In the past week, some Google Drive users have experienced unexpected data losses, even with the global deletion date still days away. While Google has acknowledged the problem, a permanent fix is yet to be provided, leaving users concerned.
Google has confirmed awareness of the issue and is actively investigating. Notably, the problem seems confined to the desktop app for Google Drive, offering some reassurance to iOS and Android users.
To prevent data loss, Google has shared a temporary solution:
- Avoid clicking “Disconnect account” within Drive for desktop.
- Refrain from deleting or moving the app data folder located at:
- Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\DriveFS
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/DriveFS
- Optionally, create a backup copy of the app data folder if space allows.
While Google works on a permanent solution, it remains uncertain whether users who have already lost data will be able to recover it. Google assures users that updates on the matter will be provided soon.
Facing the potential loss of valuable data can be immensely frustrating, especially for users with years of backups saved.
As a precaution, it is advisable to follow Google’s suggestion and create a backup copy of the app data folder on a hard drive, considering the uncertainty surrounding Drive data at the moment. Stay tuned for further updates as Google continues to address the issue.