How to Access the Google Docs Trash
If you're looking to recover or permanently delete your Google Docs documents, you'll want to access your Google Docs Trash. It's easy to find on desktop and mobile, and we'll show you how.
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Restore or delete documents in Google Docs trash on desktop
To access your deleted documents on your Windows, Mac, Linux or Chromebook computer, use the Google Drive site. All your deleted Google documents are available there.
To get started, open a web browser on your computer and launch the Google Drive site. Log in to your account on the site.
In Drive's left sidebar, click "Trash".
In the right pane, all your deleted Google Docs documents will appear. This page also displays other files that you have deleted from your account.
To restore a document, select this document in the list. Next, in the upper right corner of Drive, click on the “Restore from Trash” option (a clock icon).
Point: To recover or delete multiple documents, select them all on the screen, then choose the appropriate option.
To permanently delete a document and free up space, select that document. Then, in the top right corner of Drive, click "Permanently Delete" (a trash can icon).
And that's all. Your selected files are now deleted or recovered, depending on the option you chose.
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Restore or delete documents in Google Docs trash on mobile
If you're using an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, use the Google Docs app to find your Docs Bin.
To get started, launch the Google Docs app on your phone. In the top left corner of the app, tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines).
In the menu that opens, tap "Trash".
On the “Trash” screen, you will see all your deleted Google Docs documents.
To retrieve or delete a document, next to that document's name, tap the three dots.
A menu will appear at the bottom of your phone screen. To recover the selected document, press "Restore" in this menu. To permanently delete the selected document, press "Delete permanently" in the menu.
You are ready.
Did you know you can even delete version history in Google Docs? Check out our guide on how to do this.
RELATED: How to delete version history in Google Docs
