Delete and restore files in Google Drive

To delete your Google Drive files, move them to the bin. Files in your bin will be automatically deleted after 30 days. You can restore files from your bin before the 30-day time window. You can also permanently delete them to empty your bin. If you delete, restore or permanently delete multiple files or folders at once, it might take time for you to notice the changes. 

Move a file to the bin

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

• If you own the file, people with whomyou’ve shared it can make a copy. Learn how to permanently delete a file.
• If you don't own the file, removing the file from your Drive only removes it for you.

 

On the web

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. Click a file.
3. Click Remove .

Drive for desktop

If you mirror or stream files between Google Drive and your computer, any files that you put in the bin are put in the bin everywhere.
Important: If you back up to Google Photos, only photos and videos will be uploaded. Changes (including deleting images) won't sync between your computer and Google Photos.

Empty your bin

You can permanently delete an individual file or empty your entire bin.

• After you have deleted a file permanently, anyone that you've shared the file with will lose access to it.
• If you want others to be able to view the file, you can transfer ownership to someone else.

Empty your entire bin

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. On the left, click Bin.
3. Make sure that there are no files that you want to keep.
4. At the top right, click Empty bin. 

Tip: If you can't see 'Empty bin', at the top next to the bin, click the down arrow   Empty bin. 

Delete an individual file forever

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. On the left, click Bin.
3. Click a file.
4. At the top, click Delete forever .

 

Recover a file from the bin

If there's a file in your bin that you want to keep, put it back in 'My Drive'. If you're not the owner of the file and want to use it:

• Make a copy of the file.
• Contact the owner to have them restore it.

On the web

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. On the left, click Bin.
3. Click the file that you want to restore.
4. At the top, click restore .
   • Tip: You can sort your deleted files by date deleted to find the oldest or newest files deleted. 
5. You can find restored files in their original location. If the original location no longer exists, look in 'My Drive'.

Drive for desktop

If you can still find a file that you have deleted in your Drive bin, try restoring it from Drive to ensure that any metadata, like previous revisions, is preserved. If the file is no longer available in your Drive bin but is available in your computer's Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (MacOS), you can restore it with the following instructions.  

If you're not the owner of the file, contact the owner to have them restore it.

Tip: If you have important information in a file, you can make a copy of it. Open the file and click File  Make a copy.

If you can't recover your deleted file

If you delete a file and need to get it back, contact a Drive specialist. To find your file, call or chat with us.

Restore a file from the Google Drive bin

1. Go to drive.google.com
2. On the left, click Bin.
   • All your deleted files are listed in 'Bin'.
   • To find out how long ago files were added to the 'Bin', you can sort files by their 'Binned date'.
3. To restore a file:
   1. Right-click the file.
   2. Click Restore.

Tip: Deleted files are stored in the bin for 30 days before they're deleted forever.

Recover a permanently deleted file

It may be possible to recover your files even if they were deleted forever, if you are:

1. Certain that your files were deleted forever within the past 25 days.
2. The owner of the files.

You're the owner if:

• You created the file or folder in your Google Drive account.
• You uploaded the file or folder to Google Drive.
• You accepted ownership of the file from the original owner.

Contact us

To contact us, sign in to your Google Account.

Drive support is not available in all languages. If you speak English, you can change your language and contact a Drive specialist.

1. On your computer, go to the Google Drive Help Centre.
2. At the bottom of the page, click your language.
3. Choose English.
4. In the top left, click Menu  Contact us.
5. Choose your issue and how you'd like to contact us.

Note: When you've finished, you can change your language back to your preferred language.

For more help, learn how to delete and restore files in Google Drive.