> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.hoopai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Restore deleted contacts

> How to recover accidentally deleted contacts in HoopAI — undo delete, restore from trash, and what data is recoverable.

Accidentally deleted contacts can often be recovered — but time limits apply. Here is how to restore contacts and what to expect.

***

## Undo bulk delete (within seconds)

When you bulk-delete contacts, an **Undo** toast notification appears at the bottom of the screen for a few seconds. Click **Undo** immediately to reverse the action.

<Warning>
  The Undo option disappears after a few seconds. If you miss it, you will need to use the trash/restore method below.
</Warning>

***

## Restore from trash

Deleted contacts are moved to the trash and retained for a limited period.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Contacts">
    Navigate to **Contacts** from the main navigation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the trash">
    Click the **Trash** or **Deleted Contacts** filter in the contact list sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find the contact(s)">
    Search or scroll to find the contacts you want to restore.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restore">
    Select the contacts and click **Restore**. The contacts are moved back to your active contact list with their data intact.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Bulk restore

To restore multiple contacts at once:

1. Go to the Trash view
2. Select all contacts you want to restore (use the checkbox at the top to select all)
3. Click **Restore Selected**
4. Confirm the action

***

## What gets recovered

| Data                                               | Recovered?                                                           |
| -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Contact fields (name, email, phone, custom fields) | Yes                                                                  |
| Tags                                               | Yes                                                                  |
| Notes                                              | Yes                                                                  |
| Conversation history                               | Yes                                                                  |
| Opportunities linked to the contact                | Depends — may need manual re-linking                                 |
| Workflow enrollments                               | No — workflows must be re-triggered                                  |
| Appointments                                       | Past appointments are retained; future appointments may be cancelled |
| Tasks                                              | Yes                                                                  |

***

## What is lost permanently

* **Workflow history and active enrollments** — the contact is not re-enrolled in any workflows they were in before deletion
* **Appointment bookings** — future appointments created by the contact may have been cancelled at deletion
* **Integration sync data** — data synced to third-party tools (Zapier, Google Sheets) is not automatically restored

***

## Time limits

| Scenario                 | Recovery window                                      |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Undo toast (bulk delete) | \~5–10 seconds                                       |
| Restore from trash       | Up to 30 days                                        |
| After 30 days in trash   | Permanently deleted — not recoverable                |
| Deleted via API          | Check trash immediately — same 30-day window applies |

<Note>
  Time limits may vary based on your plan. Check with HoopAI support if you need to recover contacts older than 30 days.
</Note>

***

## Prevention tips

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Use smart lists instead of deleting">
    Instead of deleting inactive contacts, move them to a "Do Not Contact" smart list or apply a tag. This preserves the data while keeping them out of active campaigns.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Restrict delete permissions">
    In **Settings → My Staff**, restrict the "Delete Contacts" permission to admin users only.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Export before bulk operations">
    Before any bulk delete, export the contacts to CSV first. This gives you a backup to re-import if needed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Use DND instead of deleting">
    If a contact asks to stop receiving messages, set their DND status instead of deleting. This maintains compliance records.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>