Nov 2023 – A growing number of Google Drive users are grappling with a perplexing issue:
…files uploaded since May 2023 have vanished from their cloud storage without warning. This sudden and inexplicable disappearance of files has sparked concerns and confusion among users, with Google acknowledging the problem and advising caution.
The first reports surfaced last week on Google’s support forums. Yeonjoong, a Google forum user, described their baffling experience, “My Google Drive files suddenly disappeared. The Drive literally reverted to its May 2023 state. All data from May till now is gone, and the folder structure mirrors what it was back in May.” This startling revelation has alarmed users, especially those relying on Google Drive for business purposes.
Yeonjoong’s support request further detailed that there were no signs of manual deletion, no traces in the trash, and no file-sharing activities that could explain this loss. The files had vanished into thin air.
To clarify, a volunteer Google Support member quoted Google Support’s response, emphasizing their ongoing tracking of the issue and acknowledging its widespread impact.
The forum post quickly resonated with the community, garnering 297 upvotes and 91 replies. Many users echoed the same distressing situation. Business customer Anthony Vohl lamented, “6 months worth of business data wiped!” Julia, another affected user, expressed grave concern, “This is super, super bad, as all of our company’s files are there.” These accounts are just a snippet of the growing chorus of users facing this problem.
As the number of similar reports escalates, Google Drive’s product engineers diligently work to identify the root cause. Users experiencing this mysterious’ file vanishing act’ are advised not to alter their root/data folder in the interim.
Google’s response came last night, pointing towards an issue with the Drive desktop app, particularly a potential sync problem between local and cloud files. In the support thread, Saitej, a Google employee, stated, “We’re investigating reports of an issue impacting a limited subset of Drive for desktop users.” Google advises users to avoid disconnecting their account or altering the app data folder (root/data folder) and to create a backup of this folder.
A Coincidental Timing with Google’s Deletion Plan
Interestingly, this file disappearance issue is unfolding just as Google prepares to implement its mass content deletion plan on December 1. This plan, unrelated to the current Drive issue, targets Google accounts that have been inactive for over two years, including Photos and Drive. Announced in May, Google has been issuing reminders to potentially affected users, citing security concerns as the main driver for this decision.
As Google Drive users navigate this perplexing situation, the tech giant continues investigating, hoping to restore normalcy and access to the missing files. Sharing your story could shed more light on this unfolding mystery if you’ve experienced this issue with your Google Drive files.
