This wikiHow teaches you how to use Google Drive to store and share documents and files online. You can use Google Drive on both computer and mobile devices, the important factor is having a valid Google account.
Steps
Part 1 of 7: Sign in to Google Drive
Step 1. Open the Google Drive web page
Access the URL https://drive.google.com/ using the internet browser of your choice.
If you're using a mobile device, tap the Google Drive app icon with a green, yellow, and blue stylized triangle. If you have not yet installed the Google Drive application on your mobile device, you can download it for free on both iPhone and Android
Step 2. Press the Go to Google Drive button
It is blue in color and is positioned in the center of the page. This will take you to the login page.
- If you are using the mobile app, tap the button Log in located at the bottom of the screen.
- If you are already signed in to the Google Drive service, skip this step.
Step 3. Enter your account credentials
When prompted, enter the e-mail address associated with your Google account and provide us with the relevant security password.
If you are using the app, you will need to select your Google account when prompted
Step 4. Review the main page of your Google Drive profile
On the left side of the main screen there is a menu with different options, while in the central part there should be a large blank white space.
- The main screen of the Google Drive app features a blank page with a white button ＋ located at the bottom of the screen. In the upper left corner there is the button ☰.
- All the items that will be uploaded to Google Drive will be available for any other platform that has access to this clouding service.
Part 2 of 7: Uploading a File from Computer
Step 1. Press the New button
It is blue in color and located in the upper left corner of the page. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 2. Choose the File Upload option
It is one of the items in the drop-down menu New one. This will bring up the "File Explorer" (on Windows systems) or Finder (on Mac) system window.
Step 3. Select a file
This is the document you want to upload to Google Drive. If you want or need to load multiple items at the same time, select files by holding down the Ctrl (on Windows) or ⌘ Command (on Mac) key.
In some cases you may need to use the left sidebar of the window to first select the storage drive where the data to upload is stored
Step 4. Press the Open button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window. All selected files will be automatically uploaded to Google Drive.
Step 5. Wait for the data upload to complete
The time required may vary depending on the size of the files and the speed of the internet connection. In order to complete this phase it is important not to close the tab or the browser window in which the Google Drive web page is displayed.
When the data upload is complete, you will see a white checkmark ✓ appear to the right of the file name. The list of queued or completed uploads is displayed on the right side of the page
Part 3 of 7: Uploading a File from Mobile Device
Step 1. Tap the ＋ button
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen. A pop-up window will appear.
Step 2. Choose the Upload item
It is one of the items in the menu that appeared.
Step 3. Select the Photos and Videos option
It is located at the bottom of the menu.
If you are using an Android device, you will be redirected directly to the recently managed images page
Step 4. Choose the source of the file
Tap the album or folder where the file you want to upload is currently stored.
Step 5. Select the file to upload
Tap the photo, video, or document you want to choose. If you need to make a multiple selection of items, simply tap on all the ones you want to upload.
Step 6. At the end of the selection press the Upload button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. This way all the chosen items will be uploaded to Google Drive.
Step 7. Wait for the data upload to complete
The time required may vary depending on the size of the files and the speed of the internet connection. When the file upload is complete, its progress bar will disappear from the view.
During the loading phase, it is important not to close the Google Drive app and stay close to the Wi-Fi router to which the device is connected
Part 4 of 7: Creating a File Using a Computer
Step 1. Press the New button
It is blue in color and located in the upper left corner of the page. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 2. Choose the type of document to create
You can select one of the following options:
- Google document - a new blank text document in Word style will be displayed;
- Google Sheets - a new blank spreadsheet similar to those of Excel will be displayed;
- Google Slides - a new blank document similar to PowerPoint presentations will be displayed;
- If you wish, you can view other Google document formats that can be created by choosing the item Other, for instance Google Forms if you need to create a Google form.
Step 3. Name the new document
Click the text "Untitled Document" displayed in the upper left corner of the screen, then type in the name you want to give the file.
The changes will be saved automatically as long as the computer is connected to the internet
Step 4. Compose the body of the document
Insert the text, images and all the contents that will form the document, then make sure that on the right side of the menu bar it says "All changes have been saved in Drive".
