How to restore deleted Google Drive files from a personal Google Account

Problem

You need to recover files that were deleted and removed from the trash on Google Drive that's connected to your personal Google account.

Environment

  • Google Drive

Solution

If you deleted something recently using Google Drive or the Google Drive desktop app, you might be able to restore the file yourself.

Restore files from Trash:

  1. On a computer, go to drive.google.com/drive/trash.
    • Tip: You can sort your trashed files by trashed date to find the oldest or newest files trashed.
  2. Right-click the file you want to recover.
  3. Click Restore.
  4. You can find restored files in their original location. If the original location no longer exists, look in My Drive.