How to Recover a Deleted Google Doc: A Comprehensive Guide

Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not intend to substitute financial, educational, health, nutritional, medical, legal, etc advice provided by a professional.

How to Recover a Deleted Google Doc: A Comprehensive Guide

Have you ever accidentally deleted a Google Doc and thought it was gone forever? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people have experienced the panic of losing important documents. But the good news is that there are ways to recover deleted Google Docs, even if it's been more than 30 days. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of recovering your lost Google Docs.

Can We Recover Deleted Google Docs?

The short answer is yes, you can recover deleted Google Docs. Google has built-in mechanisms to help you restore your deleted files, even if they have been permanently deleted or if you don't have access to the trash folder. In the following sections, we will explore several methods to recover your deleted Google Docs.

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Google Docs after 30 Days?

If you have permanently deleted a Google Doc and it has been more than 30 days, you might think there's no hope of getting it back. However, there are still a few options you can try:

Method 1: Using Cisdem Data Recovery (Windows and Mac)

Cisdem Data Recovery is a powerful data recovery program that can help you retrieve deleted Google Docs from your computer's hard drive. Here's how to use it:

  1. Download and install Cisdem Data Recovery on your computer.
  2. Launch the program and select the drive where your Google Docs were stored.
  3. Click on the 'Scan' button to start scanning for deleted files.
  4. Once the scan is complete, you will see a list of recoverable files. Select the Google Docs you want to recover and click on the 'Recover' button.
  5. Choose a location to save the recovered Google Docs and click on the 'Save' button.

Method 2: Using Google Vault

If you are using Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), you can use Google Vault to recover permanently deleted Google Docs. Here's how:

  1. Sign in to your Google Workspace admin account.
  2. Go to the Google Vault website.
  3. Click on 'Matter' and create a new matter for the recovery process.
  4. Click on 'Search' and enter the details of the deleted Google Doc, such as the name or keywords.
  5. Review the search results and select the Google Doc you want to recover.
  6. Click on the 'Recover' button to restore the deleted Google Doc.

Method 3: Using Google Drive Backup

If you have enabled Google Drive backup, you can easily recover your deleted Google Docs. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Google Drive website and sign in to your account.
  2. Click on the 'Settings' gear icon and select 'Settings' from the dropdown menu.
  3. Go to the 'Manage backups' tab.
  4. Find the backup that contains the deleted Google Doc and click on the 'Restore' button.
  5. Confirm the restoration by clicking on the 'Restore' button again.

Method 4: Using Time Machine (on MacOS)

If you are using a Mac with Time Machine enabled, you can use it to recover your deleted Google Docs. Here's how:

  1. Connect the external hard drive that contains your Time Machine backup.
  2. Open the Finder and navigate to the folder where the deleted Google Doc was stored.
  3. Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select 'Enter Time Machine'.
  4. Use the timeline on the right side of the screen to navigate to a date before the Google Doc was deleted.
  5. Select the deleted Google Doc and click on the 'Restore' button.

Method 5: Using File History (on Windows)

If you are using a Windows computer with File History enabled, you can recover your deleted Google Docs using this feature. Here's how:

  1. Connect the external hard drive that contains your File History backup.
  2. Open the folder where the deleted Google Doc was stored.
  3. Right-click on the empty space in the folder and select 'Restore previous versions'.
  4. Select the version of the folder that contains the deleted Google Doc and click on the 'Restore' button.

How to Recover Recently Deleted Google Docs?

If you have recently deleted a Google Doc and it is still in the trash folder, you can easily restore it. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Google Drive website and sign in to your account.
  2. Click on the 'Trash' option in the left sidebar.
  3. Find the deleted Google Doc in the trash folder.
  4. Right-click on the Google Doc and select 'Restore' from the dropdown menu.

Extended: Restore Previous Version of Google Docs

In addition to recovering deleted Google Docs, you can also restore previous versions of your documents. This can be useful if you accidentally made changes to a document and want to revert back to an earlier version. Here's how:

  1. Open the Google Doc you want to restore to a previous version.
  2. Click on 'File' in the menu bar and select 'Version history' from the dropdown menu.
  3. Click on 'See version history' to view all the previous versions of the document.
  4. Select the version you want to restore and click on the 'Restore this version' button.

Conclusion

Accidentally deleting a Google Doc can be a stressful experience, especially if it contains important information. However, with the methods outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can recover your deleted Google Docs, even if it has been more than 30 days or if you don't have access to the trash folder. Remember to always back up your important documents and enable features like Google Drive backup, Time Machine, or File History to prevent data loss in the future.

Recovering deleted Google Docs is a valuable skill that can save you time, effort, and potential data loss. By following the step-by-step instructions in this guide, you can easily recover your deleted Google Docs and ensure that your important documents are always accessible.

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Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not intend to substitute financial, educational, health, nutritional, medical, legal, etc advice provided by a professional.