Getting Started with Drive
Google Drive lets you store your files in the cloud and synchronize them across devices. Files can be accessed from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. You can quickly invite others to view, download, and collaborate on the files you specify -- no emailing documents back and forth.
Access My Drive
As with other G Suite applications, Google Drive can be accessed via the 9-box grid to the left of your account icon, near the upper right corner of your window. If you're not already signed into your account, you'll be prompted to enter your email address and password.
Once logged in, you'll see the "My Drive" window.
My Drive stores all of the documents you've created on Drive or uploaded to it.
Upload Files to Drive
If you'd like to store a file on Drive that was originally created on your computer, click the blue "New" button at the upper left side of the Drive window, then choose "File Upload."
A window opens, prompting you to locate the file. Once located, highlight the file and click "Open." A dialog box at the lower right of the window will let you know upload progress, and will confirm once the upload is complete.
If you're uploading the file into a folder that's shared, the file will inherit the sharing permissions of the folder. Otherwise, only you will have access to the file.
It's also easy to drag and drop files into a Drive folder. To do this, first open the folder in Drive. Then locate and select the file on your computer desktop, dragging and dropping it onto the Drive window.
A dialog box at the lower right of the window will let you know upload progress, and will confirm once the upload is complete.
Share Files and Folders with Others
When you create a new file or folder in My Drive, you are automatically designated its owner. You can share specific files, letting others view the document or even collaborate on it, or provide access to all items inside a folder you've created.
To share a file, click once on the filename to highlight it, then right click (control click on a Mac). From the pop-up menu, select "Share..."
To share a folder, first open the folder, then click the gray people icon to the right of the folder's name.
On the resulting screen, specify who you want to share the file or folder with by entering the person's email address. After entering each email address, click the pencil to specify sharing options. If you want the individual to collaborate on the file, select "Can organize, add, & edit." If you only want them to be able to see the file but not edit it, select "Can view only."
When finished, click "Done."
By default, sharing settings that you've assigned to a folder will be inherited by all of the files inside the folder. However, you can still change an individual file's sharing permissions.
Search for Files or Folders
Google has embedded its powerful search capabilities in all its applications, including Drive.
If you can't remember the name you gave a file or folder when creating it, use Drive's search function to find what you're looking for. Click in the "Search Drive" box near the top of your screen. You can type any word or phrase, and Drive will return results not only for file and folder names, but for file contents as well.
To narrow the document type to be searched (for example, if you'd like to only search PDFs), select the appropriate document type from the Search drop-down menu.
Click "More search tools" for even more granular control of the items you're searching, including modification date, a document's owner, and more.
"Shared with Me" Folder
When other people create files and folders and share them with you, they'll be visible in the folder named "Shared with me" (in the left sidebar). Items in this folder can be accessed indefinitely, unless the creator unshares with you.
However, for organizational purposes, you may wish to add shared files to My Drive. The creator of the shared file will still own it, but you are free to locate the file wherever you'd like in My Drive.
Even if you've added a shared file to My Drive, remember that the file's original creator still has the ability to modify or revoke sharing permissions. In instances such as this, you'll still be able to view the document on My Drive, though you won't be able to edit it.
You can add a shared file to My Drive in two ways. The first is to open the document and click the Drive icon to the right of the filename.
If the document isn't open, you can click once on the filename to highlight it, then right click (control click on a Mac). From the resulting pop-up menu, select "Add to My Drive."
