How to Use Google Drive

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This wikiHow teaches you how to use Google Drive to store and share documents. You can use Google Drive both on desktop and on mobile platforms, but you must have a Google account in order to use Drive.

To get started with Drive, go to the Google Drive website and sign in with your Google account. If you don't have a Google account, you can sign up for one from Drive's website. If you want to upload files from your computer or make a brand new document in your Drive, click the New button in the upper left corner.

Signing into Drive

• On mobile, tap the Google Drive app icon, which resembles a yellow, green, and blue triangle. If you don't yet have Google Drive on mobile, you can download it for iPhone or Android for free.

• On mobile, tap SIGN IN at the bottom of the screen.
• Skip this step and the next one if you're already signed into Google Drive.

• On mobile, you may have to select a Google account when prompted.

• On mobile, you'll see a blank space with a white ＋ at the bottom of the screen, along with a ☰ icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
• Any items uploaded to Google Drive will be available on any other platform that supports Google Drive.

Uploading Files on Desktop

Click File upload . This option is in the NEW drop-down menu. Doing so opens a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window.

• You may first need to select a file storage folder from the left side of the window.

Click Open . It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. The files will begin uploading to Google Drive.

• Once the files finish uploading, you'll see a white checkmark ✓ to the right of the file's name in the box that's on the right side of the page.

Uploading Files on Mobile

• You may be taken directly to the Photos page on Android.

Select a file. Tap a photo, video, or document to select it. If you want to select more than one file, tap each file that you want to select.

Tap UPLOAD . It's in the top-right corner of the screen. This will prompt your selected file(s) to begin uploading to Google Drive.

• It's important to stay near a Wi-Fi router and keep Google Drive open during this time.

Creating Files on Desktop

Click NEW . It's the blue button in the upper-left corner of the Drive window. A drop-down menu will appear.

• Google Docs - Opens a new, blank Word-like document.
• Google Sheets - Opens a new, blank Excel-like spreadsheet.
• Google Slides - Opens a new, blank PowerPoint-like document.
• You can also select More and then click Google Forms if you want to create a Google Form.

• Your changes will be saved automatically as long as you're connected to the Internet.

Create your document. Enter your document's text, images, and so on, then make sure that the phrase "All changes saved in Drive" is displayed at the top of the page.

Creating Files on Mobile

• You will need the Google Docs, Google Sheets, and/or Google Slides apps on your phone if you want to create a document on mobile.

• Google Docs - Creates a Word-like document. If you don't have Google Docs, this opens the Google Docs app page.
• Google Sheets - Creates an Excel-like document. If you don't have Google Sheets, this opens the Google Sheets app page.
• Google Slides - Creates a PowerPoint-like document. If you don't have Google Slides, this opens the Google Slides app page.

Tap CREATE . It's in the bottom-right corner of the pop-up menu. Doing so applies the name to your document and opens the document.

Sharing Files on Desktop

• Sharing documents or files is useful when the file in question is over 25 MB in size, since most email providers won't allow you to send it as an attachment at that point.

Click the "Share" icon. It's an image of a person with a "+" next to it; you'll find this icon in the upper-right side of the Drive page. Clicking it prompts a new window to open.

. This pencil-shaped icon is on the far-right side of the pop-up window. A drop-down menu will appear.

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• Can edit - The person with whom you share the document will be able to edit the document.
• Can comment - The person with whom you share the document will be able to leave comments about the document, but not edit the document.
• Can view - The person with whom you share the document will only be able to view, but not edit or comment on, the document.

• You can enter multiple email addresses here by pressing the Tab ↹ key after each email address.

Add a note if you like. If you want to include a set of instructions or a brief statement about the item which you're sharing, enter it in the "Add a note" text box.

Click Send . It's a blue button in the bottom-left side of the window. This will share the file with your selected recipient(s) via email.

Sharing Files on Mobile

Find a document that you want to share. Scroll through your Google Drive until you find a document that you want to share with someone.

• On Android, tap and hold the document that you want to share.

Enter an email address. Tap the "People" field near the top of the page, then enter an email address.

• Edit or Can edit - The person with whom you share the document will be able to edit the document.
• Comment or Can comment - The person with whom you share the document will be able to leave comments about the document, but not edit the document.
• View or Can view - The person with whom you share the document will only be able to view, but not edit or comment on, the document.

Enter a message. If you want to include a message with your shared document, tap the "Message" text field and then enter the message that you want to include.

Community Q&A

Your account and all content on Google's servers are protected by a 128-bit TLS (SSL) certificate given by GeoTrust Global CA. Authenticity is also verified by GeoTrust Global CA.

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Only if you make your password publicly known. (Note: If the FBI or NSA wants to look at them, they can. End of story).

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If you choose to insert an image from within Gmail, you should have the option to insert a photo from Google Drive. You can only use the image if it's already been uploaded to Google Drive, however.

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When using Google Drive on mobile, avoid uploading or downloading files over a data connection. Use Wi-Fi whenever possible.

You can use a folder on your computer to store files that will upload automatically to Google Drive when an Internet connection is present.

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