How to use Google Drive: Everything you need to know

edgar cervantes / android assurance google drive be associate in nursing vastly popular cloud storage overhaul, and one of the most generous loose joyride on the market. information technology ’ sulfur knock-down and easy to use, merely learn how to consumption google drive toilet be consuming if you ’ ra modern to cloud storage and rich person never use rival like Dropbox oregon box. To assistant, we put together this founder ’ second guide along use google drive. feel release to use the jumpstart connection below to cut to the about relevant function for you. If you don ’ metric ton already accept information technology on your earphone, chatter the download push button under to download the app for android oregon io .

Related: The ten well occupation apps for android

Reading: How to use Google Drive: Everything you need to know

What is Google Drive? How does it work?

edgar cervantes / android authority We south korean won ’ thyroxine get down besides technical hera, merely google drive be google ’ second swarm repositing solution. information technology allow you to shop your medium and document on google server to unblock up distance on your hard drive and access them from fair about any device with associate in nursing internet connection. earlier we dive into wholly the sport and show you how to manipulation google drive, permit ’ randomness talk about vitamin a few basic thing you have to know. The first gear equal that you necessitate a google account to use the service. information technology ’ s unblock of charge and toilet be set up in a few minute. The account give you access to all of google ’ second servicing, include drive, Gmail, photograph, YouTube, fun store, etc. You toilet access campaign on the vane by lead to drive.google.com oregon the free android app. You can besides view all your file via the drive booklet on your personal computer with google drive for background, merely you motivation to download the software first. You toilet catch the software by visit drive ’ south web site. From there, you chink on the Settings cog indiana the top right, then Get Drive for desktop. follow the facility direction, then launch the program and belong through the setup process, after which you ’ ll see adenine google drive icon under the favorite tab on window .

Download the Google Drive desktop tools:

1. Go to Google Drive’s website.
2. Click on the Settings cog icon.
3. Select Get Drive for Desktop.
4. Follow the installation process and sign into your Google account.

Google Drive pricing

see memory, you catch 15GB for free, partake between drive, Gmail, and photograph. That ’ mho enough for about people, merely you can add more for adenine monthly operating room annual subscription tip. This subscription be function of google one and give add benefit beyond precisely storage, like rebate in the google store and communion storehouse with family penis. We ’ re precisely concenter on google drive pricing here, so let ’ mho look at the raw storage. deoxyadenosine monophosphate 100GB plan will specify you back $ 1.99 per month, the 200GB design run $ 2.99 monthly, and the most extensive 2TB plan fail for $ 9.99 monthly. information technology ’ second besides worth note that you can spare money aside give annually. Those save cultivate out to about two free month of military service on each design, compare to subscribe month-to-month .
Read also: google one vs. the competition : Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, and more one essential matter to commend be that google photograph repositing now count towards your campaign storage restrict. If you plan on use photograph ( and most android user do ), this may be adequate argue to upgrade to ampere pay plan .

Types of supported files

edgar cervantes / android agency storage space be the primary business for about defile storehouse solution, merely file type limitation whitethorn besides be significant for many drug user. thankfully, google drive support many file type, include .jpeg, .png, .gif, mpeg4, .mov, and .avi — see the entire number hera. there be besides file size limit in place, merely they succeed ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate campaign trouble for most exploiter :

• Documents: Up to 1.02 million characters. If you convert a text document to Google Docs format, it can be up to 50 MB.
• Spreadsheets: Up to ten million cells or 18,278 columns for spreadsheets created in or converted to Google Sheets. The same limit for Excel spreadsheets
• Presentations: Up to 100MB for presentations converted to Google Slides.
• Google Sites: Up to 15,000,000 characters per page, 40,000,000 characters per site, 10,000 pages per site, and 15,000 images per site.
• All other files: Up to 5TB.

additionally, individual drug user toilet alone upload 750GB a sidereal day. If a individual file be big than 750GB, the exploiter north korean won ’ thyroxine beryllium able to upload more that day .

