How to Delete Files in Google Drive [Complete Guide - 2024 Edition]

Google Drive is an online storage service that comes with 15 GB of free storage, so you can save as many files as you want. You can also access these files from your laptop or any other device.

Since space can only be filled with so many files, you'll need to delete some. Though the process is simple, some people may need a little help getting started. This article will guide you through deleting files from your Google Drive.

## How to Delete a File from Google Drive on a Laptop It's easy to delete files from Google Drive, whether you're using the web version or the app for Windows or Mac. Follow these steps: ## Delete a File from Web-Based Google Drive 1. **Open a browser and sign into your Google account.** Go to and enter your Google account username and password. 2. **Find the file you want to delete.** Browse through the files and folders in Google Drive until you locate the one you want to get rid of. 3. **Select the file.** Click the filename or the checkbox next to it to select it. Hold down Shift to choose multiple files in a row, or hold Ctrl (or Command on a Mac) to select nonadjacent files. 4. **Click the "Trash" icon.** It looks like a trash can and is located at the top of the menu bar. This will move the selected files to the Trash. 5. **Permanently delete the file (optional).** To delete a file immediately without sending it to the Trash, hold Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac) while clicking the file, then click "Trash." 6. **Empty the Trash by clicking "Trash."** It's in the left-hand menu. This will show all the files in the Trash. Click the trash can icon in the top-right corner to permanently delete everything. 7. **Confirm the deletion if prompted.** If asked to confirm, click "Delete" to complete the process. ## Delete a File from Google Drive on Windows 1. **Open the Google Drive app.** It's a blue icon with a white "G" and an upward arrow. You can usually find it on the taskbar or in the Start menu. 2. **Navigate to the file you want to delete.** In the folder list on the left, find the folder that contains the file you want to remove. 3. **Right-click the file, then select "Delete."** This will send the file to the Recycle Bin. 4. **To permanently delete the file, hold Shift and right-click it.** From the pop-up menu, select "Delete" to bypass the Recycle Bin and permanently delete the file. 5. **Empty the Recycle Bin by opening it.** Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, then click the "Empty Recycle Bin" button in the top-right corner. ## Delete a File from Google Drive on Mac 1. **Open the Google Drive app.** It's a blue icon with a white "G" and an upward arrow. You should find it in the Dock. 2. **Locate the file you want to delete.** In the folder list on the left, find the folder that contains the file you want to remove. 3. **Hold Control and click the file.** From the pop-up menu, select "Move to Trash." 4. **To permanently delete the file, hold Option and click it.** From the pop-up menu, select "Move to Trash" to bypass the Trash and permanently delete the file. 5. **Empty the Trash by opening it.** Click "Trash" in the left panel of Finder, then click "Empty Trash" in the top-right corner. **Warning:** Deleted files go to the Recycle Bin or Trash but don't immediately free up space. Only when you empty the Recycle Bin or Trash do they get permanently deleted and release storage space.

When your Google Drive storage is full, you'll need to delete some files to free up space. But before you do any fixing, it's important to make sure your data is safe.

Let me show you something!

Fix 1: Move the File to the Trash

When you move a file to the Trash from Google Drive, it's kept in the Trash for up to 30 days before it's permanently deleted.

Step 1. Open your “Google Drive” and find the file you want to delete by clicking on it.

Step 2: Click on the “Delete” tab at the top.

Step 3: To delete multiple files, click the first one, then hold down "Ctrl" and click each of the others you want to get rid of.

Step 4: Click the “Remove” tab to delete the files you have selected.

Fix 2: Empty the Recycle Bin (Permanently Delete)

If you don't need these files, it's best to delete them.

Below are the ways to Empty Recycle Bin:

Step one: On your laptop, open Google Drive.

Step 2: Click on the trash can on the far left. Make sure you don't need any of the files. In the top right, click “Empty Trash,” or click the down arrow next to “Trash” to empty it.

Click "Trash".

Yes, you can recover deleted files from Google Drive. When you delete a file from Google Drive, it's moved to the Trash folder. Here's how to restore it: 1. Sign in to your Google Drive account at . 2. Click on the "Trash" folder located on the left sidebar. 3. Find the deleted file or folder you want to recover. 4. Hover over the file and click the three vertical dots (more options) icon next to it. 5. Select "Restore" from the dropdown menu. If the file is not in the Trash folder, it might have been permanently deleted. However, Google provides a limited time frame (usually 30 days) for recovering permanently deleted files. To attempt recovery: 1. Go to Google Drive's Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner. 2. Choose "Settings" from the dropdown menu, then click the "Restore your Google Drive" button under the "General" tab. 3. Set the date range to include the time when the file was deleted and click "Restore." Keep in mind that this will restore all files and folders deleted within the selected time frame, not just the specific one you're looking for. If the file is still not recoverable, you may need to check if it's available in your backup systems or contact Google support for assistance.

