How to recover deleted Google Docs
Have you ever accidentally deleted an important Google Doc and found yourself in a panic? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Deleting a document in Google Docs can be a distressing experience, but there are several methods you can use to recover deleted Google Docs. In this article, we will discuss the steps to follow to ensure that your deleted documents are not lost forever.
1. Check the trash folder
The first step in recovering deleted Google Docs is to check the trash folder. When you delete a document, it is not immediately deleted from your account; instead, it is moved to the trash folder. This gives you a chance to restore the document before it is permanently deleted. To check the trash folder:
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Go to drive.google.com.
- Click on the “Trash” folder on the left-hand side.
- Locate the deleted document and click on the “Restore” button.
2. Use the version history
Google Docs automatically saves versions of your documents as you edit them. This means that if you deleted a document, you can likely recover an earlier version of it. To use the version history:
- Open the Google Doc you want to recover.
- Click on “File” in the top menu.
- Select “See version history” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on “Show all revisions” to view all the versions of the document.
- Select the version you want to restore and click on “Restore this version” in the bottom right corner.
3. Contact Google support
If you have tried the above methods and still cannot recover your deleted Google Docs, it may be time to contact Google support. They can help you recover your documents, although this process may take longer than the other methods. To contact Google support:
- Go to support.google.com.
- Select “Google Drive” from the list of products.
- Click on “Contact support” at the bottom of the page.
- Follow the instructions to submit a support request.
4. Use third-party recovery tools
As a last resort, you can use third-party recovery tools to recover deleted Google Docs. These tools can scan your Google Drive for deleted documents and attempt to recover them. However, be cautious when using third-party tools, as they may not always be reliable and could potentially compromise your data. Some popular third-party recovery tools include:
- Drive Restore
- Recoverit
- Stellar Data Recovery
In conclusion, recovering deleted Google Docs is possible with the right steps. By checking the trash folder, using the version history, contacting Google support, or using third-party recovery tools, you can ensure that your important documents are not lost forever.