Feelings of despondency don't get much worse than when you think you've deleted something you really need. Many of us now have files synced to the cloud from our phones and laptops, but sometimes data can disappear from there too – perhaps due to pressing the wrong button or swiping through the wrong menu item.
If this happens to you, don't lose hope: most cloud storage services have a deleted file recovery feature, similar to the Recycle Bin in Windows and the Trash folder in macOS.
This means that any files you delete, intentionally or not, can be restored without much hassle. You just need to quickly admit your mistake. We'll walk you through your options when cloud files are deleted by mistake and how you can get them back.
How cloud file syncing usually works
Most cloud services, including Google Drive and iCloud, support two-way synchronization between the cloud and your devices. This means that if you add, change, or delete a file on your phone, those same changes are copied to your cloud storage, and vice versa. This means that backups are instant and automatic, but this can lead to problems when files disappear unexpectedly.
This also means that if files and folders are accidentally deleted in one location, they are also deleted in another, defeating the point of having a cloud backup in the first place. Luckily, the backup features we've outlined below can help you get your data back after it's been deleted from the cloud.
While two-way sync is usually the default setting, this is not always the case. You can upload files separately to your cloud storage. WITH iCloud Drive on the webFor example, click the upload button above the list of files (the arrow pointing to the cloud) to select a file from your computer – it will remain in the cloud no matter what happens to the local copy.
It's the same with Google Drive on the web. In any folder you can click New and then Uploading a file or Uploading a folder copy something from your computer without connecting two-way synchronization. Hopefully this has clarified how files are moved and processed locally and in the cloud, and we can now turn our attention to file recovery.
Recovering Google Drive Files
If you delete a file you want back in Google Drive, regardless of whether the deletion was caused by syncing with your devices, you have 30 days to get it back. After that time, they'll disappear from Google Drive forever—unless you've backed them up somewhere else, you won't be able to get them back.
If you onlineClick the Trash link in the left menu bar to see everything that was recently deleted: you can sort the files using the filters at the top, but you won't be able to open the file until you recover it. These files will be automatically deleted after 30 days, but you can immediately delete them in bulk by clicking Empty trash button in the upper right corner.
To restore a file, right-click it and select Restore (rather than Delete permanently). To recover multiple files, use the command Shift key or Ctrl/Cmd (Windows/macOS) to select all the files you want to get back, then right-click them. The files will return to the same folders in your Google Drive from which they were deleted.
The process is very similar if you use Google Drive apps for Android or iOS. Press the top left menu button (three horizontal lines), then Garbageto view recently deleted files. You can then click the three dots next to the individual file and select Restore to bring it back. You can also long-press the list to select multiple files, then tap the three dots (top right) to find a file. Restore option.
Recovering Apple iCloud Files
Everything works similarly in the iCloud cloud storage owned by Apple. There's a 30-day period during which you can recover files you've deleted, and after that they'll be gone forever – so after that point you'll either have to get them from somewhere else or make do without them.
In fact, the easiest way to do this is iCloud on the web. On the first screen, scroll down the page and tap the icon Data Recovery Section – This will take you to a screen where you can access files, contacts, bookmarks, and calendars that have been recently deleted on your Apple devices.
Follow Recover files link and you can get back some or all of your recently deleted files: either select them individually or use Select all link to select everything on the screen. At the bottom of the dialog box, you'll see two options: delete the files permanently or restore them to their original location in iCloud.
The same function is available in Files app on your iPhone. Tap Browsethen Recently deleted: You can long press individual files to search Restore And Delete now options, or tap the three dots (top right), then select Select to select multiple files at once. Uninstall and restore options will appear at the bottom of the screen.
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