If it's been less than a month, you might be able to restore deleted files from Google Drive, since they're moved to the Trash before they're permanently deleted.

However, if it has been completely removed, you might not find it there. But that doesn't mean that you can't recover deleted Google Docs, as you can use a Data Recovery Wizard tool to retrieve files that were synchronized with your computer and deleted from the trash.

Step 1. To recover files from the Recycle Bin on Windows 11/10/8/7, hover the mouse pointer over the 'Location' section and click on 'Recycle Bin'.

Step 2: The tool will immediately start a quick scan for all deleted files and then automatically initiate a deep scan to look for more lost files. Once the scanning process is over, you can use the "Filter" feature to choose a specific file type, such as images, Word documents, videos, and so on.

Step 3: Once you locate the file you want to recover, double-click it for a full preview. Then, select the target file and click "Recover." We recommend saving the recovered files to a different volume or an external USB drive to avoid overwriting your data.

This reliable software can recover various files from HDD, USB, SSD, SD cards, and the recycle bin. Additionally, it boasts several user-friendly features that repair damaged files and documents.

If you found this information helpful, please share it on social media to help others overcome this common challenge.

Fix 3: Permanently delete a single file

For example, you might have a specific Google Drive file in your trash that you want to permanently delete to free up space.

Step one: Open your laptop and go to Google Drive.

Step 2: Click on the “Trash” on the left.

Step 3. Select the files you want to permanently delete, then click “Delete Forever.”

Click “Delete Forever”.

To delete a file from Google Drive on your Android or iPhone, follow these steps: 1. Ensure your device is connected to the internet. 2. Open the Google Drive app on your phone. If you don't have it installed, download and install it from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhone). 3. Sign in to your Google account. If you have multiple accounts, tap the profile picture in the top right corner to switch. 4. In the Google Drive main interface, locate the file or folder you want to delete. 5. Tap and hold the file or folder until a checkmark appears. To select multiple files, tap each one consecutively. 6. After selecting the items to delete, a toolbar will appear. For Android devices, tap the trash can icon at the top; for iPhones, tap the "Delete" button at the bottom. 7. A confirmation dialog will ask if you're sure you want to delete the files. Tap "Delete" or "OK" to proceed, or "Cancel" if you change your mind. 8. The files will be moved to the "Trash" where they can be kept for up to 30 days. To permanently remove them, go to the "Trash," select the files again, and tap "Delete." Now, you've successfully deleted the file from Google Drive on your Android or iPhone. Please note that this action will also remove the files from all other devices associated with the same Google account.

If your Google Drive storage is full on your Android or iPhone, don't worry. You just need to free up space by deleting some files.

How to delete files from Google Drive on Android

One of the most obvious things you do is move files to the Recycle Bin, where they remain for a few days before being permanently deleted.

That means you can still look in the Trash if you need to, but if you don't, the files are gone for good.

Solution 1: Move the file to the Trash

Step 1. Open your “Google Drive.”

Step 2: Tap the “Files” button in the bottom-right corner.

Step 3: Select the files you want to get rid of, then tap the “three vertical dots” on the right side of the device.

Click on the three vertical dots.

Step 4: A new menu will appear; scroll down and tap “Remove” to move the file to the trash.

Solution 2: Permanently delete the file

Moving files to the Trash doesn't mean they're removed from Google Drive. As long as you don't permanently delete them, these files still take up space in your Google Drive.

Here's how to permanently delete a file.

Step 1: Open Google Drive and go to the “Trash” folder.

Step 2: Right-click on the three vertical dots.

Step 3: Click “Erase All” or “Empty Trash” in the upper right to delete everything.

Click "Delete Forever".

How to Delete Files from Google Drive on iPhone

You can permanently delete or move to trash individual or multiple Google Drive files on your iPhone with simple steps.

Fix 1: Move to Trash

Learn how to move files from Google Drive to the trash on your iPhone!

Step one: Open your Google Drive and find the file you want to delete.

