First, check whether the item is archived
Archived and deleted are different states. Square says archived items keep their item data and stock history and can be unarchived later. Check the archived-item filter in your Square Item Library before treating the item as permanently deleted.
Follow Square's current steps in Archive items with Square for Retail.
If it was deleted, collect the setup before recreating it
Square's accepted guidance says a deleted item cannot currently be restored and must be recreated. Before rebuilding it, collect one dependable reference so you do not introduce a second set of changes.
- Stop other catalog edits and integrations temporarily.
- Record the old name, description, variations, SKUs, prices, pricing types, categories, taxes, modifier lists, and location availability.
- Check recent receipts, menus, and any native Square export made before deletion when no catalog history exists.
- Recreate the item in Square, then verify every location and sales channel before resuming edits.
See the accepted response in Square's deleted-item recovery discussion.
Where CatalogTrail helps
If CatalogTrail recorded the item before it was deleted, its item history keeps the last recorded setup and the sequence of supported changes. You can inspect that record in the app or download a reference spreadsheet and technical JSON reference while recreating the item manually.
Prevent the same problem next time
Prefer Square's archive action when an item might be needed later. Before a bulk change, also make a native Square export and store it with the date and purpose. CatalogTrail complements those safeguards by keeping an automatic, read-only record of supported Item Library changes after connection.