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Google Drive is the cloud server owned by Google that allows you to store your files in a digital format. Unfortunately, however, Google Drive storage fills up quickly, meaning you eventually have to purchase more space or delete documents you no longer need. Google Drive only comes with 15GB, and it, as mentioned, goes away fast.

You will need to learn how to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone devices or other technologies if you do not want to pay for more storage. Continue reading below to learn more about the variety of methods that you can use to erase documents.

Delete Files From Google Drive on an iPhone or iPad

No matter the iOS device that you own, the process required for erasing Google Drive documents is the same. You can learn how to delete files from Google Drive on iPad or iPhone devices using the steps below.

  1. Open the app and sign in to your account.
  2. On the bottom right corner of the screen, press the folder icon.
  3. Locate the files you can delete, and press the three horizontal dots next to them.
  4. Scroll through the options until you get to “remove.”
  5. Confirm that you want to move the file to the trash folder by pressing “Remove” again.
How to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone - click on the horizontal dots
How to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone - click on move to trash

Undo the Delete Action

There may be a chance that you accidentally hit the remove button when trying to do something else with the file under the menu. Thankfully, in the Google Drive iOS app, there is an “Undo” option that appears right after you press “Remove.” Press the former button quickly to keep the file in your Google Drive folder.

Permanently Delete Google Drive Files on an iOS Device

If you want to learn how to delete files from Google Drive on iPad or iPhone devices permanently, you can do so using the steps below. It is safe to assume, however, that the Google Drive app is already on your smartphone or tablet.

  1. Sign in if needed.
  2. In the top left corner, click on the menu icon. It resembles three horizontal lines.
  3. Scroll down to the “Trash” option.
  4. On the top right corner, press the three horizontal dots.
  5. Press “Empty Trash.”
  6. Click “Delete Forever” in the confirmation window.
How to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone - click on trash

Restore Deleted Files

After you learn how to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone or iPad devices, you must know how to restore them. Continue reading below to learn the required steps.

  1. Click on the menu in the top right corner. Again, it looks like three horizontal lines.
  2. Press on the “Trash” option.
  3. Locate the file you want to restore.
  4. Click on the three horizontal dots next to it, and press “Restore.”
how to delete files from Google Drive on Android - click on trash
how to delete files from Google Drive on Android - click on restore

Files will only stay in the “Trash” folder for 30 days. Make sure you restore your document before that timeframe expires.

Delete Files on an Android

You can also learn how to delete files from Google Drive on Android devices. The steps below will work on smartphones and tablets.

  1. Download Google Drive from the Google Play store.
  2. Sign in to your Google account.
  3. On the bottom right corner of the screen, press the “Files” icon.
  4. Find the file you want to remove and press the three vertical dots next to it.
  5. Press “More,” followed by “Remove.”

You do not need to confirm the removal as you did when learning how to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone or iPad devices. It is easier to mistakenly delete a document on Android for this reason.

Recover Deleted Files on Androids

As mentioned, it is easier to accidentally delete a document in the Google Drive app for Androids. You do not have to confirm the removal of any file. Thankfully, as long as it is less than 30 days from when you deleted the document, you can recover it using the steps below.

  1. Open the Google Drive app and sign in to your account.
  2. On the upper left corner, press the three horizontal lines that represent the menu.
  3. Scroll down to the “Trash” option, and tap it.
  4. Find the file you need to recover and tap the three vertical dots next to it.
  5. Press “More,” followed by “Restore.”

Again, however, the “Undo” option does show up for a few seconds after you delete a file from the home screen. Quickly press it to recover your document without needing to follow the above steps.

Permanently Delete Google Drive Files on Android Devices

Finally, you can learn how to delete files from Google Drive on Android devices permanently. Many of the steps below are the same as those used for iOS technologies.

  1. Download the Google Drive app from the Google Play store if needed and sign in.
  2. In the upper left corner, press the menu icon. It will resemble three horizontal lines.
  3. Scroll down to “Trash.”
  4. In the upper right corner, press the three vertical dots. Press “Delete Forever.”
  5. You can also click on the three vertical dots next to any file, again pressing “Delete Forever.”

