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How To Delete Google Drive Files Permanently On IPhone, Android, Windows PC And Mac

Whether you're using an iPhone, Android device, Windows PC, or Mac, this guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to Delete Google Drive Files Permanently on iPhone, Android, Windows PC and Mac.

Author:Daniel BarrettApr 08, 202326 Shares594 Views
Google Drive is a popular cloud storage service that allows users to store and access their files from anywhere. However, there may come a time when you need to permanently delete files from your Google Drive account.
Whether you're using an iPhone, Androiddevice, Windows PC, or Mac, this guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to Delete Google Drive Files Permanently on iPhone, Android, Windows PC and Mac.
By the end of this article, you'll be able to free up space on your Google Drive and keep your storage organized.

How To Delete Google Drive Files Permanently On IPhone, Android, Windows PC And Mac

Deleting Google Drive Files Permanently On IPhone

To delete files permanently on iPhone, you can follow these simple steps:
  • Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone.
  • Select the files or folders you want to delete permanently.
  • Tap and hold the selected files until the contextual menu appears.
  • Tap the “Remove” button.
  • Tap “Delete” to confirm.
Note that once you delete the files permanently on your iPhone, you can’t recover them.

Permanently Delete Files on Google Drive from iPhone (How to)

Deleting Google Drive Files Permanently On Android

Deleting Google Drive files permanently on an Android device is similar to the process on iPhone. Here’s how to do it:
  • Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
  • Select the files or folders you want to delete permanently.
  • Tap and hold the selected files until the contextual menu appears.
  • Tap the “Remove” button.
  • Tap “Delete” to confirm.
Just like on iPhone, files deleted permanently on Android can’t be recovered.

Deleting Google Drive Files Permanently On Windows PC

Deleting Google Drive files permanently on a Windows PC is a bit different than on mobile devices. Here’s what you need to do:
  • Open the Google Drive website on your browser and sign in to your account.
  • Select the files or folders you want to delete permanently.
  • Right-click on the selected files and choose “Delete Forever.”
  • Click “Delete” to confirm.
Be careful when deleting files permanently on a Windows PC as the files can’t be recovered once they’re deleted.

Deleting Google Drive Files Permanently On Mac

If you’re using a Mac, you can follow these steps to delete files permanently on Google Drive:
  • Open the Google Drive website on your browser and sign in to your account.
  • Select the files or folders you want to delete permanently.
  • Right-click on the selected files and choose “Remove.”
  • Click “Trash” and then “Empty Trash” to permanently delete the files.
Once you empty the trash on Mac, the files can’t be recovered.

What Is The Difference Between Deleting And Permanently Deleting Files On Google Drive?

When you delete a file on Google Drive, it is moved to the Trash folder, where it will remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted.
During this time, you can still recover the file if you change your mind. However, after 30 days, the file will be automatically deleted and cannot be recovered.
On the other hand, permanently deleting a file on Google Drive means that it will be immediately deleted from your account without being moved to the Trash folder.
Once a file is permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered through the Google Drive interface, and you will need to use a third-party data recovery tool to try and retrieve the file.
It's important to note that permanent deletion is irreversible, and once a file is permanently deleted, it is gone forever.
This is why it's important to make sure that you really want to permanently delete a file before doing so, as there is no way to undo the action once it's been taken.
Additionally, Google Drive does not offer any guarantees or warranties about the effectiveness of third-party data recovery tools, so there's no guarantee that you will be able to recover a permanently deleted file using these tools.

How To Free Up Space On Google Drive By Deleting Files Permanently?

Google Drive is a convenient cloud storage platform that offers users the ability to store and access files from any device with internet access. However, as files accumulate over time, users may find that they are running out of storage space.
One solution to this problem is to delete unnecessary files permanently from Google Drive. Here are the steps to free up space on Google Drive by deleting files permanently:
  • Sign in to your Google Drive account on your device.
  • Navigate to the file or folder that you want to delete.
  • Right-click on the file or folder and select "Remove" from the drop-down menu.
  • In the pop-up window, click on the "Trash" button to move the file or folder to the Trash.
  • To permanently delete the file or folder, open the Trash folder by clicking on the "Trash" option in the left-hand menu.
  • Right-click on the file or folder that you want to permanently delete and select "Delete forever" from the drop-down menu.
  • Confirm the deletion by clicking on the "Delete forever" button in the pop-up window.
Note that permanently deleting files from Google Drive means that they cannot be recovered, so make sure to double-check that you no longer need the file or folder before taking this action.

Gmail Tips: How to Clear Gmail Space for More Google Drive Storage

Can I Recover Permanently Deleted Files From Google Drive On Windows PC Or Mac?

Yes, it is possible to recover permanently deleted files from Google Drive on Windows PC or Mac, but only if you have backed up your data using Google Drive's built-in backup and sync features or if you have used a third-party backup tool.
If you have not backed up your data, then there is no way to recover the permanently deleted files.
To recover permanently deleted files from Google Drive on Windows PC or Mac, you can follow these steps:
  • Log in to your Google Drive account and click on the "Trash" option on the left sidebar.
  • Look for the file that you want to recover and select it.
  • Click on the "Restore" button to move the file from the trash to its original location.
  • If the file is not in the trash, then you can try using the "Undo" option. Click on the "Undo" button that appears on the screen after you delete a file, and the file will be restored to its original location.
If you have backed up your data, you can restore your deleted files using the backup tool. If you have used a third-party backup tool, then you can use that tool to restore the deleted files.
It is always recommended to back up your data regularly to avoid data loss in case of accidental deletion or system failure.

People Also Ask

How Do I Permanently Delete Files From Google Drive On My IPhone?

To permanently delete files from Google Drive on your iPhone, you can follow these steps:
  • Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone.
  • Find the file you want to delete and swipe left on it.
  • Tap the three-dot icon that appears.
  • Tap "Remove".
  • Tap "Remove" again to confirm.

How Can I Delete Files Permanently From Google Drive On My Android Device?

To permanently delete files from Google Drive on your Android device, you can follow these steps:
  • Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
  • Find the file you want to delete and long-press on it.
  • Tap the three-dot icon that appears.
  • Tap "Remove".
  • Tap "Delete" to permanently delete the file.

How Do I Permanently Delete Files From Google Drive On My Windows PC?

To permanently delete files from Google Drive on your Windows PC, you can follow these steps:
  • Open the Google Drive website in your web browser.
  • Find the file you want to delete and right-click on it.
  • Click "Remove".
  • Click "Trash" on the left-hand side of the page.
  • Find the file you want to delete permanently and right-click on it.
  • Click "Delete forever".

How Can I Permanently Delete Files From Google Drive On My Mac?

To permanently delete files from Google Drive on your Mac, you can follow these steps:
  • Open the Google Drive website in your web browser.
  • Find the file you want to delete and control-click on it.
  • Click "Remove".
  • Click "Trash" on the left-hand side of the page.
  • Find the file you want to delete permanently and control-click on it.
  • Click "Delete forever".

Can I Recover Files After Permanently Deleting Them From Google Drive?

No, once you have permanently deleted files from Google Drive, they cannot be recovered. It is important to be sure you want to permanently delete a file before doing so.

Final Thought

How to Delete Google Drive Files Permanently on iPhone, Android, Windows PC and Mac is a straightforward process.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can free up storage space and keep your Google Drive organized.
It is essential to note that once you delete files permanently, they cannot be retrieved, so make sure you double-check before clicking on the delete button.
Remember to regularly clean up your Google Drive and delete any files you no longer need to keep it running smoothly.
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Daniel Barrett

Daniel Barrett

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