Automate Google Drive File Deletion with Make.com

Using make.com, you can automatically delete old or unnecessary Google Drive files on a schedule, keeping your cloud storage organized without manual work.

This guide walks you through building a complete scenario that finds, checks, and removes files from a specific folder in Google Drive, using filters and time-based triggers to stay in control of what gets deleted.

What You Will Build with Make.com

The workflow you create in make.com will:

Run on a time schedule you define.
Search a Google Drive folder for files.
Filter files based on age or metadata (for example, last modified date).
Delete only the files that match your rules.

You will recreate the logic from the official how-to guide available on the Make.com Google Drive auto-delete tutorial.

Prerequisites for Using Make.com

Before you start, confirm that you have:

A Google account with access to the target Google Drive folder.
An active account on make.com.
Basic familiarity with creating scenarios (workflows) inside make.com.

If you are new to automation strategy or need help designing scalable workflows, you can also find expert support at Consultevo.

Plan Your Auto-Delete Scenario in Make.com

First define clear rules so your make.com scenario deletes only what you intend.

Decide What to Delete with Make.com

Clarify the following:

Folder scope: Which Google Drive folder should be cleaned automatically?
File age: After how many days should a file be considered old?
File types: Do you want to limit deletions to specific types (for example, PDFs, images, or temporary exports)?
Safety rules: Do you want to skip folders, shared documents, or files with a certain naming pattern?

Defining these rules now will make your filters in make.com easier to configure and test.

Enable API Access for Make.com

To allow make.com to interact with your Google Drive:

Sign in to your make.com account.
Open any existing scenario or create a new one.
Add your first Google Drive module and click to create a new connection.
Authorize the Google account when prompted and grant the requested permissions.

Once the connection is added, make.com can list, read, and delete files as needed, according to your workflow design.

Create a New Scenario in Make.com

Now build the scenario that will run your auto-delete logic.

Step 1: Add a Scheduler Trigger in Make.com

Use a scheduler module so the scenario runs automatically:

In make.com, click Create a new scenario.
Search for the Tools > Scheduler module.
Select a trigger such as Every day or Every week.
Set the exact time and frequency that fit your cleanup needs.

This ensures your Google Drive cleanup runs regularly without any manual action.

Step 2: Add a Google Drive Search Module in Make.com

Next, have make.com list the files you may want to delete:

Click the plus icon after the Scheduler and add a Google Drive > List files or similar search module.
Select the appropriate Google Drive connection.
Specify the parent folder you want to monitor.
Set basic search parameters, such as including or excluding subfolders.

This module feeds information about your files into the rest of the scenario.

Step 3: Filter Files Based on Age or Criteria

Use filters in make.com to narrow down the list of files.

Between the Google Drive module and the next step, add a Filter.
Choose a date field such as Modified time or Created time.
Compare that field to the current time minus a set number of days (for example, older than 30 days).
Add extra conditions (for example, file type equals application/pdf, or file name does not contain KEEP).

Filters are crucial because they tell make.com exactly which files are eligible for deletion.

Delete Files Safely with Make.com

Once you have the right files selected, you can configure deletion.

Step 4: Add the Delete File Module in Make.com

To remove files in Google Drive:

After the filter, add another module and choose Google Drive > Delete a file.
Map the File ID from the previous module's output to the delete module.
Decide whether to bypass the trash (permanent delete) or only move to trash, depending on your risk tolerance.

Each time the scenario runs, make.com will delete the files that passed your filter conditions.

Step 5: Add Logging or Notifications

For visibility and auditing, enhance your scenario in make.com with:

Logging: Write deleted file names and timestamps to a Google Sheet or another storage module.
Email or chat alerts: Notify yourself in Gmail or Slack whenever a batch of deletions occurs.
Error handling: Use built-in error-handling tools so failed deletions do not interrupt the entire run.

These additions make your automation safer and easier to troubleshoot.

Test and Optimize Your Make.com Scenario

Before you rely on automatic deletion, thoroughly test your setup.

Run a Dry Test in Make.com

To reduce risk:

Duplicate the scenario and change the Delete file module to a module that only logs file details.
Run the scenario once manually and review which files would have been removed.
Adjust filters if any important files appear in the results.

Once you are confident in the logic, switch back to the deletion module in your primary make.com scenario.

Best Practices for Ongoing Use of Make.com

To keep your Google Drive automation stable:

Review the log of deleted files periodically.
Update age thresholds or folder targets as your storage structure evolves.
Document your make.com configuration so teammates understand what is being removed and when.

With these practices, your automation will remain reliable as your data grows.

Maintain a Clean Google Drive with Make.com

By combining scheduled triggers, Google Drive modules, and filters, make.com gives you precise control over which files are deleted and when. Once configured and tested, the scenario quietly maintains your storage, helping you avoid clutter, stay within quota limits, and keep important files easy to find.

You can extend this same pattern from the official Make.com auto-delete guide to other services as well, applying similar rules to email attachments, exported reports, and temporary backups.

Need Help With Make.com?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your Make scenarios, work with ConsultEvo — certified workflow and automation specialists.

Get Help

Automate Google Drive Cleanup in Make.com