How to Use Google Drive on Android & PC？Detailed Breakdown

No matter whether you are using an iPhone or Android device, you must be familiar with Google Drive which enables you to transfer, manage and back up different kinds of phone data. But have you made full use of this helpful but free tool? Probably not! Then how to fully use Google Drive on Android phone or computer? Just read on - this article can be a tutorial for you.

Part 1. What Is Google Drive?

Google Drive is a cloud storage and synchronization service developed by Google that allows users to store, sync, and share files across devices. It is available on the web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and offers 15GB of free storage for easy access anytime. Google Drive supports many file types, including photos, videos, documents, recordings, drawings, and more.

Part 2. How to Use Google Drive on Android & PC? [8 Tips]

In Google Drive, you are able to upload, share, download, delete files, check available storage space and more. Then how to complete them? Here are the details for you:

1. Enter Google Drive

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. Download the Google Drive App from Google Play Store and go with the prompts to properly install it.

Step 2. Launch the application and then log in to your Google account.

- On a Computer

Step 1. Go to drive.google.com in your web browser.

Step 2. Type in your Gmail address and password and then tap on "Sign in" to enter your Google Drive.

2. Upload Files to Google Drive

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. On the primary interface of the Google Drive App, tap on the "+" icon in the bottom right corner.

Step 2. Select the option "Upload" and choose the files you want to save to Google Drive.

- On a Computer

Step 1. Select the file or folder you want to upload from your computer.

Step 2. Drag it to the interface of Google Drive and drop it.

Or you can choose to:

Step 1. Click the "New" button located in the top left corner of the webpage.

Step 2. Choose "File upload" or "Folder upload" as you like.

Step 3. Select the files or folders you want and click on "Open" or "Upload".

While the uploading process ends, you can go back to the home screen of Google Drive and tap on the uploaded folder or file to view it.

3. Share Files from Google Drive

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. Find out the file that you want to share from the home screen and tap the "more (three vertical dots)" button.

Step 2. Tap on "Share link" or "Send file" as you like.

Step 3. Choose a sharing method, such as Email, Messaging, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

- On a Computer

Step 1. Right-click on the file you want to share.

Step 2. Tap on the "Share" button.

4. View the Files Shared with You

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. Hit the "menu" button at the top left of your screen.

Step 2. Choose the option "Shared with me" and select the file that you want to view.

- On a Computer

Step 1. On the primary interface of Google Drive, you will see a list of options displayed on the left side.

Step 2. Tap the option "Shared with me" and the files and folders others have shared with you will be located.

Step 3. Choose the file or folder you want to view and click to open it.

5. Download Files from Google Drive

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. Find out the file you want to download and click on the three vertical dots icon, namely the "more" icon of the file.

Step 2. Simply tap on "Download" to get your wanted files.

- On a Computer

Step 1. Tap on "My Drive" on the primary interface of Google Drive and then the files saved in your drive will be displayed.

Step 2. Right-click the file and a window with several options will pop up.

Step 3. Choose "Download" from the list.

6. Check the Available Storage Space of Google Drive

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. Tap on the "menu" button in the top left corner of the screen.

Step 2. Choose "Settings" from the menu and the first item in the Settings list is the "Storage". You can easily check it.

- On a Computer

The "Storage" is listed at the bottom left corner of the primary interface, so you can check it without selecting and entering any settings.

7. Delete Unwanted Files from Google Drive

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. Tap on the "more" button on the file you'd like to delete.

Step 2. Elect and click on the "Remove" option to delete the file.

- On a Computer

Step 1. Right-click on the file you wish to delete.

Step 2. Choose "Remove" from the listed options.

8. Enable Offline Mode

- On an Android Phone

Step 1. Tap the "three vertical dots" icon next to a file that you want to see or edit offline. If you want to turn on the offline mode for multiple files, you can long-press one file and then select other content you want. After that, tap on the "more" option.

Step 2. Check the option "Available offline".

- On a Computer

Step 1. Open the settings menu of Google Drive by tapping on the "Settings" button.

Step 2. Find the option "Offline" and check it. Then the files saved in your Google Drive will be synced and you can edit them without internet.

Part 3. FAQs about Using Google Drive

Q1. Is Google Drive secure?

Google Drive is generally safe to use; it uses encryption to protect files during transfer and storage. For better security, users are encouraged to enable two-step verification and regularly review account activity.

Q2. How much free storage does Google Drive offer?

Google provides 15 GB of free storage for every account, which is shared among Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Once this space is full, you may need to delete files or upgrade to a paid plan.

Q3. What are the permission levels in Google Drive?

Google Drive offers three main permission levels: Viewer, Commenter, and Editor. These settings help you decide who can only read files, give feedback, or make full changes.

Q4. How do I recover deleted files?

When you delete a file, it moves to the Trash and stays there for up to 30 days. During this period, you can restore it easily before it is permanently removed.

Q5. Can I back up my computer to Google Drive?

Yes. With Google Drive for desktop, you can automatically back up important folders such as Documents, Pictures, and Desktop. This helps protect your data in case of device failure.

Q6. How do I organize files in Google Drive?

You can organize files by creating folders, renaming items, adding color labels, and starring important documents. Using search filters and keywords also makes locating files faster.

Q7. What file types does Google Drive support?

Google Drive supports the most common formats, including Word documents, PDFs, images, videos, spreadsheets, and compressed files. Unsupported files can still be stored and downloaded later.

Q8. How do I free up storage space?

You can free up space by deleting large files, emptying the Trash, removing unnecessary emails, and managing Google Photos backups. Google's storage manager can help identify space-hogging files.

Q9. What happens if I exceed my storage limit?

If you reach your storage limit, you won't be able to upload new files, sync data, or receive emails. To restore full access, you must delete content or upgrade your storage plan.

Words in the End

That's all for how to use Google Drive on Android phone and computer. After learning them, you fully use Google Drive on your device and benefit a lot from the service. Now, just follow the steps to manage your files with Google Drive if needed.

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