Losing data in Google Drive can be frustrating, especially if it contains important files or memories. You can recover deleted files from Google Drive's trash for up to 30 days after deletion.
To prevent data loss, it's essential to regularly back up your files. This can be done by creating a backup folder and transferring files to it manually.
Google Drive's version history feature allows you to recover previous versions of a file, which can be a lifesaver if you need to revert to a previous version.
Preventing Data Loss
Google Drive is generally a safe place to store and backup your data, but user error can still lead to permanent file deletion and data loss issues. You can minimize the chances of user errors occurring by following a few simple practices.
Go over access permissions and ensure that only you can see and edit your data. This will prevent others from accidentally deleting your files.
Keeping a backup of your data is also crucial. Store essential data on Google Drive and a safe external hard drive. This way, should either of them become compromised, you'll have access to your data on the other.
Double-check the data you're deleting before hitting the "delete" button. Removing accounts and data without a second thought can lead to irreversible loss.
Don't delete data from your Trash folder, as it will get permanently erased after 30 days in any case.
Here are some key practices to prevent data loss:
- Go over access permissions
- Keep a backup of your data
- Double-check the data you're deleting
- Don't delete data from your Trash folder
Recovering Lost Data
If you've accidentally deleted a file from Google Drive, you can get it back in a few clicks. Log in to your Google Drive account, navigate to the Trash folder, right-click on the file, and select Restore.
Google Drive keeps deleted files in the Trash folder for 30 days, so you have a window of opportunity to recover them. If you've recently deleted a file, it's likely still in the Trash folder, where you can restore it by right-clicking on the file and selecting Restore.
You can also recover permanently deleted files from Google Drive by contacting support. Go to your Google Drive account, click the Help icon, and select Contact us. Explain your issue in 100 characters or less, and wait for the support team to get back to you.
If you have a Google Vault account, you can use it to recover deleted files. Sign in to your Google Vault account, go to Matters, and select Pre-existing Matter. Then, go to Search > Drive, fill in the required information, and click Search. Once you've found the needed files, click Export results to download them.
Here's a summary of the steps to recover lost data from Google Drive:
- Log in to your Google Drive account
- Navigate to the Trash folder
- Right-click on the file and select Restore
- Contact support if you've tried all else
- Use Google Vault to recover deleted files
Remember, Google Drive keeps deleted files in the Trash folder for 30 days, so act quickly to recover your lost data.
Admin Console
The Admin Console is a powerful tool for recovering lost data in Google Drive. You can recover permanently deleted files for up to 25 days after they've been deleted from the Trash folder.
To do this, you'll need to sign in to your Google Admin Console, go to Directory > Users, and hover over the user whose files you want to retrieve. Then, select Restore data from the More menu.
Only admins with access to the Admin Console can use this option. If you're just a regular Google Drive user, you won't be able to recover your files this way.
You can also transfer ownership of a deleted account to recover files. This option is available for up to 20 days after the account is deleted.
To transfer ownership, go to Directory > Users > More options, select Recently deleted users, and click on the recently deleted user. Then, select Recover > Continue, and assign it to the organizational unit.
Here's a step-by-step guide to transferring ownership:
- In your Admin Console, go to Directory > Users > More options;
- Select Recently deleted users;
- Click on the recently deleted user, select Recover > Continue, and assign it to the organizational unit;
- Go to Menu > Apps;
- Select Google Workspace > Drive and Docs;
- Scroll down to Transfer Ownership;
- Put in the email addresses of the deleted user and the new account owner and select Transfer Files.
Data Loss and Recovery Tools
If you've accidentally deleted important files from Google Drive, don't worry, there are ways to recover them. You can try restoring your file from the Trash folder in Google Drive, which keeps deleted files for a short period.
To recover data from Google Drive's Trash folder, simply log in to your Google Drive account, navigate to the Trash folder, right-click on the file or folder you want to restore, and select Restore. This method is quick and easy, and you can get your file back in a few clicks.
Alternatively, you can use Google Vault to recover deleted files. This method involves signing in to your Google Vault account, searching for the deleted files, and exporting the results to download them as a zip file.
Here are some data recovery tools you can use to recover deleted files from Google Drive:
These tools can help you recover deleted files from Google Drive, but it's always best to act quickly to increase the chances of a successful recovery.
Easy and Quick: Cisdem
Cisdem Data Recovery is a powerful tool that can help you recover deleted files from your Google Drive account. You can recover files that were deleted from your local hard drive, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
To use Cisdem Data Recovery, you'll need to download and install the software. It's available for both Windows and Mac operating systems. Once installed, you can select the hard drive where you deleted the files and click Search for Lost Data.
Cisdem Data Recovery can recover over 1000 types of files, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, as well as photos, videos, and audio files. It can also preview the files before recovery, so you can see if they're recoverable.
To recover your files, follow these steps:
- Download and install Cisdem Data Recovery.
- Go to Hardware Disk, select the hard drive where you deleted the files and click Search for Lost Data.
- Go to Type > Documents > Docx or Doc to find a permanently deleted Google Docs.
- Preview the Google Docs if it can be opened.
- Select the files and click Recover.
Note that Cisdem Data Recovery can also repair corrupted files before recovery. This can be a lifesaver if your files are damaged or corrupted.
By using Cisdem Data Recovery, you can easily recover your deleted files from Google Drive and get back to work quickly.
How to PCs
If you've permanently deleted files from Google Drive and want to recover them, you can use professional data recovery solutions like Wondershare Recoverit.
Recoverit has over 20 years of experience in the field and uses patented tech to recover data without quality loss.
It works with over 2,000 different storage devices and supports thousands of file formats.
Recoverit boasts 98% recovery rates and is compatible with Mac and Windows OS.
