Google Drive users lost their data.

Google Drive users accessing the service on desktop platforms have reported a concerning issue where a portion of their data from recent months is mysteriously disappearing. This issue has affected a limited subset of users utilizing specific versions of the Google Drive desktop app (versions 84.0.0.0 through 84.0.4.0). The problem came to light when a user shared their distressing experience of losing all Google Drive data dating back to May.

Don’t disconnect the account form the desktop app or clear the app data
The issue has drawn attention from affected users on a Google community support thread, with 192 users indicating they have experienced similar problems. Reports suggest that the missing files include documents, photos, and videos. Some affected users sought help from Google’s support team, but recovery attempts were reportedly unsuccessful. Google has since advised users against certain actions, including clicking “disconnect account” in Google Drive for desktop and deleting or relocating the app data folder.

Saitej, a Google Drive team member, issued a warning within the support thread, emphasizing the importance of avoiding specific actions that could potentially worsen the situation. Users are cautioned against disconnecting their accounts and advised not to delete or move the app data folder, typically located in specific directories on Windows and macOS systems.

As a precautionary measure, Saitej recommended users create a backup copy of the app folder in a separate location. The investigation by Google into this data loss is ongoing, and affected users are urged to follow Google’s official support channels for updates and assistance. The company is actively working to resolve the issue and prevent further instances of data loss for users accessing Google Drive on desktop platforms.