Delete files in Google Drive

Important: If you delete or permanently delete multiple files or folders at once, it can take time for you to notice the changes.

To delete your Google Drive files, move them to the trash. Files in trash are permanently deleted after 30 days.

To delete your files forever, click Empty trash.

Learn what happens when you delete a file

Learn how to recover a deleted file

Move a file to the trash

To remove a file from your Drive, you can put it in your trash. The file will stay in your trash for 30 days before being automatically deleted.

If you're the owner of the file, others can access it until you permanently delete the file. If you're not the owner, others can access the file even if you empty your trash.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Drive app.
2. Next to the file you want to delete, tap More .
3. At the bottom, tap Remove.

Permanently delete files

Permanently delete an individual file

You can permanently delete an individual file or empty your trash. After you delete a file, anyone you've shared the file with loses access to it. If you want others to still access the file, you can give ownership to someone else.

1. In the upper left, tap Menu .
2. Tap Trash.
3. Next to the file you'd like to delete, tap More .
4. Tap Delete forever.

Permanently delete all files in your trash

1. In the upper left, tap Menu .
2. Tap Trash.
3. Make sure that there are no files that you'll want later.
4. In the top right, tap More .
5. Tap Empty trash.