Google drive users are experiencing a distressing issue with missing files and folders, with some saying that months worth of data has gone missing from their accounts. Google has since acknowledged the issue, attributing the problem to being caused by the Drive for Desktop app, 9to5Google has reported.
The situation is highly concerning as one Google Drive user shared their experience on Google’s support forum. According to the user, their expense spreadsheet, which they had been constantly updating, had lost all data from almost the past five years, and the latest version available was dated January 2019.
The gravity of the issue has provoked strong reactions from users who have lost their crucial data. One user expressed extreme frustration, stating, “I’m really mad as this had all the important data which I do not have any local copy for. I need this data retrieved at any cost.” Another user shared a similar experience where the drive reverted back to May 2023, resulting in the loss of all subsequent data, while several others have reported comparable problems.
In a post from yesterday, Google said;
We’re investigating reports of an issue impacting a limited subset of Drive for desktop users and will follow up with more updates.
It also noted the problem affects Drive for desktop v84.0.0.0 – 84.0.4.09.
Following the issue, Google has given users some advice to prevent further data loss. It’s suggested that users should refrain from clicking on “disconnect account” within Drive for Desktop and should avoid deleting or moving DriveFS, a specific app folder. Google has also recommended users to create a copy of the app data folder if they have enough space available on their hard drives.
Google provides several methods for recovering deleted files or at least checking their status. Users can check the trash, which is now automatically emptied after 30 days. It’s also suggested to check the activity panel, which displays any files that have been deleted or moved along with the date of the action.
Unfortunately, the activity panel does not seem to provide any clues regarding the missing files in this latest issue. Google’s support forum users have reported that the activity panel did not show any indication of the files having gone missing.
Given the uncertainty surrounding file recoverability, it’s crucial to have additional tools in place to safeguard important data and prevent unexpected losses. One way to take control of file management and prevent unnecessary loss is to optimize Drive storage management using third-party solutions like Filerev. This platform provides users with deeper insights into their Drive storage, helping them identify duplicate files, large items, and old data that may be taking up valuable space.
With better organization and regular backups, users can ensure their important documents remain accessible while maintaining a clutter-free cloud environment. By integrating solutions like Filerev, users can reduce the risk of missing files and streamline their overall Drive experience, making data storage more reliable and efficient.
