Managing files on Google Drive is essential for productivity, but sometimes files get deleted unintentionally. Whether you’re using Google Drive on a PC, Mac, Android, or iOS, understanding how to access the Trash folder and recover deleted items is crucial.
This guide will walk you through each method step-by-step to help you find and restore your lost files, including documents, photos, and videos. We’ll also cover how to search for specific file types like PDFs or videos within Google Drive.
How to Access Google Drive Trash on a PC or Mac
Accessing Google Drive Trash on a PC or Mac via your browser lets you recover deleted files easily. This method is particularly useful if you accidentally delete important documents, photos, or videos and need to restore them quickly.
- Open Google Drive in Your Browser
Open your preferred web browser and navigate to Google Drive. Make sure you’re logged into your account. If you are currently using Google Docs or another Google Workspace app like Sheets, you can switch to Google Drive via the menu.
- Click “Drive” from the Google Docs, Sheets, etc. menu
- Navigate to the Trash Folder
Once you’re in Google Drive, look for the “Trash” option in the left-hand menu. Click on “Trash” to open the folder where deleted files are stored. In the Trash folder, browse through the list of deleted files. You can sort the files by date to make it easier to find recently deleted items. You can click on “Empty trash” to delete all files there permanently.
- Confirm Deletion
A confirmation dialog will appear to ensure you want to restore or permanently delete the files. Confirm your choice to complete the process.
- Restore Deleted Files in Google Drive Trash
To restore a file, right-click on it and select “Restore“. This will move the file back to its original location in Google Drive. If you want to permanently delete a file, select “Delete forever“.
How to Access Google Drive Trash on the Android App
Accessing the Trash folder in the Google Drive Android app is straightforward and allows you to recover deleted files directly from your mobile device.
- Open the Google Drive App
Launch the Google Drive app on your Android device and tap on the three horizontal lines (Menu) in the top-left corner of the screen to open the navigation menu.
- Navigate to the Trash Folder
In the navigation menu, tap on “Trash” to view all deleted files.
- Manage Deleted Files
Tap on a file in the Trash folder to open options for restoring or permanently deleting it.
- Choose Restore or Delete
Select “Restore” to recover the file, or “Delete forever” to remove it permanently.
How to Access Google Drive Trash on the iOS App
The steps to access and manage the Trash folder on the iOS app are similar to Android, with slight variations due to the iOS interface.
1. Open the Google Drive App
Start by opening the Google Drive app on your iPhone or iPad and log into your account.
2. Open the Navigation Menu
Tap on the Menu icon in the top-left corner to reveal the navigation options.
3. Go to Trash
Tap “Trash” to access the folder containing your deleted files.
4. Restore or Delete Files
Select the file you want to recover or permanently delete. Use the options provided to “Restore” the file to its original location or “Delete forever“.
How to Find and Undelete Recently Deleted Files on Google Workspace Apps Like Drive, Sheets, Slides
Google Workspace apps such as Drive, Sheets, and Slides offer an easy way to recover recently deleted files using the “Activity” feature.
- Open Google Drive and Access Activity
Log in to Google Drive and select “My Drive“. Click on the “Info” icon (i) in the upper right corner to open the “Activity” panel.
- Review File Activity
In the “Activity” panel, you can see a log of recent activities. Look for actions indicating that a file was deleted. - Restore Files
If you find the file you need, right-click on it and select “View in folder“. Then, choose the option to “Restore” the file from the Trash.
How to Search for Files on Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms and for Filetypes like Videos or PDFs
Google Drive’s search functionality makes it easy to locate specific files, whether they are documents, spreadsheets, or even videos and PDFs.
- Use the Search Bar
At the top of Google Drive, use the search bar to type the name of the file you are looking for. You can also use keywords related to the content of the file.
- Apply Search Filters
Click the filter button in the search bar to filter search results by filetype and their respective Google Workspace app of origin. Click on “Advanced search” to filter results even more.
- Apply Advanced Search Filters
You can filter by file type, owner, date, words, and more. After applying the filters, browse the search results to find the specific file.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Google Drive
Can I recover files deleted from Google Drive after emptying the trash?
