A Workspace administrator can recover certain permanently deleted Drive data within a supported window, but this is different from a user restoring an item still in Trash. Confirm the deletion stage, account state, privileges, and available storage before starting.
Identify the applicable window
Google’s current guide describes administrator recovery within 25 days after a user empties Trash. It separately describes a 20-day account-deletion recovery case. Ordinary Trash retention and shared-drive recovery are different workflows.
Ask when the item was permanently removed, not just when someone first clicked Delete. Record the user, expected file, and narrow relevant date range.
Restore the supported range
With the appropriate User management privilege, use Admin console, Directory, Users, the relevant user’s More options, and Restore data. Select the appropriate date range and Drive application through the current interface.
Google says this restores all eligible files removed in the selected range, not one chosen individual file or folder. Only one restoration project should run at a time; starting another can stop one of the projects.
Verify the actual recovery
Allow processing time and inspect restored data in the user’s Drive. Storage limits can stop restoration, and excluded or out-of-window data cannot be promised. Google’s guide also says restored items need to be reshared for others to regain access. Verify content and required collaborator permissions separately. Google Vault retention can provide a different search-and-export route but not a direct equivalent restoration. Keep the request and results documented, and do not delete or alter unrelated files while trying to make space or simplify a partially completed recovery.
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.