How to Delete Files and Folders in Google Drive

To delete files or folders in Google Drive, you first move them to the Trash, and then, if you want to free up storage space immediately, you can permanently empty your Trash. Deleting files involves a two-step process that helps prevent accidental data loss.

How to Move Files or Folders to the Trash

When you delete a file or folder from Google Drive, it's initially moved to your Trash, where it remains for 30 days before being permanently deleted automatically. During this 30-day period, you can still restore the item.

Here's how to move items to the Trash:

Go to Google Drive: Open your web browser and navigate to drive.google.com.
Select Item(s):
- Single file/folder: Right-click on the file or folder you want to delete.
- Multiple files/folders: Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click on each item you wish to select, or click and drag your mouse to select a group.
Move to Trash: From the context menu that appears, click the Remove (trash can icon) or Move to trash option.

Once an item is moved to the Trash, it no longer appears in your main Drive view but still counts towards your storage quota until the Trash is emptied.

How to Permanently Delete Files from Google Drive (Empty Trash)

If you want to free up storage space immediately or permanently remove sensitive data, you need to empty your Google Drive Trash. Once an item is permanently deleted from the Trash, it cannot be recovered.

Steps to Permanently Empty Your Google Drive Trash:

Access Google Drive: On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
Go to Trash: On the left sidebar, click Trash.
Choose Deletion Method:
- To delete specific files permanently: Select the file(s) you wish to delete forever. Right-click on the selected file(s) and choose Delete forever.
- To empty the entire Trash: At the top of the Trash view, click Empty Trash. This action will permanently delete all items currently in your Trash.
Confirm: A confirmation prompt will appear. Click Delete forever to confirm the action.

Important Considerations When Deleting Files

Deleting items from Google Drive has several implications you should be aware of.

Restoring Files from Trash

You have a 30-day window to restore any file or folder that has been moved to the Trash.

Steps to restore:
1. Go to drive.google.com.
2. On the left, click Trash.
3. Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to restore.
4. Right-click on the selected item(s) and choose Restore. The item will be returned to its original location in your Drive.

Deleting Shared Files

When you delete a file that you own and that has been shared with others:

As the owner: The file is moved to your Trash. If you empty your Trash, the file is permanently deleted for everyone, and no one will be able to access it.
As a non-owner: If you delete a shared file that you don't own, it's only removed from your Google Drive view. Others who have access to the file (including the owner) can still view and access it.

Google Drive Storage and Deletion

Files in your Trash still count towards your Google Drive storage limit. Storage space is only freed up once you permanently delete items by emptying the Trash.

Tips for Managing Your Google Drive Storage

To keep your Google Drive organized and ensure you have enough space, consider these tips:

Regularly Review Trash: Periodically check your Trash folder and empty it to free up space.
Identify Large Files: Use Google Drive's storage management tool to find and delete large files you no longer need. Go to drive.google.com/settings/storage to see a breakdown of your usage and easily sort files by size.
Use Google Workspace Apps: Files created using Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Jamboard do not count towards your storage limit, helping you save space.
Consolidate Duplicates: Look for and remove duplicate files to optimize your storage usage.

Feature	Moving to Trash	Emptying Trash
Action	Removes file from main view	Permanently deletes file
Reversibility	Yes (within 30 days)	No (generally, once emptied)
Storage Impact	Does not free up space immediately	Frees up space immediately
Retention	30 days, then automatic permanent deletion	Immediate permanent deletion