28 useful answers · Page 2 of 2
Organize and share files, manage permissions, and recover missing work.
Search this topicIn Drive's settings on a computer, enable conversion of uploads to Google Docs editor formats. Then upload a supported document and inspect the converted result. Complex formatting may need review before sharing. Keep your original file separately if preserving its exact layout or compatibility is important.
Open Trash in Drive, locate the file, right-click it, and choose Restore. Sorting by the date it was trashed can help. Files normally remain there for 30 days before permanent deletion, so act promptly. If it is already gone, check Google's recovery options; recovery is not guaranteed.
Files in Trash still count toward storage until permanently deleted. Review Trash and confirm you have backups before emptying it or deleting selected files forever. This step removes the normal restore option. Also check that you are looking at the correct account and deleting files that actually use its storage.
If you own the file, collaborators can continue accessing it until it is permanently deleted. If you do not own it, removing your entry does not delete everyone else's copy of the shared original. To stop access while preserving the file, review its sharing permissions rather than relying on Trash.
Source checks for these answers: September 21, 2026. Product instructions and local requirements can vary.