Removed a document by accident in Google Drive? Find out here how to restore deleted files from Google Drive Trash (and what to do when it has been emptied from the trash).
First, Never Leave Empty-Handed
Are you in the living room headed for the kitchen? In the bathroom, but soon outside? In the library just to pick up a… snack?
Here’s one valuable thing I learned growing up in hotel: never go empty-handed.
Chances are, something from where you are right now should be where you are going. Pick it up, take it with you, and without noticeable effort you have improved your life.
Headed for the Trash in Google Drive? Maybe there’s a file you can restore:
How to Restore Deleted Files from Google Drive Trash
Using a Browser
Time needed: 3 minutes
To restore a document from the Google Drive Trash:
- Open the Trash in Google Drive.
Google Drive keyboard navigation: To open the Trash folder using the keyboard, press
Gfollowed byF, use the arrow keys to select Trash and press Enter.
Google Drive link: You can also navigate to the Google Drive Trash directly in your browser. - Highlight the deleted file you want to recover.
Multiple file restoration: Hold down the Ctrl key (Windows and Linux) or the Command key (on a Mac) to select multiple files and
Shiftto select a range.
Looking for the right file: You can search only Google Drive Trash with the is:trashed operator; add it to the file name, for example, you want to find.
Google Drive Trash search example: Typeis:trashed ladeduto find all documents in the Trash that also match “ladedu”.
Deleted file nowhere to be found: Even if the file is not in the Trash folder any more, you may be albe to recover it; see below. - Click Restore from trash in the toolbar.
Using the keyboard: Press
afor the context menu, select Restore and hit Enter.
Using the Google Drive App for Android and iPhone
To recover a file from the Trash using the Google Drive app:
- Tap the hamburger menu button in Google Drive.
- Select Trash.
- Now tap the three dots menu button for the document you want to recover.
- Select Restore from the context menu.
How to Restore Deleted Files from Google Drive Trash: FAQ
Where will restored files appear? Can I control it?
Documents and files you restore from the Trash will appear
- where you deleted them.
You cannot change this. You can, of course, search for and move the file after restoring it.
The file I need to recover is not in the Trash. Can I get it back? Help!
If you must assume the file has been emptied from the Google Drive Trash, you can attempt to restore it from Google Drive backups:
- Do search (all of) Google Drive for the file. It may have lost its folder or perhaps even its name.
- Ensure the file was in your personal Google Drive account (not a corporate or university account for instance, and not shared with you).
- Do fill out the Google File Recovery form (accessible from Google Drive Help).
Can I restore files from Trash using Google Drive for Windows or Mac?
No.
Google Drive for desktop and Google Backup and Sync do not let you access the Trash directly, so you cannot recover files directly either. Do visit the Google Drive Trash in a browser and restore files there; see above.
(How to restore deleted files from Google Drive “Trash” tested in a desktop browser and with the Google Drive app for iOS 4.2020; updated January 2024)