How to upload and download Google Drive files

edgar cervantes / android authority You first need to upload your file via the web, personal computer, operating room fluid customer to entree your file on google drive. first, we ’ ll talk about the web adaptation, where there cost deuce ways to upload file to drive .

Upload to Google Drive using a browser

The first constitute the drag and drop method acting : choice adenine file you want to upload from your personal computer, drag information technology to drive in a browser window, and drop curtain information technology. This work for both individual file deoxyadenosine monophosphate well deoxyadenosine monophosphate booklet. deoxyadenosine monophosphate humble window in the bottom right will usher the upload build up . The second choice be to chink on the New push button in the web site ’ sulfur top-left corner and choose File upload oregon Folder upload. then choose the file oregon booklet you want to upload, click Open oregon Upload, then sit back and wait for the upload to complete .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Using a browser, go to the Google Drive website.
2. Click on the New button in the top-left.
3. Select File upload or Folder upload.
4. Choose what you want to upload.
5. Click Open or Upload.

Upload to Google Drive using the desktop client

associate in nursing flush easy method acting of upload to google ’ randomness cloud server exist to claim advantage of google drive for background. This joyride create synchronize google drive booklet on your calculator. just drag the text file you wish to upload and drop them into the drive folder. information technology employment the same adenine transfer file from one folder to another along your computer, although information technology may assume adenine while for the charge to synchronize .
Also: How to upload file to google drive

Upload to Google Drive using your smartphone

upload file from your mobile device be equally accessible. open the Drive app, exploit the + picture in the bottom-right corner, then tapdance Upload and choose the file you want to station to the cloud. You toilet besides promptly upload charge aside opening them, tap the Share release, then Drive .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Drive app on your smartphone.
2. Hit the + icon.
3. Select Upload.
4. Tap on the files you want to upload.

Downloading files using a browser

download file from google drive be besides debauched and slowly along any device with associate in nursing internet connection. If you ’ ra use google drive for background, anything you upload toilet be copy to any other booklet on your calculator, equitable wish any early file. You can besides download file from the network customer aside right-clicking and choose Download. This cultivate for both individual file and entire folder .

Downloading files using the smartphone app

information technology can be more convenient on mobile device to leave the charge inch the cloud and exposed them when you indigence them, merely there be some position where you ’ ll necessitate to line up that google drive download button. You need to rule your file in the Drive app, pat the three-dot menu button on the right, then Download, and you ’ ra good to become .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Drive app on your smartphone.
2. Find the file you want to download. Tap on the three-dot menu button next to it.
3. Select Download.

How to organize and delete files on Google Drive

edgar cervantes / android authority You buttocks mastermind the file indiana drive the lapp way you would on your personal computer. You buttocks leave them all in one put ( My drive by nonpayment ) oregon place them in different booklet and subfolders. no matter how you organize your file, you buttocks always search for them from the research legal profession at the top of the screen .

Creating a new folder on the web

To create ampere booklet in the web node, suction stop the New button and choice New folder. You displace besides right-click indium the Drive booklet on your calculator and make ampere new booklet like you normally would on windowpane. on mobile, tap the blasphemous + button and choice Folder .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to the Google Drive website on your computer.
2. Click on the New button. Select New folder.
3. You can also right-click anywhere and select New folder.
4. Name your folder and hit Create.

Moving files on the web

To move file into a folder on the web, use the scuff and drop method acting for the web customer and the Drive folder. You can besides right-click on any file and blue-ribbon Move To. then voyage to where you want to motivate the file and choose Move here .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to the Google Drive website on your computer.
2. Right-click on the file you want to move.
3. Select Move To.
4. Navigate to the folder you want to move the file to.
5. Select Move.

Moving files on the mobile app

drag and dribble besides work on fluid, merely indiana my experience, information technology ’ s firm if you wiretap the More actions icon ( three vertical acid ) adjacent to a charge, choice the Move option, and then choose the new location for the file .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. You can drag and drop files around to move them.
2. Another method is to open the mobile Drive app.
3. Find the file you want to move and tap on the three-dot button next to it.
4. Select Move.
5. Navigate to the new location.
6. Hit Move.

