How do I use Google Drive on my phone? [Guia Completo]

Google Drive is one of the most used cloud storage services in the world. If you have a Google account, you probably already have some files there. Now, if you have the account and haven't used it yet, know that it is very convenient, especially when learning how to use Google Drive on your phone.

Especially since its interface is optimized for the computer or smartphone screen. It is worth mentioning that Google Drive is also available on the iPhone, so there is no excuse for users of the Apple device.

Therefore, we will show below how to use Google Drive on your phone, showing some of the main possibilities and features that you can do right on the phone.

Check out the complete guide below!

How do I use Google Drive on my phone?

Google Drive is used most often on your computer, but because of its mobile app, it is perfectly suited for storing files that need to be accessed on both devices. We can say that it can be easily used to transfer files from the cell phone to the computer without needing a wire.

If you have an Android phone, it’s likely that Google Drive is already installed on your device. If you don't have it for some reason, you can start this tutorial by downloading it from this link. On the iPhone, it is necessary to click on the link and download it, since it is not installed on the Apple smartphone.

Regardless of the system you use, the second step is to link your Google account to it. Again, if you use an Android smartphone, it is likely that this configuration has been done since the moment you set up the smartphone for the first time. IPhone users will need to log in with their email password.

In the next few paragraphs, we'll show you how to search and access specific files or folders in the application. Check out!

Sending files to Drive

After signing in to your Google account, you will have access to your Drive storage. If this is your first time using the app, you will have nothing to do with it. What to do then?

Start uploading files!

Our suggestion is to start with important files and documents, which should be stored in more than one location. To start sending files, click the button with a "+".

Now, click Upload.

Now, choose the files on your smartphone you want to send.

Creating files in Google Drive

You can also create files right in Google Drive, especially text documents, spreadsheets or presentations.

The steps to do this are very similar to what you did in the previous guide. On the home page, click the button "+" and choose Google Docs, Google Sheets or Google presentations.

It is worth mentioning here that, no matter what platform you choose, everything you do on it will be saved automatically, unless you lose your Wi-Fi connection.

Tip: When selecting the first option, you have access to Google Docs, one of the best alternatives to Microsoft Word.

Writing to Google Drive offline

One of the main defects of Google Drive is the need to be always online to continue a job. That is, if your connection goes down at any time, it ends up being paralyzed without until the internet comes back.

However, there is a way to write to Google Docs offline. First, you need to be connected, but then you can use it offline. When exploring files, all of your documents have an icon in the form of three vertical dots next to the name. Click on it, as shown in the screenshot below.

Then choose the option Make available offline.

Now, you can view and edit it even if you are disconnected from the internet. However, due to the lack of connection, the edits are saved only on your smartphone. To synchronize and access it on any device, it is necessary to connect to the internet and wait for the synchronization to happen.

Tip: See how to work on Google Docs articles offline also in the browser!

How to search for files and folders

Have you been using Google Drive for some time now and it’s getting hard to find your files? So it's time to learn how to search for files and folders more efficiently.

Fortunately, Google Drive has a very easy search structure for those who are still learning how to use Google Drive on their cell phones. To do a search, just tap the bar located at the top of the screen.

Google Drive will automatically show different types of files. Just tap on one or more categories to filter your search.

Finally, just type the name or part of it in the file you are trying to find.

How to backup Android to Google Drive

Did you know that you can back up your Android phone to the cloud storage service? That way, you will have easy access to all your files when changing phones.

On the other hand, it is worth remembering that Google Drive allows free storage of up to approximately 15 GB of files. So, it may not be a good idea to apply the backup if your box is full. To free up space on Google Drive more easily, we recommend that you check out this article.

To back up, follow the steps below.

1 – Sign out of the Google Drive app and access your Android settings.

2 – Choose option Accounts and Backup. On some devices, the option is called Back up and reset.

3 – Leave the box Back up my data checked.

4 – Now, select Google account.

5 – Also leave the option checked Back up to Google Drive and choose the account you created at the beginning of the tutorial to receive your Android data. If you want, you can also touch the button Back up now to create your backup immediately

Tip: are you not finding the same options as shown here? Then access this article with a complete tutorial done on another Android phone model!

Did you learn how to use Google Drive on your phone?

Were you able to learn how to use Google Drive on your phone? Did you have any doubts in some of these processes? Or like the service and want to know more about Google tools.

Then continue with us and see this complete guide on Google Scholar, ideal for those who are studying online in quarantine!