A Tour of Google Drive (Desktop Web Site)

Google Drive allows you to store and edit documents online and share files with others.  This article gives a basic overview of the desktop web version of Google Drive.

1. Go to drive.google.com and log in with your Google account.
   
   
   
   When you first visit Google Drive, you will likely see a blank list.
2. To create a new folder, click on Create.
   
   
   
   From the menu, select Folder.
   
   
   
   Enter a name for the folder, then click Create.
   
   
   
   The new folder will appear under My Drive in the left pane.
3. To upload an existing file, go to the folder where you wish to save the file.
   
   
   
   Click on the upload icon and select Files.
   
   
   
   Browse to and select the file you wish to upload, then click Open.
   
   
   
   After uploading, your file will appear in the list.  For this example, we uploaded a .ODT file.  In order to edit this type of file, you must first open it with Google Docs.
   
   
   
   Right-click on the file and from the Open With submenu, select Google Docs.
   
   
   
   The document will open in a new window.
   
   
   
   A second copy of the file will appear back on the file list.  The version without the .ODT file extension is the Google Docs version.
4. If someone has shared a file or folder with you, and you don't see it already in Google Drive . . .
   
   
   
   Click on Shared With Me in the left pane.
   
   
   
   A list of shared files or folders, if any, will appear on the right.  In this example, Grant Smith shared a folder named Test Folder.
   
   
   
   To make the shared material easier to find, both on the web site and on the mobile Google Drive app, check the box on the left of the item, then click Add to My Drive along the top.
   
   
   
   The item will now appear under My Drive in the left pane.
5. You can organize your documents and folders by moving them.
   
   
   
   Select the check box to the left of the item you wish to move, then click on the folder icon along the top.
   
   
   
   Select a folder, then click Move.  In this example, we will move the shared folder Test Folder to the folder New Folder.
   
   
   
   The reorganized folder structure is visible in the left pane, under My Drive.