Question About Shared Drive Deleted Files Restoration

[Brodie_McBeath]

Hey folks,

Age old tale, user deleted a bunch of stuff out of a Google Shared Drive, everyone freaked out, now we need to restore it. Its been under the 25 day mark, 14 to be exact, and I was able to go into Settings for Drive and Docs > Manage shared drives and Restore any files to that drive from the last 25 days.

We're talking maybe a Gig or two? However..... an hour later and nothing has returned. I looked in the Audit Log and see where the items were sent to Trash, however, not where they were ever deleted from their Trash. I can see in the Audit log where users deleted other files from their Trash, but no sign of these specific documents being emptied.

I logged in as the user that deleted the files but saw nothing in their personal trash. Am I looking in the wrong spot? Should I give Google longer to restore the files? Is there a Shared Drive Trash that I'm just over looking?

[Kim_Nilsson · Accepted solution]

Yes, each Shared Drive has its own Trash, and stuff needs to be restored from there.

The 25 days start ticking after a user (manually or automatically after 30 days) empties their trash, and I think that also goes for when a Shared Drive's trash is (manually or automatically after 30 days) emptied.

So all that stuff is still in the SD's trash.

[Brodie_McBeath]

Kim I suppose I'm blind! Where in the heck does one find the Shared Drives Trash to restore the deleted files from? I've added myself to the Shared Drive as well as logged in as the user who deleted the files but am not seeing. I'm ready to feel like a fool, because I'm certain I'm missing it....

[Brodie_McBeath]

Holy cow.... I think I just found it. I didnt realize there was a drop down once you're in Trash. Mind blown..... Thanks Kim.

[jpickerell429]

Brodie, I've got so much to learn about the Google ecosystem still, but your question also helped me here as well. I didn't notice that drop-down on the Trash, with all shared drives listed! Good to know!

[Brodie_McBeath]

Awesome! I've been a Google Admin for quite some time now and I tell you, it keeps you on your toes. Just when I think I've got it all figured out, Google goes and adds new features or removes them. Sometimes they even move the location of settings just to mess with us I feel like.

More times than not I just lurk on the forums to try and pick up on some of @Kim_Nilsson's wisdom.

[Kim_Nilsson]

❤️