# Recover deleted emails or Drive files in Google Workspace

> Deleted Gmail and Drive items stay in Trash for 30 days; an admin can then restore them for 25 more days, or recover a deleted user within 20 days.
>
> Source: https://docs.officeniaga.com/workspace-recover-deleted/

Gmail and Drive keep deleted items in **Trash** for 30 days, then your company admin can restore data for 25 more days, or recover a deleted account within 20 days.

## Check Trash first

1. In Gmail, click **More**, then **Trash**. Select the message, click **Move to**, and choose **Inbox**.
2. In Drive, click **Trash**, right-click the file or folder, and choose **Restore**.

Items are gone for good after 30 days, or sooner if Trash is emptied.

## After Trash is emptied: an admin can restore data

1. Sign in to [admin.google.com](https://admin.google.com) and go to **Directory > Users**.
2. Point to the user and click **More options > Restore data**.
3. Pick a date range within the last 25 days, choose **Gmail** or **Drive** under **Application**, then click **Restore**; repeat for the other app if needed.

Restored mail lands in the Inbox and can take a few days to appear; it cannot recover drafts, spam, labels, or items still in Trash.

## If the whole account was deleted

Deleting a user account, not just their data, starts a shorter 20-day clock.

1. Go to **Directory > Users**.
2. Click **More options > Recently deleted users**.
3. Point to the user and click **Recover**.
4. Click **Continue**, choose an organisational unit, then click **Recover**.

Gmail and Drive data returns with the account within 24 hours. Recovery needs a free licence; contact [Office Niaga to add one](/workspace-licences-renewal/) if none is spare, since you cannot buy licences in the Admin console.

## Suspend a leaver instead of deleting

Because deleting starts the clock, [suspend a leaver's account](/workspace-staff-leaving/) first and delete it later once nothing is needed. If a mailbox fills up meanwhile, see [Google Workspace storage full](/workspace-storage-full/).

## Still stuck

WhatsApp our support team at [+60 16-916 3324](https://wa.me/60169163324).

## Common issues

### How long do I have to recover something from Trash myself?

30 days. Gmail and Drive both delete Trash items for good after that, so check Trash as soon as you notice something missing.

### Can an admin still get something back after Trash is emptied?

Yes, for 25 more days, using Restore data in the Google Admin console. After that the data is gone even for Google.

### I deleted a leaver's whole account by mistake. Can it come back?

Only within 20 days, via Recently deleted users. It is safer to suspend a leaver (/workspace-staff-leaving/) first instead of deleting straight away.