Deleting a file or folder in Google Drive takes one click, but what happens next depends on whether you want it gone forever or just out of your way
To delete a single file, right-click it and select Delete. The file moves to your Trash folder, where it stays for 30 days before Google removes it permanently. If you delete a folder, everything inside it goes to Trash too — you do not delete the contents separately.
You can also select multiple files at once by holding Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and clicking each one, then right-click and choose Delete. On a phone or tablet, long-press a file, then tap the trash icon at the top of the screen.
The key thing to know: deleted files are not gone when ready. They sit in Trash for a month, which gives you time to change your mind. After 30 days, Google deletes them permanently and you cannot get them back.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted files move to Trash and stay there for 30 days before Google removes them permanently.
- You can recover a deleted file by opening Trash, right-clicking the file, and selecting Restore.
- Emptying Trash deletes everything in it right away — there is no second chance after that.
- If someone else shared a file with you and they delete it, you lose access even if you have not deleted your copy yet.
- Deleting a file from a shared folder removes it for everyone who has access to that folder.
How to recover a deleted file from Trash
Open Google Drive and click Trash in the left sidebar. Find the file you want back, right-click it, and select Restore. The file returns to its original location — or to the root of your Drive if the original folder no longer exists.
You can restore multiple files at once the same way you delete them: hold Ctrl (or Cmd) and click each file, then right-click and choose Restore. This is faster than restoring them one at a time if you accidentally deleted several things.
Permanently deleting files and emptying Trash
If you want to delete something right now instead of waiting 30 days, open Trash, right-click the file, and select Delete forever. The file is gone when ready and cannot be recovered.
To empty your entire Trash folder at once, click Trash in the sidebar, then click Empty trash at the top. This deletes everything in Trash permanently. Google will ask you to confirm because this action cannot be undone.
Emptying Trash does not affect files still in your Drive — it only removes what is already in the Trash folder. If you want to delete a file and empty Trash in one step, delete the file, open Trash, and empty it when ready.
What happens when you delete a shared file
If you delete a file that someone else shared with you, the file disappears from your Drive but still exists in theirs. You lose access to it, but they can still see it and share it with others. This is different from deleting a file you own in a shared folder — that removes it for everyone.
If you own a file in a shared folder and delete it, everyone with access to that folder loses the file. It goes to your Trash first, so you can restore it within 30 days and it comes back for everyone. After 30 days or if you delete it forever, no one can recover it.
If you want to remove a file from a shared folder but keep it in your own Drive, do not delete it. Instead, remove the folder from your Drive by right-clicking the folder and selecting Remove. This keeps the file in the shared folder but takes it out of your view.
Deleting files on your phone or tablet
Open the Google Drive app and find the file you want to delete. Long-press the file (press and hold) until a menu appears, then tap the trash icon. The file moves to Trash just like on a computer.
To recover a deleted file on your phone, tap Menu (the three horizontal lines), then Trash. Long-press the file you want back and tap the restore icon. To empty Trash, open Trash, tap Menu, and select Empty trash.
Freeing up storage space by deleting files
Deleted files still count toward your storage limit until you empty Trash. If you are running out of space, deleting files and then emptying Trash is the fastest way to free it up. Google Drive gives you 15 GB of free storage shared across Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos — deleting old files is often faster than paying for more.
Before you delete something large, check how much space it uses. Right-click a file and select Storage used to see its size. For folders, you may need to check the size of individual files inside, since Google Drive does not always show folder totals.
If you have a lot of old files taking up space, sorting by Last modified can help you find things you have not touched in months or years. You can delete these in batches to clear space faster than deleting one file at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a file after I delete it forever?
No. Once you select Delete forever or empty your Trash, the file is gone permanently. Google does not keep backups of deleted files, and there is no way to recover them after that point.
What if I delete a file by accident?
Open Trash when ready and restore it. You have 30 days to do this. If you empty Trash or delete it forever, you cannot get it back, so act quickly if you realize the mistake right away.
Does deleting a file from Google Drive delete it from my computer too?
No. If you use Google Drive for desktop (the app that syncs files to your computer), deleting a file in Drive removes it from the synced folder on your computer as well. But if you only use the web version of Google Drive, deleting there does not affect files on your computer.
Can I delete a file if someone else owns it?
If someone shared a file with you but they own it, you can only remove it from your Drive — you cannot delete it for them. Right-click the file and select Remove to take it out of your view. The file stays in their Drive.
How do I know if a file is taking up a lot of storage?
Right-click a file and select Storage used to see its size in MB or GB. Large video files and high-resolution photos take up the most space. If you are close to your 15 GB limit, deleting these files and emptying Trash will free up space fastest.