Find or recover a file

If you can’t find files in Google Drive, you can use these tips to try to recover them. If you think that someone has accessed your Google Drive without your permission, we recommend taking steps to make your account more secure.

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 bin

On a computer, go to drive.google.com/drive/bin.
- Tip: You can sort your binned files by date deleted to find the oldest or newest files deleted.
Right-click on the file you want to recover.
Click Restore.
You can find restored files in their original location. If the original location no longer exists, look in ‘My Drive’.

Find a file you don't think you deleted

Try these steps

Check the activity panel

On a computer, go to drive.google.com
At the top right, click Info .
Click ‘Activity’ to check the activity panel.
Scroll down and look for your file.

Use an advanced search

On a computer, go to drive.google.com
In the search bar, click the icon to the far right.
Use the advanced search options to find your file. For example, to see spreadsheets, next to 'Type,' click the down arrow, then click 'Spreadsheets'.

Learn why files go missing

If you created the file

If you can’t find a file that you created in Drive, it might have lost the folder it 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 Drive.
Important: Only you can delete the files you own.
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.

Find unorganised files

On a computer, go to drive.google.com
In the search bar, enter: _{is:unorganized owner:me}
When you find the file, move it to a folder in My Drive so it’s easier to find next 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 it or share it with you again.

If it was in a folder that someone else created

If someone has deleted that folder, you won't see the folder in your Drive any more.

Find files you created in deleted folders

Find all files that are in deleted folders

To make that file easier to find in the future, move it into a folder in 'My Drive'.

More on how to find files

Try advanced search

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

Search for	Example
Exact phrase	`"Use quotes around an exact phrase"`
Exclude a word	Water, but not lakes: `water -lakes`
File owner	Files owned by Dad: `owner:dad@gmail.com`
Files shared by others	Files that Mum has shared with you: `from:mum@gmail.com`
You've shared files	Files that you've shared with Mum: `to:mum@gmail.com`
Starred items	`is:starred`
Deleted items	`is:binned`
File type	Spreadsheet file type: `type:spreadsheet`
Time frame	Before or after 18 January 2015. `before:2015-01-18` `after:2015-01-18`
Title	`title:"The title goes here"`
App	Files opened in Google Drive: `app:"Drive"`

Recovered file types

For personal accounts: We can help you recover recently deleted files for a limited time after they’ve been deleted if you use Google Drive with a consumer account (and not an account through your work, school or other group) and one of these is true: