Getting Started
Go to http://drive.google.com/ and select the “Go to Drive” Button. If you do not have an account, select the “Create account” option. If you already have an account, enter your credentials, and select “Next.”
Go to http://drive.google.com/ and select the “Go to Drive” Button. If you do not have an account, select the “Create account” option. If you already have an account, enter your credentials, and select “Next.”
The Google Drive Interface
Your google Drive may be empty right now, but as you begin to upload and create files, you will need to know how to view, manage, and organize them in the interface.
Your google Drive may be empty right now, but as you begin to upload and create files, you will need to know how to view, manage, and organize them in the interface.
- The New Button: Click the New button to create a new document, spreadsheet, presentation, or other Google document. The new file will be saved to your Google Drive automatically. You can also use the "New" button to create new folders and upload files from your computer.
- Folders: Related files can be organized into folders. Once files are placed in a folder, you can view, share, and apply changes to multiple files at the same time. When you select a folder in the left pane, only files contained within that folder will appear in the View pane.
- Views: You can choose several different views for Google Drive. The default view is My Drive, which shows all of your files. You can also choose to see files that are shared with you (Incoming), favorited (Starred), or recently edited.
- View Pane: The View pane displays all of your files. It's easy to see who owns each file, what files are shared, and when files were last modified. Simply click to select any file or double-click to open it.
- Sort: By default, your files are sorted by the date they were last modified. Click here to reorganize your files by size, name, or editing history.
- File Action Buttons: These options will appear whenever you select a file. They allow you to quickly share the file, see a preview, or delete it.
- Search Bar: The Search bar allows you to look for specific files. Whenever you enter a search term, Google Drive will automatically display files that match your search. You can also run an advanced search, which allows you to filter your files by type.
Challenge!
- Visit www.google.com to sign up for a Google account if you don't already have one.
- Open Google Drive.
- Notice on the left side how much of your storage is used and how much is available.
- Try clicking some of the menu options, like Shared with Me and Google Photos