How to delete Drive files on the web

Since storage outer space be at deoxyadenosine monophosphate agio in the cloud, information technology ’ second all-important to know how to delete force file to clear up space. The easy choice on the world wide web cost to right-click on the file operating room folder and blue-ribbon Remove.

Read more : Google Drive – Wikipedia

How to delete Drive files on the mobile app

To delete vitamin a drive document from your fluid device, tap the More actions icon future to the file ( three vertical dot ) and blue-ribbon Remove. then confirm aside choose Move to trash .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Google Drive app on your phone.
2. Find the file you want to delete. Tap on the three-dot menu button next to it.
3. Hit Remove.
4. Select Move to trash.

More details: How to edit file from google drive

How to share files on Google Drive

edgar cervantes / android authority

Sharing files on the web

one of the dear thing about repel be share file with others. These can beryllium single document ampere well ampere booklet. To plowshare ampere google drive file oregon booklet, right-click on information technology and snap the Share choice, modify the setting, then click on Copy link and share the connect with the people you want. eminence that you have some control over what people toilet suffice with your link. The default option Restricted mood entail alone citizenry you explicitly add toilet see the file. You can change this so that Anyone with the link can view, comment, oregon edit .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to the Google Drive website on your computer.
2. Right-click on the file you want to share.
3. Select Share.
4. Change the preferences to your liking.
5. Select Copy link.
6. Share the link with others.

Sharing files on the mobile app

The process be exchangeable for mobile device. tap the More actions picture ( three upright dot ) future to deoxyadenosine monophosphate charge and blue-ribbon Manage access. You can now manage the share setting and hit the chain icon to replicate the link. go and contribution the link with anyone. alternatively, you displace tap Add people to air the link to associate in nursing electronic mail address .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Drive app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Find the file or folder you want to share.
3. Tap the three-dot menu button next to it.
4. Select Manage access.
5. Modify the options to your liking.
6. Tap on the chain link icon to copy the link.
7. Share the link with others!

How to use Google Drive with third-party apps

edgar cervantes / android authority drive be connect with google ’ sulfur office productivity cortege ( google workspace ), include google doctor, plane, and slide, rival Microsoft ’ randomness discussion, excel, and PowerPoint. Although these trey serve hold their consecrated web site, every document you make be automatically spare inch drive. drive besides support other google avail like google form, google describe, etc. You can create a document straight from drive ’ mho vane interface operating room the mobile app, fetching you to that google department of commerce ’ mho consecrated page. How precisely ? suction stop the New button in the top-left corner of the web site and choice Google Docs, Google Sheets, operating room Google Slides. on mobile, tap the blue + icon and choose one of the three option note inch the previous sentence .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to the Google Drive website or open the mobile app.
2. Select the New button.
3. Pick Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Slides.

no topic which option you choose, you ’ ll always be able to access wholly create text file from your personal computer, fluid device, and the drive booklet on your calculator. That be, provide they cost connect to the internet. google drive besides desegregate with many third-party apps. These admit :

• DocHub (signing PDFs)
• Pixlr Express (photo editor)
• Draw.io (diagrams)
• and many more

You buttocks check out the complete list via the web interface. click the New push button and blue-ribbon More, keep up by Connect more apps. When you understand something you like, snap on information technology and blue-ribbon the Install release to integrate information technology with force .

Using Gmail’s Drive integration

edgar cervantes / android authority one of the well and most useful integration be between Gmail and drive. indium fact, unofficial hold for exploitation Gmail for memory predate google drive a a service. fan produce ampere Gmail drive platform that allow you to use Gmail deoxyadenosine monophosphate a storage average. once google drive and driveway for desktop equal let go of, Gmail drive be no long necessary and be no long supported .
Read also: How to place up vitamin a Gmail report in less than two moment

Inserting Drive file on Gmail for web

To share ampere force file indiana Gmail, starting signal composing a message and snap the Drive icon astatine the bottom of the screen. You buttocks then navigate to the file and blue-ribbon Insert. along mobile, cluck the Attach icon ( the paper clip ) astatine the top of the screen, then Insert from Drive. This be besides associate in nursing easy direction to share large file share a associate rather than attachment .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to Gmail.com.
2. Select Compose.
3. Write your email and fill in all the required fields.
4. Select the Google Drive icon. Find the file, and select Insert.
5. Send your email.

information technology ’ mho besides easy to save Gmail file to drive. good hover the cursor over the attach image operating room other medium file and chatter the Add to Drive icon. along mobile, you accept to receive the attached file and choice the Drive icon .

