Google Drive: how to recover lost files

Knowing how to recover files from Google Drive is very important, especially when we accidentally delete them or they disappear mysteriously.

In late 2023, a Korean user of the service claimed that all of his files had disappeared since May of the same year. In response, Google stated that it would investigate the issue and offer a solution for it.

And this solution is now available, and you will know what it is now.

Learn how to recover files from Google Drive

This first step-by-step guide on how you can recover data from your Google Drive is aimed at people who have the storage service app.  

1. Download Google Drive, but the latest desktop version (85.0.13.0 or higher) from site Of google;.
2. Run the downloaded installation file;
3. Open the Drive desktop app;
4. In the menu bar or system tray, click the Drive desktop icon;
5. Press and hold the key Shift and click settings;
6. Click Recover from backups.

When the recovery begins, you will see one of the following notifications:

• Recovery has started.
• No backups were found.

If a backup is found, after some time you will receive one of the following notifications:

• Recovery is complete.
• There is not enough disk space.

What to do if there is not enough space when performing the hard drive recovery service?

If you do not have enough disk space to recover your files, you can free up the required amount in the following ways:

• Deleting unnecessary folders and files on your device
• Moving files to an external storage device 

Read more: How to recover deleted photos from iCloud or Google Photos

Restore files from Google Drive trash

Image: Pexels

To restore a file from the trash, whether in the app or in the online version of the service, follow these steps:

1. Visit drive.google.com on your computer or in the Google Drive app;
2. Click on the tab Bin;
3. Find the file you want to restore. You will find if it has been deleted in the last 30 days;
4. Right-click the file and select To restore.

The file will be restored to its original location, but if that location no longer exists, you can find it in the “My Google Drive“.

Request a data recovery

If you deleted a file and emptied the trash, you can still request a data recovery. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Google Admin Console;
2. In the Admin Console, go to Directory Menu;
3. Find the user who deleted the file;
4. Point to the user and click More options;
5. Choice Request a data recovery;
6. Select the period of data you want to restore and click To send.

Google will review your request and, if approved, the data will be restored to the user.

Google Drive Backup

Another way to keep your files protected when using the Google Drive storage service is through backup. This way, you can have a backup copy of the stored data to restore it in case of loss, corruption, hacking or deletion.

But don't worry as the Google Drive backup process is very simple and can be done in two ways.

1. Automatic Google Drive Backup

Google Drive can automatically back up your data at regular intervals. To make this configuration, follow the steps below:

    1. Open the Google Drive application on your computer;

    2. Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen;

    3. Select settings;

    4. Click on the tab Backup;

    5. Select Automatically back up my computer;

    6. Select the folders you want to backup;

    7. Click To save.

2. Manual backup

You can also back up Google Drive photos, or any other files, manually by selecting them and downloading them to your computer. 

    1. Open the Google Drive application on your computer;

    2. Select the files and folders you want to backup;

    3. Right-click on the selected files or folders;

    4. Select Download.

Back up Google Drive to an external hard drive

Image: Pexels

You can do this in two ways.

1: Using the Google Drive app

1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer.
2. Open the Google Drive app on your computer.
3. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen.
4. Select settings.
5. Click on the tab Backup.
6. Select Automatically back up my computer.
7. Select the option Google Drive (local).
8. click in To save.

Google Drive will start backing up your data to your external hard drive. 

2: Using backup software

There are several backup software available that allow you to backup Google Drive to an external hard drive. An example of backup software is AOMEI Backupper Standard.

To backup Google Drive to an external hard drive using AOMEI Backupper Standard, follow these steps:

1. Download and install AOMEI Backupper Standard;
2. Connect the external hard drive to your computer;
3. Launch AOMEI Backupper Standard;
4. click in Tools;
5. Select Google Drive Backup;
6. Log in to your Google account;
7. Select the files and folders you want to backup;
8. Select the external hard drive as the backup destination;
9. click in Start Backup.

Don't lose any more files

Without a doubt, with the tips we've given you, you won't have any difficulties accessing Google Drive data recovery services. 

Rest assured that you won't lose any images or important work documents and enjoy all of Google Drive's storage management features.