You can easily recover deleted or lost files in 500+ data loss situations using Recoverit.
Here are the steps to retrieve data with Recoverit:
- Download and launch Wondershare Recoverit on your computer;
- From the main menu, select a location to start recovery;
- Wait for Recoverit to scan the location and filter through the results;
- Pause or stop the scan without progress loss at any time;
- Preview the files that can be recovered and click Recover to retrieve them.
Limitations
If you're using Google Drive, be aware that its version history has some limitations. File revisions are only kept for up to 30 days.
This means that if you need to recover a file from a previous version, you'll have to do it within a month of making the changes. No more, no less.
There's also a limit to the number of file revisions that are kept for any file - no more than 100. This can be a problem if you're working on a project that involves a lot of revisions.
To illustrate this, imagine you're working on a document and making changes every day. After 30 days, you'll only have access to the most recent 100 revisions.
There is no version history kept for folder structures in Google Drive or Shared drives. This means you won't be able to recover a folder to a previous state.
If you need to keep a version history of a Google Drive folder, you'll need to use a third-party tool, such as CubeBackup.
Google Drive Data Recovery
You can recover deleted files from Google Drive by checking the Trash folder. If you've recently deleted a file, you can get it back in a few clicks.
To recover from the Trash, log in to your Google Drive account, navigate to the Trash folder, right-click on the file or folder you want to restore, and select Restore. This method works best if you've deleted the file recently.
Alternatively, you can use Google Vault to recover deleted files. You can sign in to your Google Vault account, go to Matters, select Pre-existing Matter, and search for the needed files. Once you've found the files, you can export the results and download them as a zip file.
If you've tried all else, you can contact Google Drive support for help. To do this, go to your Google Drive account, click the Help icon, select Help, and scroll down to Contact us. Explain your issue, and wait for support teams to get back to you.
Vault #3
Using Google Vault is a great way to recover deleted Google Drive files. You can use your Vault license to recover a deleted Google Docs after 30 days from Google Workspace.
If you're wondering how to use Vault, just sign in to your Google Vault account and go to Matters, then select Pre-existing Matter. From there, you can search for the deleted file in the Drive section.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you recover your deleted files using Vault:
- Sign in to your Google Vault account.
- Go to Matters and select Pre-existing Matter.
- Search for the deleted file in the Drive section.
- Once you've found the file, click Export results to download it as a zip file.
Note that you can only recover deleted files using Vault if you have a subscription and the file was deleted within 30 days.
Cube to Age
CubeBackup is a Google Workspace backup tool that allows you to recover Google Drive files and folders to any previous version with ease. This is made possible by its integrated version control capabilities.
If you've accidentally deleted a file or overwritten a previous version, CubeBackup can help you restore it to a point in time when it was still intact.
Google Drive Tutorials and Guides
If you've accidentally deleted a Google Doc on your phone, don't worry, you can recover it. To do this, open the Google Drive app on your mobile and tap on the Menu icon in the upper left corner, then select the Trash option.
You can also restore a Google Doc from the Trash by selecting the file, tapping on the three-dots icon next to it, and choosing Restore. This will reaccess the Google Doc in its original location before deletion.
If you've permanently deleted a Google Doc, you can try using a dedicated data recovery tool if the files have been saved locally ever, or turn to any backups if feasible.
How to History?
To restore version history in Google Docs, you need to login into your Google Account. This is a straightforward step that sets the stage for the rest of the process.
Once you're logged in, head over to Google Drive and open a document that you've created using Google Docs. This is where the magic happens, and you'll be able to access your document's version history.
From the File menu, select Version history, and then click on See version history. This will take you to a page where you can view all the different versions of your document that have been saved.
To restore a specific version, find the one you want to restore and click on the three dots button next to it. Then, select Restore this version, and Google Docs will revert your document to that specific version.
Phone Tutorial
To recover deleted Google Docs on your phone, you can follow these simple steps.
First, open the Google Drive app on your mobile device. The app is likely already installed if you have a Google account.
Next, tap on the Menu icon in the upper left corner of the screen and select the Trash option.
Check if the deleted Google Doc is present in the Trash folder. If it is, select it and tap on the three-dots icon next to the file.
Choose the Restore option from the menu, and you'll be able to reaccess the Google Doc in its original location.
If the deleted Google Doc is not in the Trash folder, you may need to use a dedicated data recovery tool or check your backups if you have any.
Google Drive Support and Resources
If you're struggling to recover deleted files from Google Drive, don't worry, there's help available. Google Drive Help Center can be a lifesaver in such situations.
To access the help center, simply go to https://support.google.com/drive in your web browser. From there, you can browse through various topics, including finding, deleting, and recovering files in Google Drive.
If you're looking to recover a deleted file, you can follow the steps outlined in the help center. The process involves verifying your account, providing answers to a request, and checking your Google mailbox for a reply.
Here are the key steps to follow:
- Go to https://support.google.com/drive.
- From Browse help topics, go to Find, delete and recover files in Google Drive > Recover a deleted file in Google Drive.
- Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Request file recovery.
- Verify your account.
- Provide the answers in the request, choosing type as Google Files and checking the consent before clicking Submit.
- Check back your Google mailbox to see if the request has been submitted successfully, then wait for the reply.
Keep in mind that this method works only when you are the owner of the files and the files were permanently deleted from Google Drive within the last 25 days.
Sources
- https://recoverit.wondershare.com/file-recovery/recover-deleted-files-google-drive.html
- https://spin.ai/blog/how-to-backup-google-drive-step-by-step-guide/
- https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/27/google_drive_files_disappearing/
- https://www.cisdem.com/resource/recover-deleted-google-docs.html
- https://www.cubebackup.com/docs/tutorials/revert-google-drive-folder-to-previous-version/
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