Google Drive: Removing Shared Files

Google Drive indeed offers a lot of functions that you could use to enhance your level of productivity. It allows you to store your files and share them with others in a more convenient manner.

However, having other people share their files with you also takes up space from your drive. This is unfortunate, especially since Google Drive only offers up to 15 GB of free storage. With that, deleting files and removing those shared with you is a must to save up some space. After all, you wouldn’t need those files forever. 

On the Google Drive Website

If someone shared a file or folder with you and you want to remove it because you no longer wish to see it, you can use your desktop. Follow the steps outlined below.

1. Go to drive.google.com then log in using your Google credentials.

Navigate to the Google Drive website, then make sure that your account is logged in.

2. Click the option labeled as “Shared with me.”

Google Drive has a left panel with various shared drives, recent, starred, and bin folders. To see all of the files and folders that someone has shared with you, select the “Shared with me” option.

3. Right-click the file that you want to be removed from your drive.

If you’re already in the “Shared with me” folder, go through all of the files and folders. After that, carefully select which one to delete. Right-click on the file you want to open to bring up a drop-down menu. It’s important to remember that you can only remove one item at a time.

4. Select “Remove” from the drop-down options.

After selecting a file or folder to delete, select “Remove” from the drop-down menu.

This will not prompt you for confirmation and will immediately remove the specific file; however, you can undo this activity by clicking the “Undo” button in the bottom-left corner of the page, but you will only be able to do so for the next 30 seconds. After that timer expires, Google will take down the undo button.

Using Mobile Device

If you’re using your mobile device to access your drive and want to remove something from all the files that someone else has shared with you, you can do so by following this step-by-step guide.

1. Open the Google drive app on your phone.

Sign in to your Google account after launching the Google Drive app on your mobile device.

2. Click the “Shared” tab on the bottom of your screen.

There will be four tabs at the bottom of the screen: priority, workspaces, shared, and files. You must select “Shared” from these options to be taken to the page containing all files that have been shared with you.

3. Tap the three horizontally-stacked dots beside the chosen file.

Carefully go through all of the files in that folder or page, then click the ellipsis beside the file you want to remove, and a new list of options will appear on your screen.

4. Select “Remove” from the menu list.

You will be given several options for what to do with the specific file you selected, but you must choose “Remove” from the list.

5. Confirm this activity by choosing the “Remove” options.

After selecting “Remove” from the drop-down menu, you must still confirm this action before Google proceeds with deleting the selected file. To confirm, click the “Remove” button in the pop-up window.

Conclusion

Storing files is important since there will come a time when you’ll need those files for future references. However, given that not everything is free in this world, you have to make the most out of the things you could get without having to afford it — such as the 15 GB free storage of Google Drive. With that, deleting and removing unnecessary files is essential as this doesn’t only help you save space but also allows you to declutter those that aren’t any more relevant for future use. 

Nevertheless, it would help if you still kept in mind that deleting files comes with a sense of permanence, given that once you remove them, you’ll only be given a few seconds to recover them. If you don’t recover them within that time frame, you’ll lose them indefinitely. This is why it is important to make sure that you’re confident of the files or folders you’re going to remove; to avoid hassle problems.