Google Drive is one of the most popular and best cloud storage services. It is free, secure, powerful, and very uncomplicated to use. However, as a beginner on a cloud storage service, you might find it a bit overwhelming and need someone to walk you through how to use Google Drive.
This article will shed more light on what Google Drive is, its function, and more. Ensure you read till the end.
About Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage platform helpful in storing and sharing various files on the cloud. It is accessible on any internet-enabled PC or mobile device. You can sync and store files of any format on it. If you’re running out of storage on your PC, you can use it to free some space on your hard drive.
Besides, Google Drive offers easy integration with other services and systems, such as Gmail, Google Docs, Chrome, and YouTube.
To start using Google Drive, you must have a Google account, which won’t cost you anything. It takes only a few minutes to set up. If you already have one, you can access it by visiting Drive.google.com or downloading the mobile app.
Pricing options
Provided you have a Google account, you’re entitled to a free cloud storage of 15 GB, which is shared with your Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, and other services. Nonetheless, you can get a larger cloud storage by opting for a paid plan.
By subscribing to any of the following plans, you’ll get extra member benefits, access to Google professionals, and more.
| Plan | Basic | Standard | Premium |
| Cloud storage capacity | 100 GB | 200 GB | 2TB |
| Pricing per month | 1.99 USD | 2.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Premium features and benefits | – | 3% cashback on Google Play Store purchases | Access to Google Workspace Premium and 10% cashback on Play Store purchases |
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File Formats Supported on Google Drive
Google Drive is designed to support files in all possible formats for documents, photos, audio, and video. However, there are file size limits that you can’t exceed in a day.
Let’s take a look at them:
- Documents uploaded on Google Drive must be at most 1.02 million characters, especially when you’re transferring to Google Docs. It must also not exceed 50 Megabytes per document.
- Presentations must not be larger than 100 Megabytes, particularly when you want to convert to Google Slides.
- Spreadsheets must have at most 18,278 columns, particularly when created or converted to Google Sheets. The same also applies to MS Excel sheets.
The limit for every other file is 5 Terabytes. Bear in mind that you can only upload up to 750 Gigabytes of files per day on your Drive.
How to Upload in Google Drive
You can upload/transfer files to your Google Drive via a PC or the mobile app for Android and iOS devices:
Upload on Google Drive via PC
Here’s how to upload files on your Drive using a PC:
- Visit Google Drive’s website – Make sure you’re signed in with your Google account
- Select the files you want to back up on the cloud storage and use the drag method to drop them on the Google Drive tab on your web browser (You’ll see the upload progress in a small window at the bottom of your screen.)
Another way is to;
- Click the New icon at the top-left corner of your web browser.
- Click on either file upload or folder upload.
- Select the files or folders you would like to upload, and then click on Upload to see your files uploaded to the Drive.
Upload on Google Drive via Mobile App
Follow the guidelines below to upload in your Drive on the go:
- Tap on the Google Drive app on your mobile phone
- Click on the + icon
- Click on Upload
- Select the files you intend to upload
Note that you can access and download your files from your Drive via a PC web browser or mobile app.
Alternatives to Google Drive
Some cloud storage services serve as alternatives to Google Drive, such as Sync.com and Dropbox.
Conclusion
We hope you now understand how Google Drive works and how to get started. You can check our homepage to read other related articles.
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