In 2022, Google Drive will celebrate its tenth birthday, and it’s come a long way since its first unveiling.
With 15 GB of free cloud storage and great workspace features, Google’s cloud suite is known for being one of the best around, and it’s quite easy to use. But even though Drive isn’t complicated, there are a lot of tips and tricks to using it you may not know.
Whether you’re new to Drive or a seasoned user, you’ll want to check out these seven powerful Google Drive tips that may boost your productivity.
1. Translate a Text
Ever wished you could translate a whole document without copying and pasting? You’ll be happy to learn that there’s a built-in version of Google Translate right in Google Docs. You’ll never have to worry about losing formatting to a translator again!
To translate a text, simply click “Tools” in the toolbar, and then select “Translate Document.”
From there, you can choose the desired language, and your entire document will be translated.
2. Create a Survey
If you want to gather and chart information, you don’t need to worry about learning how to use spreadsheets. Instead, you can use the Google Drive Form feature, which allows you to create and customize questionnaires with ease.
You can then send a link to anyone you want to take it. Once people submit answers, you can get graphs and charts to go along with them.
There are a variety of question formats you can choose from, including multiple-choice and open-ended. You can even pick the color and design of the form, allowing you to match it to your specific needs.
If you need to collect information or provide a form, this is a great tool to use.
3. Fix a Download Problem
As great as Google Drive is, it sometimes has some issues. Many users find that at some point they’ll have trouble downloading something from their Drive to their computer, and they have no idea how to fix it. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions.
Start by clearing your cache and cookies. If that doesn’t work, you can also try downloading the file while in-private browser tab or disabling your adblockers. You can find many more solutions to Drive downloading problems at https://setapp.com/how-to/fix-google-drive-not-downloading.
While you may have trouble with downloading once in a while, the good news is that the problem is often easy to resolve.
4. Use Extensions
Some of the best Google Drive features don’t come preloaded. If you’ve ever wanted to use sticky notes in your browser or format a math equation in a document, check out the G Suite Marketplace.
Here, you can nab all sorts of free tools that can be easily switched on and off for use in your Drive. Extensions can be used right in Goole Docs, Slides, and Sheets, so you won’t even need to open a new tab to use them.
With the range of extensions available, you should have no trouble finding a few that help make your job easier.
5. Color Code Your Folders
One of the best parts of using Google Drive is how many documents and files you can store in one accessible place. But if your Google Drive is beginning to look confusing, there’s an easy and pleasant solution.
You can color-code your files in Google Drive for getting to the right document faster.
Simply right-click any file and choose “Change color.” You can then select from 24 different colors. With color-coded files, you’ll have an easier time than ever navigating to the document you need.
6. Get a Shareable Link
Anyone who has tried to share Google Drive files knows that settings can get tricky. If you don’t get the permissions right, other people won’t be able to edit or comment on the file. To easily share a file to up to 100 people, just click “Share.”
Next, click the “Get link” option at the bottom of the menu. This will provide you with a link you can copy and paste. You can easily adjust if people can edit or view from this window as well. When you’re ready, simply sent the link to the people who need it.
Since Google Drive is based in the cloud, the link will always direct users to the most recent version of the document, making this a convenient way to collaborate on a project.
7. Work Offline
Because Google Drive is a cloud suite platform, it thrives with internet access. But if you want to limit your wifi usage or are going to be without it for a while, you can still work on a Google Doc.
To do this, you’ll have to change the settings in your Chrome browser. Sign in to Chrome, then head to your Google Drive settings. From there, select the permission to “Create, open, and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline.”
You can now edit documents when you aren’t connected to the internet!
Boost Productivity With These Seven Google Drive Tips
Even if you feel like you’re getting the most out of your Google Drive experience, there may be a lot you’re missing out on. If you know where to look, translations, colored folders, and easy document sharing are just a few clicks away.
If you’ve been wanting to get more work done or take some shortcuts, these Google Drive tips may be just what you need. Try out some or all of them on your next project, and see how much Google Drive can do for you.
