Delete and restore files in Google Drive

To delete your Google Bulldoze files, move them to the trash. Files in trash will be automatically deleted after 30 days. You lot can restore files from your trash before the 30-day time window. You can too permanently delete them to empty your trash. If you delete, restore, or permanently delete multiple files or folders at in one case, it might take fourth dimension for you lot to notice the changes.

Put a file in trash

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

If y'all're the owner of the file, others can view it until yous permanently delete the file. If you're not the owner, others can run across the file even if you empty your trash.

  1. On your Android telephone or tablet, open the Google Bulldoze app.
  2. At the bottom right, tap Files Files.
  3. Adjacent to the file you lot want to delete, tap MoreMoreand thenRemove.

Empty your trash

You can permanently delete an individual file or empty your entire trash. After deleting a file, anyone you lot've shared the file with will lose access to it. If you desire others to exist able to still view the file, yous can give ownership to someone else.

  1. In the upper left, tap Bill of fare Menuand thenTrash.
  2. Side by side to the file you'd similar to delete, tap MoreMoreand then  Delete forever.

Empty your unabridged trash

To empty your entire trash, go to drive.google.com on a computer.

Recover a file from trash

If yous put a file in your trash only decide that y'all however desire it, you can put information technology back in your Bulldoze.

  1. In the upper left, tap Carte Menuand thenTrash.
  2. Side by side to the file you'd like to save, tap MoreMoreand thenRestore.

Note: If yous're not the owner of the file, contact the owner to take them restore information technology.

If yous tin can't recover your deleted file

If yous delete a file and demand to become it back, contact a Drive specialist. To notice your file, call or chat with usa.

Y'all deleted something and desire information technology back

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. Open your Google Drive App.
  2. Tap the file you'd like to recover.
  3. TapRestore.

You can't observe something & you don't recall you deleted information technology

Try these steps

Cheque the action panel

  1. Open your Google Bulldoze App
  2. On the left, tapMy Drive.
  3. At the top right, tap InfoInfo.
  4. Curl downward and look for your file.

Try an avant-garde search

  1. Open your Google Drive App.
  2. In the search bar, tap the icon to the far right.
  3. Employ the advanced search options to find your file, like "blazon:spreadsheets."

If the steps above didn't assist, consider these special cases:

If y'all created the file

If yous created a file in Drive and can't find information technology, information technology may be orphaned. An orphaned file might have lost all of its parent folders. 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'south automatically moved to your My Bulldoze.
    Important: But yous tin delete the files you ain.
  • You share a folder with someone and they remove your file from the folder. The file isn't deleted, it's automatically moved to your My Drive.

Observe your orphaned files

  1. In the Bulldoze search field, enter: is:unorganized possessor:me
  2. When you find the file, movement it to a folder in My Bulldoze and then information technology's easier to observe adjacent time.

Search at present

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 enquire them to restore it or share information technology with y'all over again.

If it was in a folder someone else created

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

Find files you created that are in deleted folders

Find all files that are in deleted folders

To make that file easier to discover in the hereafter, elevate it into a folder in "My Drive."

More on how to detect files

Did you endeavour advanced search?

To refine your search in Bulldoze, open Drive on a computer and use a search phrase with one of these options:

Search for Example
Exact phrase

"Use quotes around an exact phrase"

Ane or another

tacosOR nachos

Exclude a discussion

Water but non lakes:

h2o-lakes

File owner

Files Dad owns:

owner:dad@gmail.com
They shared files

Files Mom shared with you lot:

from:mom@gmail.com
Y'all shared files

Files you shared with Mom:

to:mom@gmail.com
Starred items

is:starred

Deleted items

is:trashed

File type

Spreadsheet file type:

type:spreadsheet

Fourth dimension frame

Before or after January 18, 2015.

before:2015-01-18

later on:2015-01-18
Title

championship:"The title goes here"
App

Files opened in Google Drive:

app:"Drive"

Which files can be recovered?

Nosotros tin assistance you recover recently deleted files for a express time if you lot utilise Google Drive with a consumer account (and not an account through your work, schoolhouse, or other grouping) AND ane of these is truthful:

  • Yous created the file.
  • You uploaded the file to Google Drive.
  • You accustomed ownership of the file from someone.

If you lot use an business relationship through your work, school, or other group, contact your administrator for help.

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

If y'all think that someone accessed your Google Bulldoze without your permission, we recommend taking steps to brand your account more secure.

If you need to recover mails from Gmail

Learn how to recover emails from Gmail.

Contact us

To contact us, sign in to your Google Account.

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