Delete and restore files in Google Drive

To delete your Google Drive files, move them to the trash. Files in trash will be automatically deleted later on 30 days. You tin can restore files from your trash before the 30-day time window. You can also permanently delete them to empty your trash. If y'all delete, restore, or permanently delete multiple files or folders at once, information technology might have time for you to notice the changes.

Move a file to the trash

To remove a file from your Drive, put it in your trash. The file will stay in your trash for 30 days before being automatically deleted. When you lot put a file in the trash:

  • If you own the file, people yous've shared it with can brand a re-create. Learn how to permanently delete a file.
  • If you lot don't own the file, removing the file from your Drive only removes it for you.

Drive for desktop

When yous sync files  betwixt Google Bulldoze and your estimator, any files y'all put in your trash in one place will be put in the trash everywhere.

Empty your trash

You can permanently delete an private file or empty your entire trash.

  • Afterwards y'all delete a file permanently, anyone you've shared the file volition lose access to it.
  • If yous want others to be able to view the file, y'all can transfer ownership to someone else.

Recover a file from the trash

If there's a file in your trash you want to keep, put it dorsum in "My Bulldoze." If y'all're non the owner of the file and want to apply information technology:

  • Brand a copy of the file.
  • Contact the owner to accept them restore it.

On the web

  1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
  2. On the left, click Trash.
  3. Click the file you want to restore.
  4. At the top, click Restore Restore from trash.
    • Tip:Y'all can sort your trashed files past trashed engagement to detect the oldest or newest files trashed.
  5. You tin can find restored files in their original location. If the original location no longer exists, look in "My Drive."

Drive for desktop

If you lot can withal discover a file you lot trashed in your Bulldoze trash, endeavour restoring information technology from Bulldoze to ensure whatever metadata, like previous revisions, is preserved. If the file is no longer available in your Bulldoze trash, simply is bachelor in your calculator'south Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (MacOS), yous can restore information technology with following instructions.

If you're not the possessor of the file, contact the possessor to take them restore it.

Tip: If yous have important information in a file, you lot can make a re-create of information technology. Open the file and click File and thenMake a re-create.

If y'all tin't recover your deleted file

If yous delete a file and need to get it back, contact a Bulldoze specialist. To find your file, call or conversation with united states of america.

Restore files you deleted

If you deleted something recently using Google Drive or the Google Drive desktop app, you might be able to restore the file yourself.

Restore from your Trash

  1. On a computer, go to bulldoze.google.com/drive/trash.
    • Tip: You tin can sort your trashed files by trashed date to observe the oldest or newest files trashed.
  2. Right-click the file you desire to recover.
  3. Click Restore.
  4. You can notice restored files in their original location. If the original location no longer exists, look in "My Drive."

Find a file you don't think yous deleted

Try these steps

Cheque the activity panel

  1. On a computer, go to drive.google.com.
  2. At the elevation right, click Info Info.
  3. Click "Activity" to bank check the activity panel.
  4. Scroll down and expect for your file.

Utilise an advanced search

  1. On a computer, go to drive.google.com.
  2. In the search bar, click the icon to the far correct.
  3. Use the advanced search options to discover your file. For example, to see spreadsheets, side by side to 'Blazon,' click the downwardly arrow, then click 'Spreadsheets.'

Learn why files go missing

If y'all created the file

If you can't find a file that you lot created in Drive, it might take lost the folder information technology was in. The file still exists, but is harder to find.

How files lose their folder

  • You create a file in someone else's folder and they delete that folder. The file isn't deleted. It's automatically moved to your My Bulldoze.
    Important: Only you can delete the files yous own.
  • You share a binder with someone and they remove your file from the folder. The file isn't deleted, it'southward automatically moved to your My Drive.

Discover unorganized files

  1. On a reckoner, get to drive.google.com.
  2. In the search bar, enter: is:unorganized owner:me
  3. When you find the file, move it to a folder in My Bulldoze so it'southward easier to detect adjacent time.

Search now

If someone else created the file

When someone creates a file, they can delete, rename, and restore it. Contact the person who created the file and ask them to restore information technology or share it with you again.

If it was in a folder someone else created

If someone deleted that folder, you won't see that folder in your Drive anymore.

Find files yous created in deleted folders

Find all files that are in deleted folders

To make that file easier to detect in the future, move information technology into a binder in "My Drive."

More on how to find files

Try advanced search

To refine your search in Drive, use a search phrase on your calculator with one of these options:

Search for Case
Verbal phrase

"Use quotes around an exact phrase"

Exclude a word

Water but not lakes:

water -lakes

File possessor

Files Dad owns:

owner:dad@gmail.com

Files shared by others

Files Mom shared with you:

from:mom@gmail.com

You shared files

Files you shared with Mom:

to:mom@gmail.com

Starred items

is:starred

Deleted items

is:trashed

File blazon

Spreadsheet file type:

blazon:spreadsheet

Fourth dimension frame

Before or afterward January 18, 2015.

earlier:2015-01-xviii

after:2015-01-18

Title

title:"The title goes hither"

App

Files opened in Google Bulldoze:

app:"Drive"

Recovered file types

For personal accounts: Nosotros can help you recover recently deleted files for a limited time afterward they're deleted if yous use Google Bulldoze with a consumer account (and not an account through your work, school, or other grouping) and one of these is true:

  • You created the file.
  • You lot uploaded the file to Google Drive.
  • You accustomed buying of the file from someone.

If your Google Account was deleted, you might not be able to recover your files.

If you demand to recover emails from Gmail

Learn how to recover emails from Gmail.

Contact us

To contact u.s., sign in to your Google Account.

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