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Find, recover & restore files in Google Drive

Updated For Google Workspace

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Most “missing” files are only misplaced. Search first, then check Recent, then Trash.

Search for a file

Section titled “Search for a file”

The search box at the top of Google Drive looks in file names and inside the files.

  1. Type a word from the file name or its content. Matching files appear as you type, and you can already narrow them with the Type, People and Modified chips.

    Drive search box with a sample word and matching files

  2. Press Enter to see all results. The results page has more filter chips: Type, People, Modified and Source, plus Location, Title only and To do.

    Search results with the Type, People, Modified and Source filter chips

These search terms help when you remember a detail:

  • "exact phrase" finds files containing those words in that order.
  • owner:name@yourcompany.com finds files owned by that person.
  • type:spreadsheet or type:pdf finds only that kind of file.
  • after:2026-09-01 finds files changed after that date.
  • is:starred finds your starred files.

Check Recent, Starred & Shared with me

Section titled “Check Recent, Starred & Shared with me”

The left menu has quick lists that often turn up a file faster than search.

Left menu with Shared with me, Recent and Starred highlighted

  • Recent: files you recently opened or edited.
  • Starred: files you marked with a star.
  • Shared with me: files other people shared with you. These are not in My Drive unless you added them.

Also check you are signed in to your work account, not a personal Gmail account.

Restore a file from Trash

Section titled “Restore a file from Trash”

Deleted files wait in Trash for 30 days before Drive deletes them for good.

  1. Click Trash in the left menu.

  2. Look down the list. Trash is sorted by Date trashed, so the most recently deleted files are at the top.

    Trash with Trash highlighted in the left menu and the Date trashed column

  3. Right-click the file or folder and click Restore.

    Right-click menu on a file in Trash with Restore highlighted

The file goes back to where it was. Anyone it was shared with gets access again.

See what happened to a file

Section titled “See what happened to a file”

If a file was moved or deleted and you are not sure by whom, the activity log can tell you.

  1. Open My Drive, or the folder the file used to be in.

  2. Click the info icon at the top right, then Activity.

    Folder view with the info icon and the Activity tab highlighted

  3. Look for recent moves, renames or deletions.

After Trash is emptied

Section titled “After Trash is emptied”

Once Trash is emptied, only your admin can help, and only for 25 more days. Read recover deleted emails or Drive files and contact your admin quickly.

Still stuck

Section titled “Still stuck”

WhatsApp our support team at +60 16-916 3324.

Common issues

A file someone shared with me has disappeared. Where did it go?

The owner may have removed your access, moved it to a folder you cannot open, or deleted it. Ask the owner to check and share it again. If you only removed it from your own view, open the link again to get it back.

My Trash is empty but I need a file I deleted last week. Is it gone?

Not always. For 25 days after Trash is emptied, your Google Workspace admin can restore Drive data. See recover deleted emails or Drive files.

Can I find a file I made inside a folder that someone later deleted?

Yes. Your file is not deleted; it moves back to your My Drive. Search is:unorganized owner:me to list these files.

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