Recover Deleted Google Drive Files: Recently or Permanently Removed

Accidentally deleted important files from Google Drive? This comprehensive guide walks you through the process of recovering recently deleted files and even those permanently removed from Trash. Find out how to restore deleted Google Drive files using the cloud's native tools or third-part tools.

Emma

By Emma / Updated on May 14, 2025

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Can I Recover Deleted Google Drive Files?

 

I accidentally deleted some files from my Google Drivelast night. Are they gone forever?These files were really important to me, and I hadn't backed them up. Is it possible to get those deleted Google Drive files back? I wasn't sure what to do next.Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Google Drive

How to Recover Deleted GoogleDrive Files?

If you've accidentally deleted files from your Google Drive, don't panic—there are ways to recover them depending on how long ago they were deleted and whether they are synced to the local computer via Google Drive for Desktop application.

Part 1. Recover Deleted Google Drive Files (Not Synced Locally)

If your files were stored only in Google Drive (not synced to your computer), follow these steps:

✔️Google Trash Bin

✔️Google Admin Console

✔️File Recovery Request 

A. Restore Recently Deleted Files Google Drive from Trash Bin

If you've deleted a file recently, there's a good chance it's still in the Google Drive Trash. Files remain in the Trash for 30 days, allowing you to restore them.

Step 1: Go to your Google Drive and log in to your account.

Step 2: On the left sidebar, click on Trash. Here, you'll see files that were recently deleted.

Step 3: Browse or search for the file you want to restore. Once found, right-click on it.

Restore Deleted Google Drive Files from Trash

Step 4: From the options, select "Restore ". This will move the file back to its original location in Google Drive.

If the files are still in the Trash, this method will successfully recover them without any hassle.

B. Recover Permanently Deleted Google Drive Files Through The Admin Console

If the files have been permanently deleted from your cloud Trash, and you're using a Google Workspace account (formerly G Suite), an admin can help you recover deleted files within 25 days from when they were removed.

Step 1: Log in to the Admin Console using your administrator account.

Step 2: In the Admin Console, go to "Users" and select the user whose files you need to recover.

Google User

Step 3: Click on "Restore Data" in the user's account details.

Google Restore Data

Step 4: Set the date range to include the time when the files were deleted. Click "Restore" to recover the files.

Restore Google Drive Data

This method is ideal if you're an administrator of a Google Workspace account and need to recover files deleted by other users within your organization.

C. Recover Permanently Deleted Google Drive Files via File Recovery Request to Google

If all else fails, you may still have a chance to recover them by submitting a file recovery request directly to Google. This option is particularly useful for Google Workspace users (formerly G Suite), but in some cases, it may also work for individual accounts.

Step 1: Go to the Google Drive Support page.

Step 2: Scroll down and click on "Request file recovery" (this option appears only for eligible accounts).

Google File Recovery Request

Step 3: Follow the instructions to verify your account information.

Step 4: Fill out the form with accurate details and any relevant information.

Step 5: Submit the request and wait for Google's support team to investigate.

Submit File Recovery Request

Part 2. Recover Deleted Google Drive Files (Synced Locally)

If the files were synced to your computer via Google Drive for Desktop, you will have other advanced options to recover recently or permanently deleted Google Drive files.

✔️Windows Recycle Bin

✔️Windows File History

✔️MyRecover-Professional Data Recovery Solution

A. Restore "Delete Forever" Google Drive Files from Windows Recycle Bin

Sometimes, when files are deleted locally on your computer, they end up in the Windows Recycle Bin. If you have had emptied the Google Drive Trash bin, or choose "Delete Forever" on the deleted item in Trash Bin, but you have synced your Google Drive to your computer using Google Drive for Desktop, there's a chance the files may still be available in Windows Recycle Bin.

Step 1: Open computer Recycle Bin.

Step 2: Search or browse through the files to see if the deleted Google Drive files are there.

