How to upload and download a file or folder in Google Drive

Updated: 08/31/2020 by Computer Hope
Google Drive logo

Google provides many free programs to its users such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides via Google Drive. Additionally, Google Drive users receive 15 GB of free cloud storage for their various files and folders. To upload files not created in a Google Drive program, or download files, choose an option from the list below and follow the steps.

Upload files and folders using My Drive

  1. Open Google Drive. If prompted, log in to your Google account.
  2. At the top-left of the home screen, right-click the My Drive selector.

My Drive selector on Google Drive.

  1. Select Upload files or Upload folder from the drop-down menu.

Drop-down menu used to select files and folders to add to Google Drive.

  1. Browse to the location of the desired file(s) or folder(s), make your selections (1) and click Open (2).

Window where you may upload files to Google Drive.

  1. If the file or folder was properly added, a confirmation prompt in the lower-right corner of the browser window appears.

Confirmation window for a file uploaded to Google Drive.

Upload files and folders using drag-and-drop

  1. Open Google Drive. If prompted, log in to your Google account.
  2. Resize the window so that it is smaller (half of the width of the monitor or less works well).
  1. Locate the file or folder you want to add to Google Drive.
Tip

A quick way to locate files and folders is by searching in File Explorer that is opened by pressing the Windows key+E on your keyboard.

  1. Drag-and-drop the file or folder from its current location to the open space in the middle of the My Drive section.

File being dragged and dropped into Google Drive.

  1. If the file or folder was properly added, a confirmation prompt in the lower-right corner of the browser window appears (shown below). Additionally, the file or folder now appears under the My Drive section.

File uploaded window on Google Drive.

Download files and folders using My Drive

  1. Open Google Drive. If prompted, log in to your Google account.
  2. On the left side of the screen near the top, ensure that My Drive is selected.

Selector to open My Drive in Google Drive.

  1. Right-click the file or folder you want to download and select Download from the drop-down menu.

Download selection in a Google Drive drop-down menu.

  1. When your download completes, a prompt in the upper-right corner of the browser window is displayed, similar to the one below.

Prompt showing that a download has finished in Google Chrome.

Tip

If you don't see the download, see: Where are the files I downloaded using my web browser?