Fix “A compliance policy is currently blocking this site deletion” Error in SharePoint Online

Problem: When trying to delete a SharePoint Online site collection, getting an error message “Can’t Delete Site: A compliance policy is currently blocking this site deletion”.

Also, in the SharePoint Admin center, we get an intimation saying, “This site has a compliance policy set to block deletion.” 

Root Cause: This is because of the retention policy enabled for the site you want to delete! This means that the site is being retained for legal or business reasons, and cannot be deleted until the retention period has expired or the hold has been removed.

Solution: Exclude SharePoint Online Site from Retention Policy!

To delete a site collection, we should exclude it from retention policies. Follow these steps to exclude a site collection from the retention policy in SharePoint Online.

1. Login to Microsoft 365 admin center
2. Open the Compliance Admin Center (If you don’t find it, click on “All Admin Centers” on the left side menu and open the “Compliance” link)
3. In Compliance Admin Center, expand “Policies” from the left-hand navigation menu bar >> Open the “Retention” link.
4. Find the Retention policy which is protecting SharePoint, or there may be a rule protecting everything in Microsoft 365, depending on your settings.
5. Double-click on that retention rule >> Click on the “Edit” button next to “Applies to content in these locations” >> Click on “Exclude Sites” >> Add the site to delete in the exclude list.

   

6. Wait for some time (10 to 60 min) for the status to turn: On – Success.

   

7. Now, try to delete the site! This time it should proceed without any errors.

Other than the retention policy, this could be due to the eDiscovery hold policy as well! SharePoint Online: How to Exclude a Site from eDiscovery Hold?