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.
Put a file in bin
To remove a file from your Drive, you can put it in your bin. The file will stay in your bin for 30 days before being automatically deleted.
If you're the owner of the file, others can view it until you permanently delete the file. If you're not the owner, others can see the file even if you empty your bin.
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Drive app.
- At the bottom right, tap Files .
- Next to the file that you want to delete, tap More Remove.
Empty your bin
You can permanently delete an individual file or empty your entire bin. After deleting a file, anyone who you've shared the file with will lose access to it. If you want others to be able to still view the file, you can give ownership to someone else.
- In the upper left, tap Menu Bin.
- Next to the file that you'd like to delete, tap More Delete forever.
Empty your entire bin
To empty your entire bin, go to drive.google.com on a computer.
Recover a file from bin
If you put a file in your bin but decide that you still want it, you can put it back in your Drive.
- In the upper left, tap Menu Bin.
- Next to the file you'd like to save, tap More Restore.
Note: If you're not the owner of the file, contact the owner to have them restore it.
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.
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
- Open your Google Drive app.
- Next to the file that you want to recover, tap Menu
- Tap Restore.
Try these steps
Check the activity panel
- Open your Google Drive app
- At the bottom right, tap Files.
- At the upper left, tap My Drive.
- Scroll down and look for your file.
Try an advanced search
- Open your Google Drive app.
- Use the advanced search options to find your file, like 'type:spreadsheets'.
If these didn't help, consider these cases:
If you created the file
If you created a file in Drive and can't find it, it 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'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 your orphaned files
- In the Drive search field, 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.
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 find that folder in your Drive any more.
Find files you created that are in deleted folders
Find all files that are in deleted folders
To make the file easier to find in the future, drag it into a folder in 'My Drive'.
More on how to find files
Have you tried an advanced search?To refine your search in Drive, 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" |
One or another |
tacos OR nachos |
Exclude a word |
Water, but not lakes: water -lakes |
File owner |
Files owned by Dad: owner:dad@gmail.com |
They've shared files |
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: |
We can help you recover recently deleted files for a limited time if you use Google Drive with a consumer account (and not a work, school or other group account) AND one of these is true:
- You created the file.
- You uploaded the file to Google Drive.
- You accepted ownership of the file from someone.
If you use an account through your work, school or other group, contact your administrator for help.
If your Google Account has been deleted, you might not be able to recover your files.
If you think that someone has accessed your Google Drive without your permission, we recommend taking steps to make your account more secure.
To narrow down the list of files in Drive, you can use search chips:
- On your Android device, open the Google Drive app.
- At the top, tap Search Drive.
- Tap to select a search chip. You can select:
- Type
- Folders
- Modified: Today, Yesterday, Last seven days
- After you tap on the chip, you can further narrow your results: type in the search bar.
- Tap Search.
These chips appear below the search bar. They will search all files, folders and subfolders. To remove a search chip, on the right of the chip, tap .
As you enter your search, you'll find suggestions to select relevant chips that can reduce the need to enter long text.
If you need to recover mails from Gmail
Learn how to recover emails from Gmail.
Contact us
To request file recovery, you need to use a computer.
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.
- On your computer, go to the Google Drive Help Centre.
- At the bottom of the page, click your language.
- Choose English.
- In the top left, click Menu Contact us.
- 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.