Google Drive misplaces months' worth of customer files

Google Drive users are experiencing issues with files mysteriously disappearing from the service.

[{"selector":"#anim-53ddee34-a27c-4744-9052-5fedb22fad3a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.19215415939775%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Some users on Google's support forums claim to have lost six or more months of work.

[{"selector":"#anim-a6435a22-ce5d-4682-86ab-fa81d27e5621 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The problem has been ongoing for a few days, with users finding their files reverted to a state from May 2023.

[{"selector":"#anim-ff700c4c-616e-4c10-b4d4-79ab2f53ec9f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Some users reported that synchronization stopped working, leading to out-of-date cloud storage.

[{"selector":"#anim-e3dc0330-750b-4dbd-9a6f-4c10b89af984 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 7.760782355151471e-15%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Limited advice for affected users is to avoid making changes until engineers provide a solution.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f968903-1b87-4141-ba43-ad299a72499a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.158163169178465%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] There are speculations about the issue possibly being related to accounts being spontaneously dropped.

[{"selector":"#anim-dc35d45b-9cc4-4490-bf4b-ed2a2eaa3e15 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.710209528483375%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Google support allegedly advised against making changes to the root/data folder during the investigation.

[{"selector":"#anim-52ddc5d0-27da-404e-a5ae-e73126226de6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.19215415939775%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Users have managed to recover some information by manipulating cached files.

[{"selector":"#anim-a90e19a5-e84e-485c-a828-005241d1d9d9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The cause of the problem is unclear, and users are awaiting an official response from Google.

[{"selector":"#anim-49768bdc-7124-43f3-9084-e36f818d2f0b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.41964276260185%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The incident serves as a reminder that relying on cloud storage doesn't guarantee the safety of files.