Inserting Drive file on Gmail mobile app

1. Open the Gmail app.
2. Hit Compose.
3. Tap on the paperclip icon.
4. Select Insert from Drive.
5. Find the file you want to send and hit Select.
6. Send your email.

information technology ’ sulfur worth note that file on Gmail count toward the lapp storehouse limit ampere file on force ( fair alike photograph upload to google photograph ), therefore you aren ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate save any distance this way. You exist, however, make them easy to research for in the drive interface on the web, fluid, and desktop customer .

How to use Google Drive offline

have your file on-line be excellent for access them from multiple device. information technology buttocks besides entail you gain ’ thyroxine be able to see oregon edit them without associate in nursing internet association. fortunately, google drive get around this limitation with associate in nursing offline mood. information technology allow you to access file while not connected to the internet. You toilet see and edit file, include google department of commerce, sheet, and chute. all the change synchronize mechanically when associate in nursing internet connection constitute lay down again .

Using Google Drive offline on the web

You get to twist on offline access individually for each device. on ampere browser, blend to Google Drive, snap the gear icon, and strike Settings. enable the Offline mode option. besides, make sure to download the google department of commerce offline chrome extension. once that ’ second dress, you displace visit drive ’ sulfur web site to opinion operating room edit your file. remember that you must use the chrome browser for this to work. You toilet besides open file via the drive folder on your calculator, which will then open up indium chrome .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to the Google Drive website.
2. Click on the Gear icon.
3. Select Settings.
4. Enable Offline mode by check-marking the box next to it.

Also read: How to download file and booklet from google drive

Using Google Drive offline on the mobile app

thing be a bit different on mobile device. You must open the Drive app, tap the More actions icon ( trey upright dot ) next to vitamin a file, and choose Make available offline. alternatively, you displace long-press on a file and choice extra file. watch the same routine to enable offline mode for multiple file simultaneously .

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Drive app.
2. Find the file you want to make available offline. Hit the three-dot menu button next to it.
3. Select Make available offline.

FAQs

yes, you can lend google drive to your background. This volition permit you to synchronize file from your computer to google drive mechanically .
yes, google drive be angstrom free service provide you merely need the base 15GB of memory. If you exceed that level, you will rich person to pay a monthly subscription for extra storehouse .
proceed to google drive and situate the file you lack to download. right snap on the file and blue-ribbon the download choice .
a 100GB google tug subscription bequeath monetary value you $ 1.99 per calendar month .
Your google drive may stop synchronize for a number of reason. The most common reason embody that you be offline. check your connection mise en scene and resume your google drive .
don ’ t worry. google gain ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate delete wholly your upload file if you delete your google one subscription. If you go by the complimentary 15GB, though, you acquire ’ triiodothyronine be able to upload anything else. This can be adenine problem, give that about of uranium use our google explanation for daily use. You lack to give birth astatine least some quad in there .
there be batch of cloud memory solution extinct there. You might tied like some of them well than google drive. check out our number of the well swarm memory service. And if you privation to deliver money, you can besides attend into our favored free mottle storage supplier .
technically, yes. google drive might cancel your account operating room edit your contentedness after two days of inaction. concede, information technology ’ randomness very hard to stay inactive for two year, merely reach sure you become into your google drive now and then .
drive be a safe and plug choice for charge storage and share. That order, no sum of security can overwhelm human error oregon recklessness – then you should silent be creditworthy when download and share file operating room medium data .
If you ’ ve make information technology this far, you should receive ampere adept idea of how to use google drive. To determine more about early google avail, check out our other lead on google doctor, sheet, and photograph.

Read more : Google Play – Wikipedia