If you're running low on space in your Google Drive, you're not alone. Google Drive has a file limit of 750 GB, and if you're approaching that limit, it's time to think about cleaning up.
You can't delete all files at once in Google Drive, but you can delete multiple files at once. In fact, you can select up to 60 files at a time to delete.
To clear space in your Google Drive, it's essential to identify which files are taking up the most space. According to our research, Google Drive's file search function can help you find large files and folders in seconds.
By regularly deleting files you no longer need, you can free up space in your Google Drive and keep your files organized.
Short Answer
Google Docs doesn't have a way to delete several files at once, so use Google Drive web UI, Google Drive for PC/Mac, or another tool that uses the Google Drive API or Google Apps Script.
If you're looking for a way to delete multiple files in Google Drive, you have a few options.
User Cases and Solutions
Let's say your Google Drive is almost full and you need to delete multiple files at once. You can select multiple files by holding the Ctrl key (or Command key on a Mac) while clicking on each file.
If you're wondering how to delete multiple files from Google Drive, you can do it by selecting all the files you want to delete and then clicking the "Delete" button.
It's frustrating to delete files one by one, especially when you have a lot of them. To avoid this, you can select multiple files to delete at once.
How to Delete Files
Deleting files in Google Drive is a straightforward process. You can select multiple files to delete by pressing the Ctrl key and clicking on the files you want to remove.
To delete multiple files at once, log in to your Google Drive account, press the Ctrl key, and click on the files you want to remove. Then, right-click on the selected files and choose Remove.
Alternatively, you can use the Shift key to select multiple files. To do this, click on the first file you want to delete, then hold down the Shift key and click on the last file you want to delete.
If you want to delete all files in a folder, you can select all the files by clicking on the folder, then right-clicking on the selected files and choosing Remove.
However, keep in mind that removing files from Google Drive doesn't delete them permanently. Instead, they go to the Trash, where they linger for 30 days before being automatically deleted.
To delete files permanently, you need to empty the Trash folder. To do this, click on the Trash folder, select the files you want to delete, right-click on the selected files, and choose Delete.
If you're using an Android device, you can delete files from Google Drive by scrolling down to select Remove, and confirming the deletion by clicking on the Move to Trash button.
It's also worth noting that not every file counts towards your Google Drive storage limit. For example, files created using Google Documents, Google Sheets, or Google Slides do not count towards your storage limit.
To clear Google Drive space, you can sort your files by file size and delete the largest files first. You can also convert files to Google Docs if you want to keep them but don't want to count them towards your storage limit.
Here's a step-by-step guide to deleting files in Google Drive:
- Select the files you want to delete
- Right-click on the selected files and choose Remove
- Confirm the deletion by clicking on the Move to Trash button (on Android devices)
- Empty the Trash folder to delete files permanently
By following these steps, you can easily delete files in Google Drive and free up space on your account.
Limitations and Workarounds
Unfortunately, Google Drive doesn't have a "Delete All" option, which can be frustrating when you need to get rid of a large number of files.
You can use the "Select all" feature, but it only selects the files in the current folder, not across the entire account. This limitation is due to Google Drive's multi-folder structure.
To delete multiple files at once, you can use the "Bulk upload" feature, but it's actually a "Bulk download" feature, and it's only available for files in the same folder.
You can use the "Search" function to find and delete files, but be careful not to delete important files by mistake. Google Drive's search function can be tricky to use.
To avoid deleting files by mistake, you can use the "Trash" feature, which allows you to recover deleted files for up to 30 days. This feature is a lifesaver if you accidentally delete a file.
You can also use third-party apps, like MultCloud or CloudHQ, to delete multiple files at once, but be cautious when using external apps, as they may not be as secure as Google Drive's built-in features.
Tips and Tricks
You can delete multiple files or folders in Google Drive on your computer by selecting all the files you want to delete and then clicking the delete button. This is a convenient way to get rid of unwanted files.
To delete all Google Drive folders, you can follow the tips provided, which involve selecting the folders you want to delete and then deleting them.
If you want to delete specific file types, such as documents, you can use the same method to select and delete them.
To delete files from Google Drive on your iPhone, tap the Files tab on the bottom and find the file you want to delete. Then, tap the three-dot icon and select Remove.
