If a deleted file is still in Google Drive Trash, restore it there: on the web, open Google Drive, select Trash, right-click the file, and choose Restore. Google keeps items in Trash for 30 days before deleting them forever. If it is no longer there, act promptly: recovery may be possible in some cases, but Google does not promise that every permanently deleted file can be restored.
Restore a file from Google Drive Trash
First make sure you are signed in to the Google Account where the file was stored. Personal, work, and school accounts have separate Drive contents, so check each relevant account if you use more than one.
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- On the web: Go to drive.google.com and select Trash in the left navigation.
- Find the file. Right-click it and choose Restore. Google’s Drive Help says items remain in Trash for 30 days; after that, they are deleted forever.
- In the Android app: Open the menu next to the file in Trash and tap Restore.
Restoring returns the file to Drive; if you do not see it where you expect, search Drive and check its original folder or other likely locations.
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How to find a file that seems deleted
A missing file is not always permanently deleted. It may be in another account, moved, unorganized, or inaccessible because sharing changed.
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Check Drive activity and search for unorganized files
In My Drive, open the information panel and select Activity to look for recent moves or deletion activity. You can also search Drive for is:unorganized. If the file appears, move it into a folder in My Drive.
Check ownership and shared access
If someone else owns the file, it may have been removed only from your Drive, or the owner may have changed its location or permissions. Ask the owner to check whether the file still exists and whether you still have access. A missing shared file does not by itself prove the owner deleted it.
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Can I restore a permanently deleted file?
Possibly, but recovery is not guaranteed. Google says some permanently deleted Drive files may qualify for recovery, without stating a universal post-deletion window or promising that a particular file can be restored. If you emptied Trash or the file aged out, contact Google through its Drive file recovery help as soon as possible.
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Google Drive Help Community volunteer replies from 2025 mention a possible 25-day period after a file is removed from Trash for requesting recovery. Treat that as community guidance, not an official current guarantee: the primary help page does not establish that window. Do not wait for the 25th day to ask.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
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Recover permanently deleted files from the last thirty days
The 30-day period applies to files that are still in Drive Trash: restore them directly from Trash during that period. It is not a guarantee that a file can be recovered for 30 days after Trash is emptied. Once it is permanently deleted, contact Google promptly; the exact eligibility and recovery time are not established as a universal rule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do for a work or school account
Contact your organization’s Google Drive administrator promptly if a file in a Workspace account has been permanently deleted or is missing from Trash. The administrator is the appropriate organizational contact, but restoration limits and a specific administrator recovery window are not established here. If the file is merely missing, also ask the owner or relevant colleagues whether it was moved or whether your access changed.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
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When Google Drive recovery is not the right route
- A file deleted from the device: Check the device’s Recycle Bin or Trash. Local files and files deleted from Drive are different cases.
- Photos or videos: Google Drive support directs photo and video recovery questions to Google Photos Help.
- WhatsApp backup contents: Google cannot restore contents of an encrypted WhatsApp backup stored in a Google Account. Contact WhatsApp for help with that backup.
Choose the recovery path by the file’s status
| What you find | What to do |
|---|---|
| File is in Drive Trash | Restore it from Trash. Google’s stated retention period is 30 days. |
| Trash was emptied or the item aged out | Contact Google promptly. Recovery may be possible in some cases, but is not guaranteed and has no universal official window established here. |
| File is missing from My Drive or a shared folder | Check the correct account, Activity, is:unorganized, ownership, location, and permissions. |
| Work or school account file | Contact the organization’s Drive administrator promptly. |
| File was deleted from local storage | Check the device’s Recycle Bin or Trash. |
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