](https://github.com/laurent22/joplin/releases) and is due to be made a full release in the [first week of July 2024](https://joplinapp.org/help/about/release_cycle/).

- For those that use the Backup plugin included with Joplin there is also a method to restore a single note from a backup detailed on the [Plugin's GitHub page](https://github.com/JackGruber/joplin-plugin-backup/blob/master/README.md#restore-a-singel-note).

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**Author:** ![LeoW](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/leow/32/22171_2.png) [@LeoW](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/LeoW)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2024 12:31 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/recover-deleted-notes-using-history-feature/37985/3 "2024-05-06T12:31:09Z")

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> [@dpoulton](#):
>
> due to be made a full release in the [first week of July 2024](https://joplinapp.org/help/about/release_cycle/).

THANK YOU!

This will definitely be the preferred method.

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**Author:** ![dpoulton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/dpoulton/32/29723_2.png) [@dpoulton](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/dpoulton)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2024 12:42 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/recover-deleted-notes-using-history-feature/37985/4 "2024-05-06T12:42:42Z")

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> [@LeoW](#):
>
> THANK YOU!

Don't thank me I am just the messenger 🙂

From what I can gather when @laurent asked earlier this year, "What do you want for 2024?", a trash / recycle bin was quite a popular response.

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/1/c/1c948e33314e232a0927789508474d8624f4270b.png) [@system](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2026 12:43 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/recover-deleted-notes-using-history-feature/37985/5 "2026-05-06T12:43:14Z")

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