Delete Google Drive Files on a Computer Browser

Finally, you can learn how to delete files on a computer browser. Use the steps below to get started.

  1. Go to drive.google.com and log in to your account.
  2. Find the file you want to remove and click on it.
  3. On the toolbar, press the trashcan icon to delete it.

Recover Deleted Files on Google Drive on the Browser

If you want to recover Google Drive files on a browser, the process is simple. You can learn more below.

  1. Open a browser on your computer, and enter www.drive.google.com.
  2. On the left side of the screen, click on “Trash.”
  3. Find the file you want to restore.
  4. Right-click on the file, then click “Restore.”

On a browser, you can sort your documents by date or title. Taking this step will make it easier to find your files on your Google Drive folder.

Permanently Delete Files on Google Drive on a Browser

To permanently remove your Google Drive files on a browser, you can follow the steps below.

  1. Open a browser and type in www.drive.google.com.
  2. Click on “Trash” in the left menu.
  3. Restore any files you want to keep in your account.
  4. On the top right, press “Empty Trash.”

You can permanently delete individual documents in the “Trash” folder on Google Drive on the browser too. Use the steps below.

  1. Go to www.drive.google.com.
  2. On the left side of the screen, click on “Trash.”
  3. Choose the file you want to permanently delete.
  4. At the top of the screen, click “Delete Forever.”

Delete Files from Google Drive on a Mobile Browser

If you want to learn how to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone browsers like Safari, you can. You will need to use the desktop version of the webpage, however. Learn more in the steps below.

  1. Open the Safari app and type in www.drive.google.com.
  2. Sign in to your account.
  3. On the left side of the web address, click the “Aa” option.
  4. Press “Request Desktop Site.”
  5. Follow the steps above for deleting Google Drive files on a desktop browser.

Recover Permanently Deleted Files

Whether you permanently delete a file on Google Drive on the app or computer, you can recover them. You do have to be on a desktop browser, however, to follow the steps below.

  1. Go to google.com and sign in to your G Suite Admin page.
  2. In the “Admin Console,” press “Users.”
  3. Find the appropriate account with the files you need to recover.
  4. Hover over the username, and press “More.”
  5. Click “Restore Data,” then select the appropriate date range.
  6. Press “Restore.”

Special Circumstances

Rather than deleting each file one at a time, you can erase multiple documents, no matter the platform you want to use.

Delete Multiple Files on Smart Devices

if you want to use an iOS or Android device to delete multiple files, you can use the steps below.

  1. When you get to the first file you want to delete, press, and hold it.
  2. Tap on all of the other files you want to delete.
  3. Click on the three horizontal or vertical dots on the top right corner.
  4. Press “Remove.”
how to delete files from Google Drive on iPad - hold until you can select the other files
How to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone - click on the remove button

Delete Multiple Files on a Computer Browser

You can learn how to delete multiple files on a Mac or Windows computer browser using the below steps.

  1. Go to www.drive.google.com and log in to your account.
  2. Find the first file you want to erase from the drive.
  3. On a Windows computer, press down the “Ctrl” key. On a Mac, hold the “Command” key. Choose the other files you want to remove.
  4. On the toolbar at the top of the webpage, press the trashcan icon.

Delete Shared Files

One of the benefits of using Google Drive is that you can share files to collaborate with others. Learn to delete them below.

Delete Shared Files on a Computer

To delete shared files on your computer, use the steps below.

  1. Go to drive.google.com and click on the “Shared with Me” tab.
  2. Select the file you want to delete.
  3. Press the trashcan icon on the top toolbar.

Delete Shared Files on the App

Whether you have an Android or iPhone, use the steps below to delete shared files on the Google Drive app.

  • Open the Google Drive app and log in.
  • On the bottom, click on the “Shared” tab.
  • Press the three horizontal or vertical dots next to the appropriate file.
  • Tap “Remove.”

Manage Your Google Drive Files

By now, you should have a better understanding of how to delete files from Google Drive on iPhone, Android, or desktop devices. Google Drive will automatically remove your erased documents after 30 days, but there are permanent removal options.

Google Drive also allows you to recover deleted files from the “Trash” folder, so long as it has not been 30 days. If you need to recover permanently erased documents, you have to log in to your admin console.

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