Step 3: If you find the file, right-click on it and select "Restore ". This will restore it back to the original folder.

Restore Google Drive Files from Windows Recycle Bin

Step 4: Once the file is restored locally, it should automatically sync back to Google Drive when your computer reconnects to the internet.

B. Recover Deleted Google Drive Filesvia Windows File History (If Enabled Previously)

If you had File History enabled on your Windows PC and added the Google "My Drive" folder into the backup plan, you may be able to recover deleted Google Drive files from local backups, even if the files were removed from both Google Drive and the local sync folder.

Step 1: Press Win+S, type "Restore your files with File History" and click "Open".

Restore Files with File History

Step 2: In the new window, you will see a list of available backup folder, which were automatically created by Windows File History. Click on "My Drive" folder.

Choose Google Drive Folder

Step 3: Choose a backup from before the file was deleted. You can preview the files by selecting the version and clicking on "Preview".

Preview

Step 4: If you find the deleted file, click on "Restore" to recover it to the folder.

Restore

C. Recover Permanently Deleted Google Drive Filesvia MyRecover (For No Backup Users)

If you've permanently deleted Google Drive files (bypassing the Recycle Bin) and don't have a backup, MyRecover can help restore them—as long as they were synced locally. This user-friendly data recovery tool scans your hard drive for residual traces of deleted files and recovers them efficiently.

★Core Features:
Supports recovery from various storage devices such as hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, Cameras, etc.
Can recover files lost due to accidental deletion, partition loss, emptied Recycle Bin, partition corruption, system crashes, or virus attacks.
Offers both quick scan and deep scan modes to improve recovery success rates.
Includes a file preview feature to confirm file contents before recovery.
Features a clean and intuitive interface, suitable for beginners.
Supports recovery of various file types, including documents, images, videos, emails, archives and more.

Step 1: Install MyRecover from the official website onto a different drive than where your Google Drive folder was located.

Step 2: Launch MyRecover, then select the drive where your local Google Drive folder was synced. Typically, this is under the C: drive.

Select C Drive

Step 3: Click on "Scan". MyRecover will perform a "Quick Scan" automatically to search for deleted and lost files. For more complex data loss case, you can turn to the "Deep Scan" mode.

Deep Scan Mode

Step 4: Once scanning is complete, browse through the scanned files or use the search bar to locate your deleted Google Drive files.

Filter Google Drive Folder

Step 5: Select the files you want to recover and click on "Recover". Choose a different location (not the original drive) to save the restored files to prevent overwriting.

Select Destination

Then wait for the process to complete. Afterwards, you can click on the new path on the "recover success" pop-out mini window to directly check the recovered deleted Google Drive files.

Google Drive Recovered

Check Recovered Google Files

After you confirm the integrity of files, manually move the restored files back into your Google Drive sync folder. Once your device reconnects to the internet, the files will automatically sync and reappear in your cloud storage.

Summary

Accidentally deleting important files from Google Drive can be stressful, but it doesn't mean they're gone forever. Whether your files are recently or even permanently deleted, there are several recovery options available depending on your situation(synced or not synced locally).From simply checking the Google Drive Trash and Admin Console to using File History or submitting a recovery request to Google Support, each method offers a potential solution.

However, if you don’t have any backups and your files were synced locally, MyRecover provides a reliable and user-friendly way to scan and restore permanently deleted Google Drivefrom your device.With its powerful recovery engine, deep scan capabilities, and intuitive interface, MyRecover is an essential tool for retrieving Google Drive data, or other types of files, including recovering videos, pictures, notebooks, etc.

Emma
Emma · Editor
With over 6 years of experience in the field of data recovery, I focus on creating clear, practical, and easy-to-understand articles, guides, and tutorials. My aim is to make the process of computer data recovery simple for everyone, whether you're an experienced user or a complete beginner. I strive to break down complex recovery procedures into straightforward steps, ensuring that anyone can follow along and recover their important files without stress.