- Permission constraints are the most common reasons you cannot delete Google Drive files.
- This problem occurs more often with files on shared drives, so you must first remove them from this location.
Basic Fixes
- Try other methods : If a certain method doesn’t work, you may try a different one to delete the file. Click the delete icon at the top right, move to the bin after opening the file, use the delete option for shared files, or drag the file to the trash.
- Try on a different device : If delete does not work on your mobile device, try it on a PC browser.
- Create a folder : A wise option is to move all problematic files to this folder and then delete the entire folder.
Fix 1: Confirm You Are the Owner or Have Editor Permissions
If you are not the owner of a file, you cannot delete it. File permission is the foremost reason you cannot remove a file. In this case, you may seek Editor rights from the file owner. You can find the file owner by following the steps below.
Step 1: Open Google Drive and navigate to your file location.
Step 2: Right-click the file > hover File Information > click Details .
Step 3: Now, you may find the file owner on the right pane under the Owner section.
Fix 2: Remove the File From Shared Drive and Delete It
Google Drive not deleting files mostly happens for the shared files. You can try alternative ways, like removing the files from the Shared drive. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open Google Drive and click Shared with me on the left pane.
Step 2: Click on the three dots on the problematic file and select Remove .
Fix 3: Delete Files From Trash
When you delete files that you own, they are taken to the Trash. You need to remove them from the Bin to delete them permanently. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Navigate to your drive.
Step 2: Click Trash on the left pane > click Empty Trash on the top right.
Step 3: Click on Delete Forever .