Once the trash in Google Drive is emptied, files are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered through Google Drive’s standard features. However, you may consider using third-party data recovery software tailored for cloud storage. The effectiveness of such tools varies and typically they do not guarantee recovery, especially because cloud storage data may not be physically present on your device.
How long do files stay in Google Drive’s trash before they are permanently deleted?
Files remain in the Google Drive trash for 30 days. During this period, you can restore them at any time. After 30 days, files are permanently deleted automatically by Google Drive, making recovery through normal methods impossible.
Can I restore a deleted Google Drive file from one device to another?
Yes, restoring files from Google Drive’s trash can be done from any device with internet access and logged into the same Google account. Google Drive synchronizes your data across all devices, so actions taken on one device reflect on all others.
What happens if I accidentally delete a shared file from Google Drive?
When a shared file is deleted, it moves to the trash of the user who deleted it, while remaining accessible to others with whom it is shared until permanently deleted or the trash is emptied. To ensure minimal disruption, communicate with other users and restore the shared file from your trash if necessary.
Is there a way to lock a file in Google Drive to prevent accidental deletion?
While Google Drive does not provide a lock function specifically for preventing deletions, you can prevent accidental deletions by adjusting sharing settings. Restrict editing rights and provide view-only access to users who do not need to modify the file content.
What if the Activity log doesn’t show my deleted file in Google Drive?
If a file deletion does not appear in the Activity log, it might be because the deletion occurred over 30 days ago, or the activities around the file weren’t logged due to either a setting or an error. It’s also possible the file was deleted by someone with edit access, who may not have their actions visible to you depending on your access level.
How effective is third-party recovery software for retrieving files deleted from Google Drive?
The effectiveness of third-party recovery software for files deleted from cloud services like Google Drive varies widely and may depend on many factors including how the data was deleted and the time elapsed since deletion. It’s important to understand these tools often require technical know-how and aren’t officially supported or guaranteed by Google.
Can administrators recover permanently deleted files for their users in a Google Workspace environment?
In a Google Workspace environment, administrators have the capacity to recover files deleted from a user’s trash within 25 days using the admin console. This gives administrators a brief window to restore important files even after they’re removed from the user’s trash.
What measures can I take to prevent accidental deletion of important files in Google Drive?
Regular backups are crucial. Consider setting up routine backups to an external drive or another cloud storage service. Additionally, use the version history feature in Google Drive, which allows you to revert to earlier versions of documents.
Are there specific browser requirements for recovering files from Google Drive via the web?
Google Drive can be accessed through any modern internet browser; however, Google recommends using the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari for the best performance and additional security features to ensure smooth restoration processes.
Is it possible to search for non-text files such as images or videos in Google Drive?
Yes, Google Drive supports searching for all file types, including non-text files like images or videos, by using keywords, file names, or applying filters such as file type or owner during your search. You can also use the advanced search options to narrow down your search significantly.
Can I see who deleted a file from Google Drive?
Users who have viewing or editing permissions can view the file’s Activity log to track who deleted it, provided they deleted it within the visibility limits set by Google Drive’s activity tracking, which includes recent changes, deletions, or modifications.
How can I ensure that my important files are never lost even if I delete them accidentally?
Consistently back up your files and utilize services with file versioning. Setting reminders to perform regular backups and using cloud services that store zonal redundant copies of your data can drastically reduce the risk of file loss. Use versioning to go back to previous file versions if an unwanted change or deletion happens.
What do I do if my entire Google Drive needs to be restored to a previous state?
Google support may help in some cases of extensive loss or corruption. For enterprise users, it’s often quicker to refer to company IT support first. Regular snapshots and backups can also mitigate disasters, yet native options for full-drive rollbacks are limited outside of enterprise solutions.
How can I recover a file deleted from Google Drive if I don’t remember its exact name?
Search the Trash using criteria like the file type, modification date, or the date it was trashed if you remember. This broader search can help locate files when exact details are unclear. Use filters to narrow down the results efficiently.
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