Google Drive is a powerful cloud service that many of us use every day, whether it’s for work or play. From creating documents to organizing your photos, Google Drive has become an essential tool in our digital lives. But did you know there are some hidden gems that can make using Google Drive even more efficient and fun?
Here are nine features of Google Drive that you might not know about:
Go Offline Anytime: Setting Up Google Drive’s Offline Access
Do you often find yourself working on-the-go without internet access? You’re not alone. Thankfully, Google Drive offers a solution to this problem with its offline access feature. You can access your files while offline and they will sync automatically once you’re back online.
All you need to do is use the Chrome browser and be signed in to your Google account. Once you’ve done that, install the Google Docs Offline extension for Chrome. Then, simply sign in to Google Drive, open Settings and check the box for “Create, open, and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline.”
With offline access, you can keep working on important projects, whether you’re on a plane, in a coffee shop, or on a train without any internet connection. Once you’re back online, all your changes will sync automatically, saving you time and ensuring that you never miss a beat.
So next time you’re worried about staying productive while offline, remember that Google Drive has you covered. With just a few simple steps, you can work anytime, anywhere.
Quick and Easy: Converting Files to Google Docs Format
If you use Google Drive but sometimes find that the formatting of Microsoft Word documents looks strange, there’s a solution. You can convert any Word doc you add to Google Drive to the native Google Docs format with just a few clicks. Simply open Settings, check the box for “Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format,” and you’re all set. This means you’ll no longer have to deal with Word docs in your Google Drive library. It’s a quick and easy fix that can save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
Track Edits in Google Drive
Google Drive’s collaboration feature allows up to 100 people to work on a single Google Doc, Sheet or Slide. However, even with a small group, it can be difficult to keep track of who’s editing what. Luckily, you can easily monitor the changes made to a document by going to File > Version History > See Version History. This opens a panel on the right that displays who updated the doc and when. By clicking each version, you can see what changes were made, and you can rename or make a copy of earlier versions to keep track of your drafts. With this feature, you can streamline your team’s collaborative efforts and maintain control over your documents.
“Suggested” Feature in Google Drive: A Time-Saver or a Privacy Risk?
Google Drive’s “Suggested” feature, formerly known as “Quick Access,” displays a row of thumbnails at the top of the My Drive view, showing recently modified files. While this feature can save time, it may not be ideal in every situation, such as when you’re working on a personal file at work. To hide the thumbnail belt, go to Drive’s settings and scroll to the end of the General settings page. Next to “Suggestions,” uncheck the box for “Make relevant files handy when you need them in Suggested” and hit “Done.” This will prevent anyone from seeing your recent activity in Google Drive, giving you more privacy and control over your files.
Gmail Hack: Attaching Files via Google Drive
Gmail users can use Google Drive to attach files and send links directly from the email platform. The Drive icon located at the bottom of the compose window allows users to attach files stored in Drive or send links to those files. However, for Google Drive formats such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, users can only send a link to the file. For other file types like PDFs, Word docs, and images, users have the option of sending them as an attachment or a Drive link. By sending files as a Drive link, users can share files larger than Gmail’s 25MB attachment size limit. This feature streamlines the process of sharing files and simplifies collaboration for users.
How to Find Files Quickly on Google Drive with Search Filters
Google Drive users can quickly narrow their search results by using the filter button in the search box at the top of the platform. By clicking on this button, users can access a panel of search options to filter results by file type, date modified, owner, shared documents, action items, and suggestions. This feature is particularly useful for users with a large library of files, helping them to find specific documents quickly and easily. By using these search options, users can save time and streamline their workflows, ensuring that they can stay organized and efficient in their use of Google Drive.
Formatting shortcuts for text in Google Docs
Google Docs users can quickly clear formatting when pasting text into a document. There are a few options for doing this, including highlighting the text and selecting “Normal text” from the toolbar, or going to “Format” and selecting “Clear formatting” (which can also be done using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-\ or Command-\ for Mac).
Alternatively, users can avoid the formatting removal process entirely by holding down the Shift key when pasting text. This will paste the text without any formatting and can be done using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-Shift-V for Windows or Command-Shift-V for Mac. These shortcuts can save time and streamline the process of formatting documents in Google Docs.
How to Use Google Drive to Back Up Your Important Phone Data
You can easily back up your phone’s important data to Google Drive with just one tap. On the mobile app, navigate to Settings and then select Backup. From there, you can choose what you want to back up, such as contacts, calendar events, or photos and videos. Once you’ve made your selection, simply tap the Start Backup button and let the process begin. Be aware that it may take some time, so it’s best to start it overnight. Also, remember to keep your phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi for the duration of the backup. With this simple step, you can safeguard your valuable data and access it from anywhere using Google Drive.
How to Back Up Your PC with Google’s Backup and Sync App
Google’s Backup and Sync app allows you to back up your Mac or PC’s contents or selected folders. You can also sync the files you have stored on Google Drive with your computer for easy offline access.
To start, download Backup and Sync on your Mac or PC and install it. The app will create a folder called Google Drive, and you can drag photos and documents to it to sync them with Google Drive. Open Backup and Sync’s settings to choose other folders you want to sync with Drive, like Documents or Pictures.