If you want to delete files permanently, you can go to the Trash and find the files you want to delete. Tap the three-dots icon and choose Delete Forever.
You can delete multiple files at once by tapping the three-dot icon and selecting Remove. A pop-up will show that the files will be removed to the trash.
Automating the Process
You can use Google Drive add-ons to automate the process of deleting multiple documents. Tools like Google Drive Cleaner can identify and remove duplicate files, large files, and those you haven't accessed in a while.
Installing a Drive cleaner add-on is a straightforward process. Simply navigate to the Google Workspace Marketplace, search for a Drive cleaner add-on, and click 'Install'.
To get started with an add-on, you'll need to authorize access to your Google Drive files. This is a necessary step to ensure the add-on can effectively clean up your Drive.
Once installed, follow the instructions provided by the add-on to start cleaning up your Drive. This can save you a significant amount of time and effort.
Here's a step-by-step guide to installing a Drive cleaner add-on:
- Install the Add-on: Navigate to the Google Workspace Marketplace, search for a Drive cleaner add-on, and click 'Install'.
- Authorize Access: You’ll need to give the add-on permission to access your Google Drive files.
- Run the Add-on: Once installed, follow the instructions provided by the add-on to start cleaning up your Drive.
These add-ons can be incredibly helpful, especially if you manage a large volume of documents.
Searching and Filtering
Searching and filtering in Google Drive can make it easier to find and delete unwanted files. You can use the search bar at the top of Google Drive to search by document name.
To narrow down your search, click on the small downward arrow in the search bar to open advanced search options. Here, you can filter by file type, owner, date modified, and more.
You can also sort your documents by 'Last modified' to find older files you might have forgotten about. This can be a lifesaver in situations where you're trying to declutter your Google Drive.
To filter by file type, click on the 'File type' option in the advanced search options. This will allow you to select specific file types, such as documents, spreadsheets, or presentations.
By using the search and filter functions, you can streamline the process of finding and deleting unwanted files in Google Drive.
Clearing Recent
Clearing Recent in Google Drive is a straightforward process. You can easily delete any file you don't want to look at by accessing the 'activity' view in Google Drive, which demonstrates all that has been updated recently.
This view includes whatever you have worked on and shared. To clear Google Drive recent, simply navigate to the 'activity' view, select the files you want to delete, and right-click to press Delete.
You can also sort your files in the 'activity' view to make it easier to find the files you want to delete. By clicking on the Sort option in the upper right corner, you can quickly sort your files by file size, last changed, or last opened by me.
Once you've sorted your files, you can start deleting the ones you no longer need. This will help declutter your Google Drive and free up space.
Part of a Series
As part of a series on Google Drive, I want to address a common question: is there a delete all option in Google Drive? Unfortunately, the answer is no, but don't worry, I've got you covered.
You see, not every file counts towards your storage limit, so you don't need to delete everything. Anything you create using Google Documents, Google Sheets, or Google Slides doesn't count towards your storage limit.
To clear Google Drive space, you need to sort your files by size and delete the largest ones first. Google allows you to quickly sort your Drive files by file size, and you can even sort by other criteria like last changed or last opened.
You can save some of your important files by converting them into Google Docs, which won't count towards your storage limit. To do this, right-click on the PDF file, click on "Google Docs" from the menu, and Google will create a new doc from the PDF.
Clearing the Google Drive trash folder is also essential to free up space. Click on the trash folder, pick the files you want to remove permanently, right-click, and press "Delete".
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I select all in Google Drive?
To select all files in Google Drive, use Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac. This keyboard shortcut quickly selects all files in your Google Drive account.
Sources
- https://webapps.stackexchange.com/questions/74831/how-do-i-delete-many-documents-at-once-from-google-docs-not-google-drive
- https://www.multcloud.com/tutorials/how-to-delete-multiple-files-in-google-drive-1003.html
- https://www.thebricks.com/resources/how-to-delete-multiple-documents-in-google-docs
- https://www.cbackup.com/articles/how-to-delete-everything-from-google-drive-5740.html
- https://inclowdz.wondershare.com/cloud-manage/how-to-clear-google-drive.html
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