How to Delete a Folder in Google Drive

Keeping Your Cloud Storage Organised

Google Drive is an exceptional tool for backing up files and collaborating with colleagues, but because it offers generous free storage, users tend to treat it as a digital dumping ground. Over several years, your Drive can become cluttered with dozens of obsolete, empty, or duplicate folders, making it incredibly difficult to find the important documents you actually need.

Deleting a folder in Google Drive is a straightforward process, but because the platform is designed around collaboration and syncing across multiple devices, deleting a folder requires a clear understanding of exactly what happens to the files inside it.

When you delete a folder, you are not permanently destroying the data instantly. You are simply moving that folder, and all of its contents, into the Google Drive “Trash” bin. This acts as a safety net, giving you 30 days to recover the files before they are wiped from Google’s servers forever.

Method 1: Deleting a Folder on a Computer (Web Browser)

If you are managing your cloud storage from a desktop PC or a Mac, using the main Google Drive website provides the clearest overview of your file structure.

1. Open your preferred web browser and navigate to drive.google.com.
2. Ensure you are logged into the correct Google account.
3. Look at the main central dashboard and find the folder you wish to delete.
4. Right-click directly on the folder icon.
5. A long drop-down menu will appear. Scroll to the very bottom and click on Move to trash (represented by a small bin icon).

Alternatively, if you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, you can simply click on the folder once to highlight it, and then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

The folder will instantly vanish from your main dashboard, and a small black notification banner will briefly appear at the bottom left of your screen confirming the action.

Method 2: Deleting a Folder on a Smartphone (iPhone and Android)

If you are away from your computer, you can easily clean up your storage using the official Google Drive mobile app. The process is virtually identical across both iOS and Android devices.

1. Open the Google Drive app on your phone.
2. Ensure you are on the “Files” tab (the folder icon at the very bottom right of the screen) so you can see your complete folder structure.
3. Locate the folder you want to delete.
4. Tap the three vertical dots located directly to the right of the folder’s name.
5. Scroll down the menu that appears and tap Remove (it has a bin icon next to it).
6. A warning prompt will pop up asking you to confirm. Tap Move to Trash.

What Happens to Shared Folders?

The most confusing aspect of deleting folders in Google Drive relates to shared permissions. The outcome depends entirely on whether you are the “Owner” of the folder or just a “Viewer/Editor.”

If you own the folder: If you created the folder and you delete it, that folder will be removed from your Drive and sent to your Trash bin. Crucially, it will also be instantly deleted from the Google Drive of every single person you shared it with. They will lose access immediately.

If you do not own the folder: If a colleague created the folder and shared it with you, deleting it only removes the shortcut from your personal view. The original folder, and all the files inside it, remain completely safe and untouched in the owner’s Google Drive. You are simply hiding it from your own screen.

How to Recover a Deleted Folder (The 30-Day Rule)

If you accidentally delete a folder containing critical documents, do not panic. Google holds deleted items in the Trash for exactly 30 days before permanently wiping them.

1. Open Google Drive on your computer.
2. Look at the left-hand navigation sidebar and click on Trash.
3. Locate your accidentally deleted folder.
4. Right-click on the folder and select Restore.

The folder, along with every single file that was inside it, will instantly fly back to its original location in your main Drive dashboard, exactly as you left it.