How to Use Google Drive: Upload, save, view and share your files using Google Drive

Google Drive is a cloud-based storage service with 15GB storage capacity that allows you to download, upload and save various files to the cloud and then access them at different locations and from different devices like from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.





Google drive is powerful and very easy to use, though many people don't know much on how to use google drive. Google drive allows you to store your media and documents on google servers so you can free up space on your hard drive and then access them from any device with an internet connection.

Google drive comes installed on most new android phones. To use google drive, you would be prompted to add your google account, which is all you need to use google drive.

How to use google drive

 

 

In order to use google drive, you will need a google account. Google accounts are free, and signing up for google account is very easy and simple.


In order to create a google account, you will need to enter some information, including your name, birth date, and location.


By creating a google account, you will automatically create a gmail email address and a google+ profile.

How to create a Google account

 

 

If you already have a gmail address, then you have a google account, so you don't need to create another google account. You can simply sign in to google drive using your gmail information.



To create a Google account, follow the steps listed below.


Step 1: Go to www.google.com.

Step 2: Locate and select the "sign in button" on the top-right corner of the page.

Step 3: The sign-up form will appear. Follow the directions and enter the required information.

Step 4: Next enter your phone number. Google will send a verification code to your phone that you will use to complete the sign up process.

Step 5: Enter phone number.

Step 6: Enter the verification code sent to your phone and click Verify.

Step 7: Verify phone number with code.

The personal information page will appear. Follow the directions and enter your information, including your birth date and gender.

Step 8: Enter personal information.

Step 9: Review Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then click I agree.

Your account will be created.

Use google drive

Once you have a google account, you can upload, store and share your files using google drive by means of any of the three different methods:


Google drive online.

Google drive computer application.

Google drive mobile application.

Accessing Google Drive

 

 

Once you have set up your google account, you can access google drive by going to http://drive.google.com in your web browser.

You can also navigate to google drive from any google page (such as gmail or google search) by selecting the grid icon near the top-right corner, then clicking drive.

The Google Drive interface

 

Your Google Drive may be empty right now, but as you begin to upload and create files, you'll need to know how to view, manage, and organize them in the interface.

You can click the buttons in the interactive to become familiar with the google drive interface.

How to use google drive

 

 

The Google Drive homepage has a simple user interface (UI). The Dashboard along the top of the browser window allows you to adjust settings, perform google drive content searches, and manage or share files.


To use google drive dashboard:

1. Click on the "search box" and enter in keywords to perform a search of your google drive content.

2. Click on the "google apps" icon to access other google services, like gmail or youtube.

3. Click on the "notifications" icon to view account notifications.

4. Click on the "google account" icon to sign in and out of your account.

5. Click on the "new button" to create a new file with one of the connected apps, create new folders, and upload files and folders to your cloud.

6. Click on the "link" icon to get a shareable link to your file which allows you to grant access to others.

7. Click on the "share" icon to send a shareable copy of your file directly via email.

8. Click on the "remove" icon to move a file or folder from your cloud to the trash.

9. Click on the "more actions" icon for more file management options (folder colors, open files with connected apps, file/folder sorting, and file/folder downloads).

10. Click on the "view/layout" icon to change the file and folder arrangement from list view to grid view.

11. Click on the "view details" icon to view file details such as size, type, previews, and shared status.

12. Click on the "settings" icon for google drive settings.

Along the left hand side of the browser window is a sidebar that organizes the content and features in an easy-to-digest layout.