You can store any file in Drive: pictures, drawings, videos, and more. You only need to store a file in Drive on one device, and it will automatically be available on all your other devices. There are three ways to get your files into Drive.
1.1 Upload files to Drive on the web
1.2 Store files on your desktop
1.3 Upload files from your phone or tablet
This video guide was put together with help from the Google Learning Center found here: https://gsuite.google.com/learning-center/products/drive/get-started/
One way to store files in Drive is to upload a copy of them using your web browser:
If you’re using the latest version of Chrome or Firefox®, you can simply drag files directly from your computer to the Drive page on your browser.
If you upload a file that matches the name of an existing file, Drive will add it as a new version, instead of creating a duplicate. To see the previous version of that file, manage versions.
When you see Upload complete, your files have uploaded successfully and can be accessed in any browser or device that has Drive installed.
Note: If you’re using Backup and Sync backup instead of Drive File Stream, see Back up and sync files with Google Drive.
If you want to work on files from your desktop, install Drive File Stream. All your Drive files appear and can be streamed on demand, so they don’t take up all your storage space on your computer.
(If you decide later to uninstall Drive File Stream, your Drive files won’t be affected. They can still be accessed from Drive on the web.)
Drive File Stream is only available if your G Suite administrator has turned it on for your organization or team.
When you install Drive File Stream on your computer, it creates a drive in Microsoft® Windows® Explorer or a device in Apple® Mac® Finder® named Google Drive. All your Drive files appear here.
Move files to a folder:
If your internet connection breaks or you need to go offline in the middle of a sync, Drive File Stream picks up where it left off when you’re back online.
You can also use the Drive app to store files on your Android or iOS device. (If you decide later to uninstall the app, your Drive files won’t be affected and can still be accessed from Drive on the web.)
Drive simplifies your work by making the latest version of your file available automatically across the web and all your devices.
After you store your files in Drive, you can get to them on any computer, smartphone, or tablet. When you change or delete a file stored in one location, Drive makes the same change everywhere else, so you don’t have to.
2.1 Check your sync status
2.2 Access your files from any device
2.3 Access your files offline
On the web
When you see Upload complete, your files have uploaded successfully and can be accessed in any browser or device that has Drive installed.
On your computer
Dragging files to a folder in Drive File Stream automatically uploads them to Drive on the web (though it might take a moment for files to sync).
Files with autorenew haven’t been uploaded to Drive yet.
Files with done have uploaded successfully and can be accessed from Drive in any browser or from any device with Drive installed.
Install any web browser. Go to drive.google.com.
Install Drive File Stream from the Drive Help Center.
Click Drive File Stream and then Open Google Drive folder
Install the Drive app from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).
Open the Drive app on your device.
Internet outages and long plane rides shouldn’t prevent you from working in Drive.
Set up offline access so that the next time you don’t have internet access, you can view your documents, shuffle folders around, and edit files stored in Drive.
Important: To make sure other people can’t see your files, set up offline access on computers that only belong to you.
Chrome browser only
Set up offline access for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on the web:
Tip: To set up offline access on mobile devices, see Access stored Drive files without the internet.
Set up offline access for PDFs, Microsoft® Office® files, and more on your desktop:
3.1 Preview and download stored files on the web
3.2 Open your files
3.3 Update Drive files
3.4 Delete your files
3.5 Restore deleted files
To take a quick look at a Drive file, right-click it and select Preview.
In the overlay, you can:
To save a file to access later, download it one of the following ways:
In Drive, double-click the file you want to open.
To restore an earlier version of a file that wasn't created in Docs, Sheets, or Slides:
To update a file, just open it from Drive File Stream drive_file_stream on your desktop. Make your changes. They’ll automatically update to Drive on the web.
It works the other way around, too. Changes you make in Drive on the web sync back to your computer. Your files and folders are now up to date everywhere.
If you remove a file you own in Drive on any device, it is automatically removed from Drive on all of your devices and on the web.
Note: Removed files you own are moved to Trash in Drive and still count towards your total storage, until you permanently delete them on the web.
Select the files or folders you want to remove and click Remove delete.
Delete files permanently: To permanently delete a file when you’re in Trash, select the file and click Delete forever. To permanently delete all your Trash files, click Trash and select Empty trash.
Just select the files or folders you want to remove and delete them as you would any other file on your computer.
If you change your mind after deleting a file or folder, you can restore it to Drive. Whether you delete it from Drive on the web or from your computer in Drive File Stream, you restore it the same way.
Open Drive and click Trash delete. Select the files you want to restore and click Restore.
Now that all your files are in Drive, here are some of the key ways you can stay organized.
Any new folders you create in your computer’s Drive File Stream folders or in Drive on the web automatically appear on your devices so that you’re organized everywhere.
Move a file in My Drive:
You can also drag files and folders to a folder in My Drive on the left.
Organize files in the Search results, Recent, Starred, Shared with me views:
Note: If you move a file under Shared with me, it only moves your copy.
Select the files you want to move and drag them to any folder in Google Drive, the same way you’d move any other file on your computer.
Flag important files or folders to find them quickly later. Just right-click a file or folder and select Add star.
To see all your starred files and folders, in the left sidebar, click Starred.
It can be difficult to browse through hundreds of files just to find the one you need. So, try searching Drive instead.
In Drive’s search box, enter a word or phrase. To help you search faster, Drive suggests search terms as you enter text. Click one of the suggestions to open it, or click Search search to see a list of results.
Search for files or folders in Drive:
Search a folder in Drive:
You can only search folders that are in My Drive or Team Drives. If you want to search a folder that is shared with you, you need to add the folder to My Drive first.
After you share Drive files or folders, you can work on them with teammates or even people outside of your company.
Share a file you own or can edit:
Everyone you shared the document with will receive an email notification. After you've shared a file, you can get the link by selecting the file and clicking Get shareable link link.
Video: Check back Mar 20, 2018 for this video!
Stop sharing a file or folder you own:
Keep track of changes to items created in or uploaded to Drive, such as:
To view all activity in My Drive, click View details info.
To view the activity for a specific file or folder, select the file or folder and click View details info.
Video: Check back Mar 27, 2018 for this video!