Step 2: Tap the “three horizontal dots,” which will open a menu.

Step 3: In the pop-up, scroll down and tap on the “Remove” button.

Step 4: The system will prompt you to confirm the deletion; click “Move to Trash.”

Click “Move to Trash.”

Fix 2: Permanently delete the file

Here's how to permanently delete Google Drive files from your iPhone:

Step 1: Open Google Drive and select “Trash.”

Step 2: Tap the “three horizontal dots.”

Click on the three horizontal dots.

Step 3: Click “Delete for Ever.”

In short

Our post discusses several ways to delete files from Google Drive on a laptop, Android, or iPhone, and offers easy-to-follow step-by-step guides to get you started.

You can also download the Data Recovery Wizard software to help users recover any corrupted files.

How to Delete Files in Google Drive? Frequently Asked Questions

Look at some of the questions people are asking for more insight.

How to permanently delete files from Google Drive? To permanently delete a file or folder from Google Drive, follow these steps: 1. Log in to your Google account and go to [Google Drive](https://drive.google.com). 2. In the left sidebar of Google Drive, locate the file or folder you want to delete. 3. Select the file or folder by clicking the checkbox next to it. 4. If deleting multiple items, hold down `Ctrl` (Windows) or `Command` (Mac) and click each file or folder you wish to remove. 5. Once you've selected all the items to delete, hover your mouse over the selected files or folders, and then click the trash icon that appears at the top. 6. In the pop-up window, confirm that you want to permanently delete the selected files or folders. If desired, check "Also delete from Trash" to remove them immediately from the Trash. 7. Click "Delete" to proceed. Please note that once a file or folder is permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered unless you restore it from the Trash before it's automatically removed. Files remain in the Trash for a certain period (default is 30 days) before being automatically deleted. To empty the Trash and immediately delete all contents, click the settings icon in the top right corner, then select "Trash" > "Empty Trash."

Moving a file to the trash saves some space, but it still takes up extra room. Therefore, if you don't need the file, it's best to delete it permanently.

1. Step 1. Go to Google Drive.
2. Step 2. Click on the "Trash" folder on the left.
3. Step 3. Make sure there aren't any files you need for future use.
4. Step 4. Click "Empty Trash" in the top right corner.

2. How do I clean up my Google Drive?

Cleaning up your Google Drive can free up space for more files. Here are some ways to help you clear out your Google Drive!

• Step 1. Remove old files that are no longer needed.
• Step 2. Empty your Google Drive trash.
• Step 3. Find and delete duplicate files.
• Step 4. Delete any hidden app data in Google Drive.

How do I delete multiple files in Google Drive? To delete multiple files in Google Drive, follow these steps: 1. Log in to your Google account and go to [Google Drive](https://drive.google.com). 2. In the main Google Drive interface, locate the files and folders you want to delete. 3. Hover your mouse over the first file you wish to delete and click the checkmark box in its upper-left corner to select it. 4. Hold down the `Ctrl` key (Windows) or `Command` key (Mac) and then click on other files you want to delete. This will select multiple files. 5. If you want to select a consecutive series of files, click the first one, hold down the `Shift` key, and then click the last file; all files in between will be selected. 6. After selecting all the files you want to delete, click the "Trash" icon in the top menu bar. It looks like a trash can with a minus sign. 7. In the confirmation dialog that appears, click "Delete" to permanently remove the files, or choose "Move to Trash" if you want to keep them for a while. 8. The files will be moved to the "Trash" folder, where they will remain for a certain period before being automatically deleted. To immediately empty the Trash, click the Trash icon in the top-right corner and then click "Empty Trash." Please note that deleted files can be restored from the Trash, but once they're permanently removed from the Trash, they cannot be recovered.

See how to delete multiple files from Google Drive.

1. Step 1. Open Google Drive on your computer.
2. Step 2. Click the first file, then hold down "Ctrl" while clicking other files to select them.
3. Step 3. Click "Delete" to remove all selected files.

4. How do I remove unused files from Google Drive?

Learn how to delete files you no longer use from Google Drive.

1. Step 1: Open your Google Drive.
2. Step 2: Locate the unwanted file and delete it.
3. Step 3: The file will be moved to the Trash. Open the Trash and select the file you don't need.
4. Step 4: Click the "Trash" icon in the top-right corner to permanently remove it.
5. Step 5: Click "Permanently Delete."