8. Using Google Drive to Store and Share Files
In this chapter, you find out how to store your important files on the Web using Google Drive.
Most Chromebooks have minimal onboard storage space for files, and Chrome OS itself was built on the concept of cloud-based file storage. When it comes to storing your files online, Google recommends its Google Drive cloud storage service. Google Drive makes it easy to access your important files from any computer, in any location. Google Drive is also great for sharing files with friends, family, and co-workers.
Getting Started with Google Drive
Google Drive appears as a storage device in your Chromebook’s File Manager. You can copy files to and from Google Drive as you would to and from any storage device or location.
File Manager
Learn more about using Chrome’s File Manager in Chapter 7, “Managing Files and Using External Storage.”
Configure Google Drive
Several Chromebook manufacturers offer their users 100GB of free Google Drive storage for two years. Even if you aren’t offered or don’t take advantage of the 100GB promotion, you still get 5GB of free storage; additional space is available, for a fee. You set up your Google Drive account the first time you select Google Drive in the File Manager.
1. Press Ctrl+M to open the File Manager.
2. Click Google Drive in the sidebar to connect to your Google Drive account.
3. Click the Get Started button. Your Chrome browser opens and displays a Google Drive welcome page.
4. If your Chromebook comes with a 100GB free storage offer, click the Redeem Offer button.
Free Gogo Passes
For a limited time, you also get 12 free Gogo in-air Internet passes that you can use for the next two years on domestic U.S. flights. You redeem these passes from the same page where you redeem your 100GB Google Drive offer.
5. Click the Allow button to verify that you’re using an eligible Chrome OS device.
6. Click Start Using Google Drive.
Google displays the main Google Drive page (drive.google.com).
Storing Files on Google Drive
Although you can manage your Google Drive files from the Google Drive web page (drive.google.com), it’s easier to do it from within Chrome’s File Manager.
View Your Google Drive Files
When you first sign up for Google Drive, you see a few “test” files in your main folder. You can delete these if you want and then begin using Google Drive to store additional files.
1. Click Google Drive in the sidebar of File Manager. The contents of your main folder display; different types of files have their own distinctive icons.
2. Click any subfolder to view its contents.
Copy a File to Google Drive
Copying a file from your Chromebook or external storage device is as easy as clicking and dragging.
1. From within File Manager, select the file you want to copy to Google Drive.
2. Click and drag the file to the Google Drive icon in the sidebar.
Copy and Paste
You can also copy a file to your Google Drive by right-clicking the file and selecting Copy; you then open your Google Drive folder, right-click, and select Paste.
Open a File from Google Drive
Opening a file stored on Google Drive is just like opening a file stored directly on your Chromebook.
1. Click Google Drive in the sidebar of File Manager and then navigate to the file you want to open.
2. Click to select the file you want to open.
3. Click the Open button at the bottom of the File Manager window.
Delete Files from Google Drive
From time to time, it’s good to free up space in your Google Drive folder by deleting old or unused files.
1. Click Google Drive in the sidebar of File Manager and then navigate to the file(s) you want to delete.
2. Click to select the file(s) you want to delete.
3. Click the Delete button at the bottom of the File Manager window.
Create a New Google Drive Folder
To better organize large numbers of files, you can create additional subfolders within your main Google Drive folder. You can then use these subfolders to store specific types of files. For example, you might create a subfolder just for work files, or for holiday pictures.
1. Click Google Drive in the sidebar of File Manager and then navigate to where you want to create the new subfolder.
2. Right-click anywhere in an open area of the File Manager window to display the pop-up menu and then click New Folder.
3. Google Drive creates the new folder with the name area open for editing. Enter a name for the new folder and press Enter.
Sharing Google Drive Files
Google Drive cloud storage is ideal for when you want to share a file with someone. Perhaps you want to share pictures with friends or family, or even collaborate on a group project for work. All you have to do is tell Google Drive to share that file with selected people and then they can view it from their own computers or smartphone. (Or, if you enable the proper access, edit the file, too.)
Share a File with Selected Users
Unfortunately, you can’t configure files for sharing from within File Manager. To share files, you have to go to the Google Drive website.
1. From within File Manager, select Google Drive, click the Gear button, and then click Go to drive. Alternatively, go to drive.google.com to open Google Drive in a Chrome browser window.
2. Navigate to and select the file you want to share.
3. Click the Share button to display the Sharing Settings pane.
4. By default, all your files are private, except for the people you specify. To share the file with a person, enter his or her Google Account username or standard email address into the Add People box.
5. Pull down the list to the right of the Add People box and select Can Edit to make the file editable by the people you are sharing with.
6. Pull down the list to the right of the Add People box and select Can Connect to let collaborators view and comment on the file (but not edit it).
7. Pull down the list to the right of the Add People box and select Can View to make the file read only (that is, no one but you can edit it).
8. Click the Share & Save button.
Share a File via Social Media or Gmail
Google Drive also enables you to share selected files with your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ followers and friends. This is a great way to share your favorite pictures with large groups of people.
1. From the Google Drive web page, navigate to and select the file you want to share.
2. Click the Share button to display the Sharing Settings pane.
3. Click the icon for Gmail or the social network on which you want to share this file.
4. Complete the onscreen instructions to share this file on the selected social network and then click the Share To button.
