[Fixed] Google Drive Files Missing

“Why did my files disappear from Google Drive?”

Google Drive offers cloud storage solutions for users to sync, store, and share their files. People could use it as a personal cloud storage device or a cooperating tool.

But similar to other cloud storage apps, e.g., Dropbox; when using it, users might meet errors like sync issues, file missing issues, etc., might happen.

Some users are seeking help to recover files and folders in Dropbox.

Google Drive is not an exception.

There are a bunch of threads reporting Google Drive files missing issues. When it comes to the reasons, we could look into several factors.

• The parent folder of your missing files was deleted.
• The Google Drive folder/files shared with you were removed or permanently deleted by the owner.
• You have deleted or permanently deleted the Google Drive files on Google Drive but then you forgot it.
• You have deleted the files locally on your drive then they were synced.
• The files you created were deleted by Google.

You may ask, will Google delete your files? If so, why?

Will Google delete my files?

According to Google Drive’s Term of Service, it will terminate users’ access or delete their accounts if:

• Harmful, spamming, illegal, etc., contents are found.
• Repeated actions that breach use terms are found.
• Or, out of legal requirement.

But, an ordinary user hardly ever breaches the user terms. So, if your account is in normal use, your files and accounts will be safe and sound.

Then, how to fix the problem: Google Drive files missing? Check the 5 fixes below.

>> Quick Access:

• Fix 1. Try the advanced search to locate the files missing in Google Drive
• Fix 2. Take a look at the Activity Panel
• Fix 3. Recover deleted Google Drive files from Trash
• Fix 4. Ask Google Drive Support to recover your files missing in Google Drive
• Fix 5. Recover Google Drive missing files locally on your PC with ease

Troubleshoot: Google Drive files missing

If you found files not showing up in Google Drive, try these 5 practicable methods provided in this section.

Fix 1. Try the advanced search to locate the files missing in Google Drive

As mentioned above, your Google Drive files might be lost because of the parent folder gets deleted. At this time, the files you created are not genuinely deleted along with the folder but moved to your drive.

Given this, you only need to locate it with the advanced search.

Step 1. Sign in to your Google account > go to Google Drive > input is:unorganized owner:me in the search box. Thus you could find your files under a deleted folder shared with you.

Step 2. Or, click the filter icon beside the search box > choose the filter option according to your situation. E.g., Type, Owner, Item name, Location, etc.

Fix 2. Take a look at the Activity Panel

Activity will record your operations: adding, editing, sharing, deleting, etc. Check the Activity panel to locate your wanted files.

Step 1. Go to My Drive > click the Info icon in the top-right corner.

Step 2. Click Activity > see if you can find your needed files.

Fix 3. Recover deleted Google Drive files from Trash

If the methods above could not help you regain access to your files, then perhaps your files were deleted somehow.

Firstly, let’s check the Trash. The Trash works similarly to the Recycle Bin on your computer. You could recover deleted files from Recycle Bin easily.

But, slightly different, all items deleted will be temporarily stored here only for 30 days.

Step 1. Sign in to your Google account.

Step 2. Go to Trash > check if your wanted files are there > choose what you need > right-click on the files > click Restore.

To select multiple files at a time, tap the “CTRL” key.

Fix 4. Ask Google Drive Support to recover your files missing in Google Drive

If no needed files are found in the Trash, then maybe your files have been permanently removed or exceeded the 30-day limit.

With this, you could try to contact Google Drive Support and ask them to recover the files for you.

But attention please that files that were permanently deleted too long ago might not be recovered successfully.

Step 1. Go to the Google Drive Help site > sign in to your account.

Step 2. Fill in the required info > click I consent to allow Google to attempt to recover files… > click Submit to send your request.

Step 3. A reply will be sent back in about 12-48 hours.

Check if all the files were recovered in your Google Drive.

Fix 5. Recover Google Drive missing files locally on your PC with ease

As has been mentioned before, the Google Drive Help page can only attempt to restore the files deleted not so long ago. And it takes at most 2 days to get back the data.

But every second counts. The more you use the affected storage space, the larger the possibility that files will get overwritten. Once overwritten, they will never be back.

Provided with this, turning to a professional and efficient data recovery tool will be a wiser choice.

If you have synced and backed up files to Google Drive, you could try using a tool to scan the local drive for your deleted files.

What’s more, using reliable Windows data recovery software, you could scan and recover missing and deleted data within several seconds to minutes. Among bunches of these tools, MyRecover will be the best option.

Now start recovering files missing in Google Drive in a breeze.

Step 1. Run the program > hover the mouse over the affected local drive > click Scan.

Step 2. Target the files using the filters: Size, Path, Type, etc.

Step 3. Go to Deleted files > find the original location > select and click Recover x files. If failed, go to Other missing files and go to the target file type.

In this way, you could get back Google Drive missing files in a very short time. Not only a healthy drive, but you could restore data from formatted hard drives as well.

FAQ about Google Drive missing files

This post provides 5 viable means to fix Google Drive files missing issues to help you re-access your files.

Check the Q&A below if you have extra questions.