Removing someone else’s shared Google Drive item from your own navigation is different from deleting an original you own. Before using Remove or Move to trash, check the selected item’s owner, location, and whether it is a shortcut.
Identify what you are removing
Inspect the file’s details and sharing. If it is a shortcut in your My Drive, removing that shortcut does not delete the target. If it is an original in a shared project folder, a removal can affect the folder’s organization rather than only your personal view.
Google states that you cannot delete files you do not own through the ordinary My Drive ownership model. Removing another person’s file from a shared folder can move it to the owner’s My Drive, so do not treat that action as harmless personal tidying.
Prefer a personal navigation change
Remove an unnecessary star or your own shortcut when that solves the clutter. Use the available view-specific removal action only after checking its confirmation and scope. Do not empty Trash or select Delete forever as a way to hide a shared item from a list.
If your goal is to end access rather than tidy navigation, ask the owner to remove the relevant permission. Hiding an item does not necessarily revoke your access to its original link.
Verify that shared work remains intact
After a navigation-only change, confirm the original still opens through its authorized link and that other collaborators’ folder structure is unaffected. Shared drives use role-based deletion rules instead of personal ownership, so apply their separate requirements. When unsure, stop and ask the owner or manager which item should be removed rather than testing deletion on an active project.
References
- Share and manage access to files and folders in Google Drive
- Organize your files in Google Drive
- Find files & folders with Google Drive shortcuts
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.