How to Delete and Restore (Recover) Files on Google Drive?

Google Drive is the cloud storage service on offer from Google, and anyone with a Google account gets one. Now the storage on this cloud service is not...

Sagar Choudhury

Last updated on January 21, 2023

Sagar Choudhury

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A techno freak who loves new gadgets and always keen to know about the latest games and everything happening in and around the technology world. He has a massive interest in Android and streaming devices.

How to delete and restore files in Google Drive?

When you delete a file in Google Drive, it is moved to the trash folder. If it stays in the trash folder for 30 days, it is automatically deleted permanently from your drive. Until it is automatically removed from the trash folder, you have the option to restore it. So here we will see how you can move a file to the trash folder or restore it from it.

Move files to the trash in Google drive:

Moving the file to the trash folder is the first thing you need to do, even if you intend to remove the file from your drive completely. A file can be completely deleted or removed from the drive only after moving to the trash folder.

If someone has shared the file with you, then the file will be deleted only from your drive; that is, it will be moved to the trashed only in your drive.

For Computer:

Open up a browser and go to drive.google.com.
If you have not signed in to your Google account already, then sign in.
Right-click on the file you want to remove from your drive.
Select Remove.

You can even use the Backup and Sync app available for desktops to delete a file from your drive, but in that case, you will have to delete that file just like how you normally delete any file on your computer. You have to move the file in Backup and Sync to the trash or recycle bin on your PC. And you can then remove it from there.

For Android:

Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
Tap on files in the bottom right corner.
Then find the file you want to move to trash and tap on the three-dot icon next to it.
Then select Remove.

For iPad and iPhone:

Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone or iPad.
Then find the file you want to move to trash and tap on the three-dot icon next to it.
Then select Remove.

Delete files from trash:

For Computer:

You can either choose to clear everything from the trash or selectively delete the files that you want to remove.

To empty the entire trash,

Go to drive.google.com on your browser.
Click on the Trash folder on the left side.
Then click on the empty trash option in the top right corner.

To empty a particular file from the trash,

Go to drive.google.com on your browser.
Click on the Trash folder on the left side.
Click the file you want to delete and click on the remove icon in the top right corner.
Then choose “Delete Forever,” and you are done.

For Android:

Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
Tap on the menu icon(three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select Trash.
Then tap on the three-dot icon next to the file that you want to delete permanently and select “Delete forever.”

For iPad and iPhone:

To empty the entire trash,

Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on the menu icon(three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select Trash.
Then tap on the three-dot icon at the top right corner and choose “Empty Trash.”

To empty a particular file from the trash,

Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone.
Tap on the menu icon(three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select Trash.
Then tap on the three-dot icon next to the file that you want to delete permanently and select “Delete forever.”

Restore files from the trash:

You can restore a file only if it is there in the trash folder. If the file has been removed from the trash folder, then you can not restore it. You will have to use other means to restore it then.

For Computer:

Open up a browser and go to drive.google.com.
Click on the Trash folder icon on the left side.
Right-click on the file that you want to restore.
Select the option Restore.

Now, if you have deleted a file from Backup & Sync on your Windows or Mac system, then you will have to get it back from the recycle bin or trash folder on your PC. Just open up your recycling bin or trash, right-click on the file you want to restore, and choose the “Restore” option.

For Android:

Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
Tap on the menu icon(three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select Trash.
Then tap on the three-dot icon next to the file that you want to restore to your drive and select “Restore.”

For iPad and iPhone:

Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone.
Tap on the menu icon(three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select Trash.
Then tap on the three-dot icon next to the file that you want to restore to your drive and select “Restore.”

So that is how you can delete and restore files on Google drive. If you have any questions or queries about this guide, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more useful information.

How to Delete and Restore (Recover) Files on Google Drive?

How to delete and restore files in Google Drive?

Move files to the trash in Google drive:

For Computer:

For Android:

For iPad and iPhone:

Delete files from trash:

For Computer:

For Android:

For iPad and iPhone:

Restore files from the trash:

For Computer:

For Android:

For iPad and iPhone:

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