5 Proven Methods to Recover Deleted Files from Google Drive
Google Drive is a trustworthy cloud storage platform for people to save and share their files, including photos, sheets, documents, PPT, etc. However, file loss is a common occurrence for Google Drive users. If you have encountered such a problem, you can effectively recover deleted Google Drive files by reading this methodical post with five methods listed.
PAGE CONTENT:
- Part 1: How to Recover Deleted Files from Google Drive Within 30 Days
- Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Google Drive Files via Admin Restore
- Part 3: How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Google Drive from Backup
- Part 4: How to Recover Lost Google Drive Files Through Official Support
- Part 5: How to Recover Deleted Files from Google Drive Without Limitation
- Part 6: FAQs about Google Drive File Recovery
Part 1: How to Recover Deleted Files from Google Drive Within 30 Days
There is a Trash folder in Google Drive to store your deleted files from Google Drive. However, the downside of this Trash folder is time limitation, which means you can only recover these items within 30 days. If your files are still within the 30-day time limit, you can follow the steps below to recover lost Google Drive files quickly and easily.
Step 1. Launch Google Drive on your device, or you can run it in the browser by visiting drive.google.com.
Step 2. In the Google Drive interface, you can see the Trash folder in the left panel. Click the Trash to see all the recently deleted Google Drive files.
Step 3. You can filter all your deleted files by clicking the Type and Modified buttons. Locate your desired file and click the three-dot symbol. Choose the Restore button from the drop-down list. If you want to delete this file from Google Drive permanently, you can select the Delete Forever option.
Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Google Drive Files via Admin Restore
If you are using a Google Workspace account and have administrator privileges, don't worry even if you have emptied the Trash folder. You are still able to recover Google Drive files by using the Google Admin console. This method can restore a user’s Drive data within a limited recovery window (typically up to 25 days after permanent deletion. It also applies to recovering deleted Gmail messages.
Step 1. Please sign in to your Google Admin console with an administrator account, not your personal Google account.
Step 2. In the Admin console, click Directory > Users in the left sidebar.
Step 3. Select Users from all organizational units or Users from selected organizational units from the Users list. Then, tick one user and select More options > Restore data.
Tips: This method only applies to business or school accounts. Personal Gmail users cannot access the Admin Console recovery feature. Moreover, it usually restores data within a certain time range, rather than a specific individual file. Therefore, before moving on, you should first determine the approximate deletion date to avoid restoring incorrect data versions.
Part 3: How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Google Drive from Backup
If you have enabled system backup tools like Backup and Sync and created a Google Drive backup copy on your computer previously that has not been overwritten, you still have a chance to recover permanently deleted Google Drive files.
Step 1. Launch the backup tool.
Step 2. You will see a window under the path: C:\Users\Your name\Google Drive.
Step 3. You can check the thumbnails or the file names to search for deleted Google Drive files. You can also search in the top-right box.
Part 4: How to Recover Lost Google Drive Files Through Official Support
You can still contact the Google Official Support to request a data recovery attempt. This method is typically used when files have been permanently deleted and are no longer available in the Trash.
Step 1. Open Google Drive and click the "?" pattern in the top right.
Step 2. Choose Send feedback to Google in the drop-down list.
Step 3. Illustrate your problem in the form. The Google official support team will contact you later.
Part 5: How to Recover Deleted Files from Google Drive Without Limitation
If you usually process files on your local computer first and then sync or upload them to Google Drive, or if you have downloaded and saved the Google Drive files on your computer, even if the files have been permanently deleted from the cloud, the local copies may still exist. When the built-in recovery method of Google Drive fails to retrieve the files, you can try using Apeaksoft Data Recovery to scan your computer's hard drive. It supports deep scanning of deleted/lost files and has a high success rate of recovering even if the files have been emptied from the recycle bin.
Alternative Google Drive Recovery Method
- Professionally scan various file types on your computer.
- Store all scanned Google Drive files in SPF format for future restoration.
- Fast scanning speed and high recovery possibility.
- Preview the file in detail before the recovery.
- Applicable for various data loss scenarios.
Secure Download
Secure Download
Step 1. Download the versatile recovery tool on your computer for free.
Step 2. Select the location where you stored the Google Drive files. Then, click the Start Scan button.
Step 3. Go to the left panel to search for target files by category. You can also use the Filter feature to quickly locate them by entering file names.
Step 4. Check the files you want to recover and then click the Recover button.
Step 5. Select a saving path, and the process will be initiated automatically.
Part 6: FAQs about Google Drive File Recovery
How to Use the Backup and Sync app?
When you want to recover deleted Google Drive files after 30 days from backup, you need to install the Backup and Sync app on your computer first. To do it, you can
1. Download it from the official Google Drive website.
2. Sign in with your Google account.
3. Choose the folders you want to sync.
4. Choose Sync My Drive to this computer.
5. Select a local folder to store the synced Drive files.
6. Click the START button.
How to delete files in Google Drive?
Go to Google Drive on your browser. Right-click one file you want to delete or click the three-dots button to select the Move to trash option. Now, you can see the file in the Trash folder. You can permanently delete it by selecting the Delete forever option.
Do my Google Drive files disappear after I delete my Google account?
Absolute yes. If you delete a Gmail account without transferring your Google Drive files, you cannot access or recover any files from Google Drive.
Conclusion
Until now, you can understand how to recover deleted files from Google Drive within/beyond 30 days. If you have stored Google Drive files on your computer, you can use Apeaksoft Data Recovery to scan and recover your lost Google Drive files without restrictions. Hope you can get back the deleted Google Drive files successfully!
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