A shared-drive file still in Trash can be restored through the appropriate drive’s Trash view. Google’s current guide requires at least Contributor access for this supported restoration and describes a 30-day Trash period. Act promptly and confirm the original location afterward.
Locate the correct drive’s Trash
Use the authorized work or school account and open Drive on a computer. Select Trash and use the Deleted from selector to choose the relevant shared drive. Do not assume your personal My Drive Trash shows the same content.
Identify the file by name, original link where available, and deletion context. Ask the manager when several similar items or uncertain folders are involved.
Restore the intended item
Select the specific recoverable item and use Restore. Avoid broad selections or recreating a same-name file while the original remains available. A replacement upload can split versions and existing links.
If the required role or item is unavailable, contact the shared-drive manager promptly. A permanent deletion or expired Trash period needs a different administrator review and may not be recoverable.
Verify content and access
Open the restored original and check its contents, current location, and intended collaborators’ access. If the previous folder structure changed, resolve the correct destination with the manager instead of moving the file repeatedly. Confirm that desktop synchronization, where used, reflects the intended state before making additional local changes. Preserve relevant incident or deletion records under organizational policy. Restoration is a content-lifecycle action; it does not automatically reverse unrelated sharing changes or retrieve copies that left the organization before the deletion.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.