- A
Recreate the user account with the same name, and the data will be automatically restored.
Why wrong: Recreating an account does not restore previously deleted data; the original object must be restored.
- B
Restore the user from the 'Deleted users' page in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
This is the correct method to restore a deleted user and their data within the 30-day soft-delete period.
- C
Use the Exchange admin center to recover the mailbox only.
Why wrong: The Exchange admin center can recover mailboxes only if the user object still exists; it cannot restore the user account itself.
- D
Submit a support request to Microsoft to recover the deleted data.
Why wrong: Support requests are not needed for standard soft-delete recovery; the admin center provides the restore capability.
Quick Answer
The correct method is to restore the user from the 'Deleted users' page in the Microsoft 365 admin center. This works because Microsoft 365 retains deleted user objects, including their Exchange Online mailbox and OneDrive for Business data, for a full 30 days in the 'Deleted users' list. Restoring the user within that retention window automatically recovers both the mailbox and OneDrive content without needing separate recovery tools or support tickets. On the MS-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the 30-day soft-delete retention policy and the difference between restoring a user versus manually recovering data via eDiscovery or PowerShell. A common trap is assuming you need to open a support case or use the Exchange admin center separately, but the admin center restore is the single, correct action. Memory tip: think "30-day safety net" — as long as the deletion happened within the last month, the admin center restore brings everything back in one step.
MS-102 Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant Practice Question
This MS-102 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage a microsoft 365 tenant. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user account was accidentally deleted 10 days ago. The administrator needs to restore the user's mailbox and OneDrive for Business content. Which method should the administrator use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Restore the user from the 'Deleted users' page in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Option B is correct because Microsoft 365 retains deleted user objects, including their Exchange Online mailbox and OneDrive for Business data, for 30 days in the 'Deleted users' list. Restoring the user from this page within the retention period automatically recovers the associated mailbox and OneDrive content without requiring separate tools or support requests.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Recreate the user account with the same name, and the data will be automatically restored.
Why it's wrong here
Recreating an account does not restore previously deleted data; the original object must be restored.
- ✓
Restore the user from the 'Deleted users' page in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Why this is correct
This is the correct method to restore a deleted user and their data within the 30-day soft-delete period.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use the Exchange admin center to recover the mailbox only.
Why it's wrong here
The Exchange admin center can recover mailboxes only if the user object still exists; it cannot restore the user account itself.
- ✗
Submit a support request to Microsoft to recover the deleted data.
Why it's wrong here
Support requests are not needed for standard soft-delete recovery; the admin center provides the restore capability.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the 30-day soft-delete retention with the ability to simply recreate the user account, or they assume that separate admin centers are required for mailbox and OneDrive recovery, when in fact the unified 'Deleted users' restore handles both.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a user is deleted in Microsoft 365, the mailbox is placed in a soft-deleted state in Exchange Online and the OneDrive site is moved to the tenant recycle bin, both retained for 30 days. Restoring the user from the 'Deleted users' page triggers a rehydration process that re-links the original mailbox GUID and OneDrive site ID to the restored user object, ensuring data integrity. This process leverages the Azure AD soft-delete mechanism, which preserves the user's immutable ID and directory objects for the retention window.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this MS-102 question test?
Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant — This question tests Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Restore the user from the 'Deleted users' page in the Microsoft 365 admin center. — Option B is correct because Microsoft 365 retains deleted user objects, including their Exchange Online mailbox and OneDrive for Business data, for 30 days in the 'Deleted users' list. Restoring the user from this page within the retention period automatically recovers the associated mailbox and OneDrive content without requiring separate tools or support requests.
What should I do if I get this MS-102 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This MS-102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MS-102 exam.
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