Google Drive is a storehouse of files, documents, videos, and photos and was launched by Google on April 24, 2012. It helps with storing and synchronizing files. They can also be shared safely with other individuals and organizations. In short, it is Google’s cloud storage solution.
Google Drive can be accessed both via phone and PC. Files easily get uploaded and removed from the drive, leading to better management of storage space on the device. It also contains the Google slides, docs, sheets and forms that one creates.
It is an offline storage service compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. It is also an essential component of Google Workspace.
How to use
Google Drive can be accessed either through the website drive.google.com or the free app. Its software can also be downloaded to the desktop and after installation, the program can be launched. A Google Drive icon will then appear.
One gets 15 GB of storage free on Google Drive and once it gets filled, one needs to buy extra space-100 GB, 200 GB, and 2 TB plans are available. Each plan requires monthly payments.
Google Photos can also consume a lot of drive space sometimes. Consequently, the storage system needs to be managed well.
Many file types are supported in Google Drive: .gif, .mov, .jpg, .docx, .ppt etc.
Once a new file is downloaded on a mobile or laptop, the option to save it to a drive is visible.
How to upload, download and remove files in google drive
Most of the time, the easy method of drag and drop is used to upload files to Google Drive. Upload progress can be seen in a small window at the bottom right of the screen.
Another way to upload files involves clicking the New+ option in the top left corner of the screen. After that, the option of file upload or folder upload can be selected accordingly.
Uploading may take a few minutes before the film finally shows up on Google Drive.
To remove a file from the Drive, three dots appearing along the file name can be clicked, and the remove option can be clicked. Then one can select the Move to trash option to confirm. It is a relatively easy process.
By right-clicking and selecting download, files and folders can easily be downloaded.
How to search and share files
One can organize files very well on the Drive, just like on their PC. They can be found by typing their name into the search bar at the top of the screen. Then by selecting the three vertical dots next to the file, one can click Manage people and links. One can manage the sharing settings there and then send the file to the recipients.
How to use Google Drive files offline
One added advantage of Google Drive is that all files can be accessed offline. The files can be viewed and edited even in offline mode. The same is true for Google Sheets, Docs, Slides etc.
Offline access for every device has to be turned on individually. On Google Drive, click the gear icon, scroll to settings, and select the offline mode option.
Ways to get more storage space
The Google Account comes standard with 15 GB of cloud storage. This space is shared between Drive, photos, and Gmail. More storage in Google Drive can be bought. It can also be upgraded to Google One to get extra benefits.
One is free to change their storage plan anytime, to either monthly or annual mode. Within 24 hours, the updated changes are activated. Google One membership solves all these problems with storage. It also brings many special benefits like more storage space and family plan sharing.
After opening the Google Drive app, one can click on the settings menu and then tap on the upgrade storage option. The most appropriate plan can then be chosen by the user according to their personal needs. The payment type can then be selected and the subscribe button can be tapped.
Some helpful tips
- Saving content straight from the web-
Pictures, videos, and audio can all be downloaded directly to the chosen Google Drive folder. It becomes very easy to access as compared to bulky screenshots.
- You can share work on the web very easily-
The Publish to Web option can be selected once the file has been selected. The file updates automatically on the website. It can thus be shared with everyone.
- Chatting and working can go hand in hand-
People can also work together on the same Google Drive file while chatting in real-time to exchange ideas, thoughts, opinions etc.
- Backup and sync facility-
All files stored in Google Drive can be backed up and synced very easily. They can be accessed on different devices: mobile, laptop, tablet etc. This strategy helps to keep copies of the most critical files on the drive.
- Option for colour-coordinating the files-
To organize the related files well, and to make them look a bit more attractive, the colour of their icon can also be changed.
- Google Drive is also shortcut-friendly. This proves to be very time-saving.
Google Drive Review
Over 94 lakh people have installed the Google Drive app from the Play Store now. It testifies to its huge popularity among users. It has a rating of 4.3 stars on the Play Store. The majority of users like its basic concept and consider it to be the need of the hour.
The new update of August,2022 has also caused some issues for some users. Google Drive has responded appropriately and assured us that such errors would be eliminated soon. Some issues include difficulty uploading and downloading files on the app, synchronization errors etc.
PROS
– Good enough storage space
– File syncing
– Cross-platform apps
– Its acceptance of various file formats like .jpg, .png, .docx, .ppt, .mov
CONS
– Privacy and safety concerns have been raised in certain cases
– No password protection
– Uploading files sometimes takes a lot of time.
– Synchronization errors etc.