Step 5. Close the browser tab for the newly created document and return to the Google Drive tab
The file will be visible on the main screen of your Google Drive account.
Part 5 of 7: Create a File Using the Google Drive App
Step 1. Tap the ＋ button
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen. A pop-up window will appear.
To be able to create a new document directly from a mobile device, the Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides apps must already be installed
Step 2. Choose the type of document to create
You can select one of the following options:
- Google document - a new blank text document in Word style will be displayed;
- Google Sheets - a new blank spreadsheet similar to those of Excel will be displayed;
- Google Slides - a new blank document similar to PowerPoint presentations will be displayed.
Step 3. Type a name for the new file
When prompted, enter the name you wish to give to the new document.
Step 4. Press the Create button
It is located in the lower right corner of the menu that appeared earlier. This will create a new document with the chosen name and you will be redirected to the compose page.
Step 5. Create the document content
Insert the text, images and everything that will characterize the file in question.
Step 6. Tap the icon
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. This way the file will be saved on Google Drive.
Part 6 of 7: Share a File from Computer
Step 1. Select a file
Choose the document you want to share with other users. At this point, several icons should have appeared at the top of the page.
Sharing documents and files online is very useful if the item in question is larger than 25MB, as most email service providers don't allow you to send such large attachments
Step 2. Click the "Share" icon
It features a stylized human silhouette with the "+" symbol next to it. It's located at the top right of the Google Drive page. By selecting the indicated icon you will be redirected to a new window.
Step 3. Click the "Edit" icon
It is characterized by a pencil and is located on the right side of the new window that has appeared. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4. Select the sharing mode
Choose one of the following options from the menu that appeared:
- Can edit - the person with whom you will share the selected document will be able to view and modify its content;
- Can comment - the person with whom you will share the selected document will be able to leave comments, but will not be able to modify the content of the file;
- Can view - the person with whom you will share the selected document will only be able to view its content, without having the possibility to edit it or leave a comment.
Step 5. Enter an email address
In the "People" text field, located in the center of the dialog box that appears, type the e-mail address of the person with whom you want to share the document.
If you wish, you can enter more than one email address by pressing the Tab key ↹ between them
Step 6. Add a message if you wish
You now have the option to include a small list of instructions or some additional information related to the content of the document you are sharing, using the "Add a note" text field.
Step 7. Press the Submit button when finished
It is blue in color and is located in the lower left part of the window. The selected document will be shared with all the people indicated.
Part 7 of 7: Share a File from Mobile Device
Step 1. Locate the file you want to share
Scroll through the list of items stored on Google Drive until you find the document you want to share.
Step 2. Press the ⋯ button
It is located to the right of the document name. A new context menu will appear.
If you are using an Android device, select the document to share by pressing and holding it with your finger
Step 3. Choose the Add People option
It is one of the items on the menu that appeared. This will take you to a new screen.
Step 4. Enter an email address
In the "People" text field at the top of the page, type the email address of the person you want to share the document with.
Step 5. Click the "Edit" icon
It is characterized by a pencil and is located on the right side of the page, next to the field dedicated to entering the e-mail address. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 6. Select the sharing mode
Choose one of the following options from the menu that appeared:
- Edit or Can edit - the person with whom you will share the selected document will be able to view and modify its content;
- Adding comments or Can comment - the person with whom you will share the selected document will be able to leave comments, but will not be able to modify the content of the file;
- View or Can view - the person you share the selected document with will only be able to view its content without having the ability to edit it or leave a comment.
Step 7. Type a message
If you need to include a note or message, you can do so by typing the text to attach to the sharing email in the "Message" text field.
Step 8. Tap the "Submit" button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The chosen document will be shared by e-mail with the person or persons indicated.
Advice
- When using the Google Drive mobile app, avoid uploading or downloading files using your cellular data connection. If possible, these steps should be performed when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
- You can create a folder on your computer synchronized with the Google Drive service to use to automatically upload the desired files to your account. The synchronization takes place completely automatically as soon as the computer is connected to the internet.
