This wikiHow teaches you how to use Google Drive to store and share documents. You can use Google Drive on both desktop and mobile platforms, but you must already have a Google account to use it.
Step
Part 1 of 7: Sign in to Google Drive
Step 1. Open Google Drive
Visit https://drive.google.com/ in a browser.
On a mobile device, tap the Google Drive app icon, which looks like a yellow, green, and blue triangle. If you don't have the Google Drive app on your device, you can download it for iPhone or Android for free
Step 2. Click Go to Drive
It's a blue button in the middle of the page. After that, the login page will be displayed.
- On the mobile device, touch the “ SIGN IN ” at the bottom of the page.
- Skip this step and the next if you're already signed in to your Google Drive account.
Step 3. Enter the account details
When prompted, type in the email address and password you use to sign in to your Google account.
On mobile devices, you will need to select a Google account when prompted
Step 4. Review the main Google Drive page
You can see a column of options on the left side of the page, including the large blank space in the center of the page.
- On mobile devices, you can see an empty space marked with a “ ＋ ” is white at the bottom of the screen, and the icon “ ☰ ” in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Any content uploaded to Google Drive will be available on other platforms that support Google Drive.
Part 2 of 7: Uploading Files Via Desktop Site
Step 1. Click NEW
It's a blue button in the top-left corner of the page. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 2. Click File upload
This option is in the drop-down menu “ NEW After that, a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window will appear.
Step 3. Select the file
Click the file you want to upload. If you want to upload multiple files, you can press and hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking the files to select them.
You need to first select the file storage folder from the left side of the window
Step 4. Click Open
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. After that, the file will be uploaded to Google Drive.
Step 5. Wait for the files to finish uploading
The time required will depend on the size of the uploaded file and the internet connection. Therefore, just make sure the Google Drive page remains open during the upload process.
Once the file has finished uploading, you should see a white “✓” tick next to the file name in the box that appears on the right side of the page
Part 3 of 7: Uploading Files Via Mobile Apps
Step 1. Touch the button
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, a pop-up menu will be displayed.
Step 2. Touch Upload
It's in the pop-up menu.
Step 3. Touch Photos and Videos
It's at the bottom of the menu.
You may be taken to the “Photos” page on your Android device
Step 4. Choose a location
Touch the album or folder that contains the file you want to upload.
Step 5. Select the file
Touch a photo, video, or document to select it. If you want to select multiple files, touch each one you want to select.
Step 6. Touch UPLOAD
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, the selected files will be uploaded to Google Drive.
Step 7. Wait for the file to finish uploading
The upload process can take a few minutes to several hours, depending on the file size and internet connection. Once the file has finished uploading, the file progress bar will disappear.
It is important that you stay near your WiFi router and open the Google Drive app during the upload process
Part 4 of 7: Creating Files Through Desktop Sites
Step 1. Click NEW
It's a blue button in the upper-left corner of the Drive window. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 2. Select the document type
Click one of the following options:
- “ Google Docs ” – This option will display a new blank document, such as a Microsoft Word document.
- “ Google Sheets ” – This option will display a blank spreadsheet, such as a Microsoft Excel document.
- “ Google Slides ” – This option will display a blank presentation, such as a Microsoft PowerPoint document.
- You can also choose " More " and click " Google Forms ” if you want to create a Google Form document.
Step 3. Name the document
Click the " Untitled " text in the upper left corner of the page, then replace the " Untitled " text with whatever name you want to give the document.
Changes will be saved automatically as long as you are connected to the internet
Step 4. Create a document
Enter text, images, and other content in the document, then make sure the phrase "All changes saved in Drive" is displayed at the top of the page.
Step 5. Close the document tab and return to Drive
The document will be saved on the main Drive page.
Part 5 of 7: Creating Files Through Mobile Apps
Step 1. Touch the button
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, the menu will be displayed.
You'll need the Google Docs, Google Sheets, and/or Google Slides apps on your phone if you want to create documents on a mobile device
Step 2. Select the document type
Touch one of the following options:
- “ Google Docs ” – This option is used to create text documents (such as Microsoft Word). If you don't have the Google Docs app, the Google Docs app page will open.
- “ Google Sheets ” - This option is used to create spreadsheets (such as Microsoft Excel). If you don't have the Google Sheets app, the Google Sheets app page will open.
- “ Google Slides ” - This option works for creating presentations (such as Microsoft PowerPoint). If you don't have the Google Slides app, the Google Slides app page will open.
Step 3. Enter the document name
Type in the document name when prompted.
Step 4. Touch CREATE
It's in the lower-right corner of the pop-up menu. After that, the name will be applied to the document, and the document will be opened.
Step 5. Create a document
Enter data, text, and other content in documents.
Step 6. Touch
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. After that, the document will be saved to Google Drive.
Part 6 of 7: File Sharing Through Desktop Sites
Step 1. Select the file
Click the file that you want to share with others. You can see several icons appear at the top of the page once the file is clicked.
Sharing a document or file can be a good choice if the file you want to share is larger than 25 MB because most email providers don't allow you to attach files of that size
Step 2. Click the “Share” icon
This icon is indicated by a human image with a "+" sign next to it. You'll find this icon in the upper-right corner of the Drive page. Once clicked, a new window will open.
Step 3. Click the "Edit" icon
It's a pencil icon in the far-right corner of the pop-up window. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Select sharing options
Click one of the options shown in this drop-down menu:
- “ Can edit ” – The user with whom you share the file can edit the shared document.
- “ Can comment ” – The user with whom you share the file can leave comments about the document, but cannot edit it.
- “ Can view ” – Users with whom you share files can only view, and cannot comment on or edit shared documents.
Step 5. Enter the email address
In the " People " text field in the middle of the window, type in the email address of the user with whom you want to share the document.
You can enter multiple email addresses by pressing the Tab key when you have finished entering one
Step 6. Add notes if you want
If you want to insert a series of instructions or a brief explanation of the content being shared, enter a note in the " Add a note " text field.
Step 7. Click Send
It's a blue button in the lower-left corner of the window. After that, the file will be shared with the selected recipients via email.
Part 7 of 7: File Sharing Through Mobile Apps
Step 1. Find the document you want to share
Browse the Google Drive pages until you find the document you want to share with someone.
Step 2. Touch
It's on the right side of the document. After that, a new menu will be displayed.
On an Android device, touch and hold the document you want to share
Step 3. Touch Add people
This option is in the menu. After that, a new window will open.
Step 4. Enter the email address
Tap the " People " field at the top of the page, then enter the recipient's email address.
Step 5. Touch "Edit"
It's a pencil icon in the far-right corner of the email field. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Specify sharing options
Touch one of the following options:
- “ Edit " or " Can edit ” - The user you share the file with can edit the shared document.
- “ Comment " or " Can comment ” - The user with whom you share the file can leave comments about the document, but cannot edit it.
- “ View " or " Can view ” - Users with whom you share files can only view, and cannot comment on or edit shared documents.
Step 7. Enter the message
If you want to attach a message to the shared document, tap the " Message " text field and enter the message you want to include.
Step 8. Touch "Send" button
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, the document will be shared via email.
Tips
- When using Google Drive on a mobile device, try not to upload or download files using a mobile data connection. Use WiFi if possible.
- You can use a folder on your computer to store files that will automatically upload to Google Drive when your computer is connected to the internet.
