Data retention clock
Cancelling a business tool starts a clock. Google says Workspace data is deleted and can’t be restored once you cancel, Microsoft 365 deletes it no later than 180 days after cancellation, and a deleted Slack workspace is gone at once. Pick a system and a date to see the deadlines, from each vendor’s own documentation.
Every system at a glance
| System | Clock starts when | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Workspace | Subscription cancelled |
Use the Data Export tool before cancelling: it needs an active subscription and a super admin account at least 30 days old with 2-Step Verification. An export typically takes 72 hours and can take up to 14 days. | Google Workspace Admin Help: Cancel Google WorkspaceGoogle Workspace Admin Help: Export all your organization's data |
| Google Workspace: one user | User account deleted |
To keep a departing user's data, suspend or archive the account instead of deleting it, or transfer their Drive files to another user first. | Google Workspace Admin Help: Delete or remove a user |
| Microsoft 365 | Subscription expires without renewal |
Multi-year enterprise terms run 90 days expired and 90 days disabled instead. If you cancel rather than let it expire, use the next entry. | Microsoft Learn: What if my subscription expires? |
| Microsoft 365: cancelled | Subscription cancelled |
Deleting the subscription yourself deletes SharePoint and OneDrive data at once. Export mailboxes and sites first. | Microsoft Learn: What if my subscription expires? |
| Microsoft 365: one user | User account deleted |
To keep a mailbox without a license, convert it to a shared mailbox (up to 50 GB without a license), or place a hold so it becomes an inactive mailbox before deleting the user. | Microsoft Learn: Restore a userMicrosoft Learn: Convert a user mailbox to a shared mailbox |
| Slack: downgraded to free | Paid workspace moves to the free plan |
Export while still on a paid plan. Free and Pro exports cover public channels; private channels and DMs need Business+ or Enterprise export tools. | Slack Help Center: Usage limits for free workspacesSlack Help Center: Export your workspace data |
| Slack: workspace deleted | Workspace deleted |
Download the export and the files it links to before deleting the workspace: file links can stop working. | Slack Help Center: Delete a workspace |
| Jira and Confluence (Atlassian Cloud) | Paid subscription period ends without renewal |
Create a Jira backup and a Confluence site export from each product's backup manager before the period ends. | Atlassian: Cloud licensingAtlassian Support: Reactivate a subscription |
| Asana | Paid contract expires or is terminated |
Export projects before the contract ends, or send Asana written notice within 30 days. | Asana: Subscriber Terms |
| Zendesk | Account cancelled |
Export tickets, users and organizations while the plan is active. Export options depend on the plan. | Zendesk: Service Data Deletion PolicyZendesk: Can I export data from an expired account? |
| HubSpot | Paid subscription ends |
Export records, activity and files before the renewal date. Export download links expire after 30 days. | HubSpot Knowledge Base: Cancel your HubSpot accountHubSpot: Product-specific termsHubSpot Knowledge Base: Export records |
| Zoom | Paid plan downgraded to free |
Download cloud recordings before downgrading. Recordings of a user deleted without a transfer skip the trash and can't be recovered. | Zoom Support: Cloud recordings after downgradingZoom Support: Recovering deleted cloud recordings |
| Notion | Workspace or account deleted |
Use “Export all workspace content” in Settings before deleting. Notion does not publish what happens to a workspace after a paid plan ends. | Notion Help: Delete your accountNotion Help: Back up your data |
| Box | Business account terminated |
Download or migrate content before the service term ends. Box publishes no fixed deletion day for business accounts. | Box: Regional termsBox Support: Canceling your Box account |
| Dropbox: deleted files | Files deleted on a Standard, Essentials or team plan |
Dropbox does not publish a day for deleting a cancelled team; admins are emailed before a locked team is deleted. Content of deleted team members is lost unless transferred. | Dropbox Help: Data retention policyDropbox Help: Team locked state |
| GitHub: organization deleted | Organization deleted |
Clone or archive every repository, with issues and wikis, before deleting the organization. | GitHub Docs: Deleting an organization account |
| GitHub: repository deleted | Repository deleted |
Clone the repository with all branches and tags before deleting it. | GitHub Docs: Restoring a deleted repository |
| QuickBooks Online | Subscription cancelled |
Export reports, lists and the general ledger while you still have access. | QuickBooks: Cancel and delete data |
| Xero | Subscription ends |
Export everything before the subscription ends: access stops on the day it ends. | Xero: Terms of use |
Cancel in this order
- Export first, while the subscription is active. Some exports, such as Google’s Data Export tool, need an active subscription and can take up to 14 days.
- Check the export opens and covers what you need: private channels, mailboxes of people who have left, attachments.
- Store it outside the tool you are cancelling, with a named owner.
- Cancel, and put the deadlines from this page in a calendar.
Before you delete an archive you no longer need, consider that some AI developers license de-identified copies of company email, chat and documents. What data qualifies.
Questions people ask
Where do these numbers come from?
Only from each vendor’s own help center, admin documentation or terms, linked under every system with the date we read it. We re-check them every quarter. Vendors change these rules, so confirm with the vendor before you act on a date.
Why is Salesforce missing?
Salesforce publishes its post-termination retention in a PDF we could not read in full yet. We add a system only once every value is checked against the vendor’s own text.
Does exporting before cancelling keep everything?
Exports differ by vendor and plan. Slack, for example, exports private channels and DMs only on Business+ and Enterprise. Check what the export covers before you rely on it.
What if the date has already passed?
Contact the vendor at once. Several vendors can reactivate a disabled account or restore a deleted one for a short window, as shown in the table.
Sources
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Cancel Google Workspace
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Export all your organization's data
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Delete or remove a user
- Microsoft Learn: What if my subscription expires?
- Microsoft Learn: Restore a user
- Microsoft Learn: Convert a user mailbox to a shared mailbox
- Slack Help Center: Usage limits for free workspaces
- Slack Help Center: Export your workspace data
- Slack Help Center: Delete a workspace
- Atlassian: Cloud licensing
- Atlassian Support: Reactivate a subscription
- Asana: Subscriber Terms
- Zendesk: Service Data Deletion Policy
- Zendesk: Can I export data from an expired account?
- HubSpot Knowledge Base: Cancel your HubSpot account
- HubSpot: Product-specific terms
- HubSpot Knowledge Base: Export records
- Zoom Support: Cloud recordings after downgrading
- Zoom Support: Recovering deleted cloud recordings
- Notion Help: Delete your account
- Notion Help: Back up your data
- Box: Regional terms
- Box Support: Canceling your Box account
- Dropbox Help: Data retention policy
- Dropbox Help: Team locked state
- GitHub Docs: Deleting an organization account
- GitHub Docs: Restoring a deleted repository
- QuickBooks: Cancel and delete data
- Xero: Terms of use