When your Google Drive starts getting cluttered with old projects or shared files you no longer need, it is time to clean house. Deleting a folder in Google Drive is a simple process, but it is important to understand exactly what happens to the files inside when you hit the delete button.
How to Delete a Folder on a Computer
- Open your web browser and navigate to drive.google.com.
- Find the folder you want to delete.
- Right-click on the folder.
- Select Move to trash (on some accounts, this might just say Remove with a trash can icon).
Alternative method: You can also click the folder once to highlight it, and then click the Trash Can icon located in the toolbar at the top right of the screen.
How to Delete a Folder on the Mobile App
- Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Locate the folder you wish to delete.
- Tap the three vertical dots (⋮) located next to the folder’s name.
- Scroll down the menu that appears and tap Remove.
Important Rules to Remember
Deleting folders in cloud storage has a few quirks you need to be aware of:
- Everything Goes to the Trash: When you delete a folder, every single file and subfolder inside it is also deleted and sent to the Trash bin.
- The 30-Day Rule: Deleted folders are not instantly destroyed. They sit in your Google Drive “Trash” section for 30 days. If you realize you made a mistake, you can open the Trash, right-click the folder, and select Restore. After 30 days, Google permanently and irreversibly deletes the files to free up your storage space.
- Shared Folders: If you delete a folder that someone else shared with you (i.e., you do not own it), it simply removes the folder from your view. The folder and its files are not deleted for the owner or anyone else they shared it with.