How to Upload and Download Files to Google Drive

Uploading Files and Folders to Google Drive

You can upload, view, share, and edit files with Google Drive. You can upload Documents, Images, Audio and Video Files to Google Drive.

There are 2 main methods that you can use to upload your files.

Method 1: File Upload Menu
  1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
  2. Sign In if you need to with your @ucsb.edu address.
  3. At the top left, click Newand thenFile Upload.
  4. Navigate to the Folder where your file is located and choose the file you want to upload.
  5. Once uploaded you can then drag the File to any Folder within Google Drive.

     

Method 2: Drag and Drop Files into Google Drive
  1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
  2. Sign In if you need to.
  3. Open or create a folder in your drive or a shared drive.
  4. To upload files and folders, drag them into the Google Drive folder from your computer.

 

Uploading from Your Mobile Devices
  1. On your iOS or Android devices, open the Google Drive app.
  2. Tap Add Add.
  3. Tap Upload.
  4. Find and tap the files you want to upload.
  5. View uploaded files in My Drive until you move them to another folder.

 

 

Downloading Files and Folders from Google Drive

  1. Go to drive.google.com.
  2. Sign In if you need to.
  3. Select the file you want to download by Clicking it once.
    • To select multiple files, press Command (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) while clicking other files.
  4. Right-click on the files and click Download.

Note: You can’t drag a file or folder directly to your desktop.

 

If you can’t download a file

If you can’t download a file, the owner may have disabled options to print, download, or copy for people with only commenting or viewing access.

 

Downloading From Your Mobile Devices

Android Devices

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Drive app.
  2. Next to the file’s name, tap More More and then Download.

iOS Devices

For iOS devices there are different methods to downloading files from Google Drive

Save to Files or Open in a different app

  1. Open the Google Drive app.
  2. Next to to file you want to download, tap More More.
  3. Choose an option:
    • Download the file to your phone: tap Save to Files and then Choose where you want to save the file and then Add.
    • Open the file within another app: tap Open in and then Choose the app you want to use.

Save a photo or video to your camera roll

  1. Open the Google Drive app.
  2. Next to to file you want to download, tap More More.
  3. Tap Send a copy.
  4. Depending on your file, tap Save image or Save video.