How to find and recover deleted files on your Chromebook

Deleted a bunch of files on your Chromebook and need them back? Don’t worry, there’s still hope! Chromebooks have a built-in Trash function that lets you recover deleted files within a limited timeframe. This feature can be a lifesaver when you accidentally delete something important or need to revisit an old document or picture. So, to make things easy and get you back on track, here’s how to find and restore deleted files on your Chromebook.

How to find and recover deleted files on your Chromebook

When you delete a file on your Chromebook, it first goes into the Trash folder. Chromebooks do this to make it easy to restore a file that was deleted by mistake or is needed now, but wasn’t needed then. Bear in mind however, the Trash folder is also temporary, as the deleted files only stay there for 30 days before being permanently deleted. 

ALSO READ: Google Chromebooks finally get AI-integration with some cool Gemini features 

After 30 days, all the deleted files in the Trash folder are automatically removed to free up storage space. That’s why it’s smart to regularly back up your Chromebook. This ensures you have copies of your files in case you need them after deletion. So, if it’s been less than 30 days, you can easily restore your file. Here’s how to do it.

Finding and restoring deleted files on a Chromebook

Before you can restore your deleted files, you’ve got to find them first. To find your deleted files, just open the Files app on your Chromebook by tapping the icon on your Shelf, or click the Search button and search for Files. Then, on the left side, click on the ‘Trash’ option. If it hasn’t been 30 days since the file was deleted, you can easily recover it by following these steps:

1. Open the ‘Files’ app on your Chromebook. 

2. Click on the ‘Trash’ folder on the left side.

ALSO READ: 5 reasons why Chromebooks are a student’s best friend 

3. Right-click the file you want to restore. 

4. Select ‘Restore from trash’ in the drop-down menu, or select the file you want to restore and press Alt + Backspace to restore it.

Your file is now restored to the folder it was in before you deleted it. For example, if you deleted a file from your Documents folder, it will go back to the Documents folder when you restore it.

If you’re not sure where the file was originally stored, you can choose ‘Get Info’ from the same menu or press the Space bar when the file is highlighted. Happy restoring!