---
title: Modifying a soft-deleted entry
description: Modify a soft-deleted entry the same as a regular entry using the ldapmodify tool. The entry remains hidden in its soft-deleted state after the change.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_modify_soft_deleted_entry
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_modify_soft_deleted_entry.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
  example: Example:
---

# Modifying a soft-deleted entry

Modify a soft-deleted entry the same as a regular entry using the `ldapmodify` tool. The entry remains hidden in its soft-deleted state after the change.

## About this task

Soft-deleted entries can be modified like any regular entry. The only restriction is that you cannot change the distinguished name (DN) or run a `moddn` operation. To move a soft-deleted entry from one machine to another, use the `move-subtree` command and specify the DN of the soft-deleted entry.

|   |                                                                                                                   |
| - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | To modify a soft-deleted entry, the user needs the `soft-delete-read` privilege to access the soft-deleted entry. |

## Steps

* To modify a soft-deleted entry, run the `ldapmodify` command and specify the soft-deleted DN.

  ### Example:

  ```shell
  $ bin/ldapmodify
  dn: entryUUID=4e9b7847-edcb-3791-b11b-7505f4a55af4+uid=user.1,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
  changetype:modify
  replace:telephoneNumber
  telephoneNumber: +1 390 103 6918
  # Processing MODIFY request for entryUUID=4e9b7847-edcb-3791-b11b-7505f4a55af4+uid=user.1,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
  # MODIFY operation successful for DN entryUUID=4e9b7847-edcb-3791-b11b-7505f4a55af4+uid=user.1,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
  ```