It's very annoying accidentally delete a file from the trash in Google Drive, and not knowing how to recover it. It may also happen that we delete a file and then realize that we need it. That is why it is important to know alternatives and resources to try to recover permanently deleted data.
La Searching for files in Google Drive It is a process that helps us to have greater control and correct management of our content. Sometimes we may not even find files, but they are not yet deleted. Therefore, there are alternatives to try to find content stored in the Google cloud. Follow these instructions and try to recover all the files you use.
How to recover files in Google Drive: where are the ones that do not appear in the interface?
If there is a Google Drive file that is missing and you want to recover it, you must first exhaust the search instances. You may not have deleted it yet, but you may not remember moving it from one folder to another. The steps to find files are as follows:
- Go to drive.google.com and choose My Drive.
- Tap the information icon in the top right corner.
- Choose the Activity option and look for the information of the file you cannot find.
- If someone else has access to or created the files, they may have deleted or renamed the file and it will not appear.
- If you own the file but it's in someone else's folder, the containing folder may also have been deleted.
If you want to search for files you created in deleted folders, use the following link to access advanced file search:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/search?q=is:unorganized%20owner:me
Recover deleted Google Drive files from trash
For a period of 30 days, Google Drive retains files that you have deleted. and sent to the recycle bin. This is very important because it allows us to recover files that we have deleted by mistake or from which we want to obtain some data again. Recovery from the recycle bin in those 30 days is extremely simple:
- From your Android phone, access the Google Drive application.
- Press the Menu icon and then the Trash option.
- Select the deleted files and press the Restore command to return them to their original folder or location.
- From your computer, access the following URL: drive.google.com/drive/trash.
- Confirm the files you want to restore and you can reopen them from the main interface.
Request file recovery from administrator
If you use a Google account associated with a business, group, or school, the administrator has the ability to recover deleted files. The period for this recovery is 25 days, and the process that must be done from the administrator account is as follows:
- Open the Admin Console from the Gmail app.
- Choose the user and double click on the user profile.
- Press the menu icon in the upper right area.
- Select Restore Data and choose the file to restore.
With this procedure, the deleted files They are immediately returned to the original folder. The Administrator can perform this recovery quickly and directly. That is why it is important to have fluid communication with the person who has the permissions for this type of action.
Contact Google technical support
Another option to recover deleted files on google drive is to contact the technical support team directly. This process is a little slower, but has the same features as the Administrator. There is a 25-day waiting period for a file sent to the trash to be recovered.
Si some file has disappeared from your Google Drive and there is no reason to explain it, you can contact the technical team and see if they have a way to restore it. Google Drive folders may be emptied suddenly, but support can immediately look into a full recovery of the files. Remember that there is a 25-day waiting period, after which any items in the recycle bin will disappear permanently.
How to recover deleted photos or files from Google Drive?
In case none of the above attempts work, you can try some external file recovery app. Photos and files are stored on your Android phone, and to recover them externally there are apps like FonePaw Android Data Recovery. The name of the app is quite straightforward and self-explanatory of its functions. The program is designed for photo and media file recovery, but it also supports PDF, DOC, TXT and multiple other popular formats. Steps to recover files:
- Download the FonePaw app on your computer.
- Open the program and connect the phone to the computer via USB.
- Enable USB debugging from your phone's Settings menu. It's located in Developer Options.
- Select Gallery – Picture Library, Documents in the program.
- Press Next and the program will analyze the phone content.
- Follow the steps indicated by the program.
- Give permission for FonePaw to access your phone storage
- The Scan Authorized Files button starts the search for deleted documents.
- Analyze the scan result.
- Press Recover on the files you were looking for.
Problems with Google Drive and deleted files
El cloud storage It is an excellent tool for saving physical storage space. However, it can also present some complications as sometimes it is not clear why connection or file saving problems arise.
If you want to make sure all your content is backed up properly, check your trash regularly. Sometimes an accidental deletion can cause files to disappear from your list, but you have up to 30 days to manually recover them. External options like apps and recovery programs are often paid and don't have as great a success rate. But they are a great option to try to always have your saved media on hand. Don't hesitate to check and contact the Google Drive Support if you have any question.