‎Google Drive App

The data is unencrypted and reencrypted with 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) when it reaches Google. As of 2025, Google Drive offers 15 gigabytes (GB) of free storage that's shared by Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Google Drive's search feature can filter results by keyword, item name, file type, date modified or owner.

Supports

To enable offline access and local syncing, Windows and MacOS users can install a dedicated desktop app for Google Drive that creates a folder on the user's computer. Ownership of Google Workspace files can be transferred to another user, provided both users have the same type of Google account. In addition to basic file storage, Google Drive integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace apps, including Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. Grabham also reviewed the mobile Android app, writing that "it's a pretty simple app that enables you to access your files on the move and save some for offline access should you wish", and praised Google Docs creation and photo uploading for being "easy". Google also offers an extension for the Google Chrome web browser called Office editing for Docs, Sheets and Slides that enables users to view and edit Microsoft Office documents on Google Chrome, via Docs, Sheets and Slides apps. A Chrome extension, Google Docs Offline, allows users to enable offline support for Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on the Google Drive website.

Accessibility to the visually impaired

The feature was announced to be expanded to iOS and the web in March 2017, though the website interface received the feature in May. This was later removed one day after it was publicly discovered following user backlash. A number of external web applications that work with Google Drive are available from the Chrome Web Store.

Easy and secure access to your content

Since July 2022, the Google Workspace for Education – valid for educational institutions and Universities in particular – provides 100 TB of storage.
In May 2018, Google announced that storage plans (including the free 15 gigabyte plan) would be moved over to Google One.
In particular, privacy advocates have noted that Google has one unified set of Terms of Service and Privacy Policy agreements for all its products and services.
In October 2016, Google announced that, going forward, it would drop support for versions of the computer software older than 1 year.
To add an app, users are required to sign in to the Chrome Web Store, but the apps are compatible with all supported web browsers.
It is one of two apps that constitute the replacement for Google Hangouts, the other being Google Meet.

On February 22, 2007, Google introduced Google Apps Premier Edition, which differed from the free version by offering more storage (10 GB per user), APIs for business integration, 99.9% uptime for Gmail, and 24/7 phone support. While most of these services are individually available at no cost to consumers who use their free Google (Gmail) accounts, Google Workspace adds enterprise features such as custom email addresses at a domain (e.g. @your), an option for unlimited Drive storage, administrative tools and advanced settings, as well as 24/7 phone and email support. Google Drive data is encrypted with the Transport Layer Security (TLS) standard when it leaves a user's device and uploads to Google's cloud. If users cancel a subscription or let it expire, their account will revert to the free 15 GB storage plan. Google Drive's search feature can sort results by item name, file type, date modified, location, owner and more. Google Drive supports integrations with both first-party and third-party applications available through the Chrome Web Store. However, those who need offline access can use Google Docs Offline, an official Chrome extension that enables viewing and editing without an internet connection. They can control access levels by specifying who can view, comment on or edit the content.

Docs, Sheets and Slides

Forms features all of the collaboration and sharing features found in Docs, Sheets, and Slides. In June 2014, Google introduced Office support in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides without the need for file conversion. There is also the capability to set user permission levels to designate who can view, comment or edit the document as well as permissions to download the specific document. The three programs originate from company acquisitions in 2006, and are today integrated into Google Drive as part of the Google Docs suite. For Workspace users, ownership transfers are only allowed within the same domain, unless explicitly permitted by admin settings. Content owners can share files or folders by entering email addresses or generating a shareable link. By default, the user who uploads or creates a file or folder in Google Drive becomes its owner. Google also provides dedicated desktop and mobile device apps for Drive that can be downloaded and installed locally. Enterprise-level customers receive S/MIME encryption, noise cancellation in Meet, and as much storage as they need. The Starter plan includes email addresses with custom domains (@yourcompany.com), video and voice calls, calendars, 30GB storage, collaborative documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and sites, controls for security and privacy, and 24/7 phone and email support. All Workspace Business and Enterprise plans include access to Gemini for Workspace without the need to purchase an additional add-on. This will not affect access to other Google Services, including YouTube, Google Photos, and Google Play, nor paid content, including YouTube and Play Store purchases. If a user does not manually upgrade to a paid tier and if no payment information is entered in the account admin page, the account will be suspended starting July 1, 2022. On January 19, 2022, Google announced any "G Suite legacy free edition" accounts must be upgraded to a paid tier by May 1, 2022, or the account will be automatically upgraded.

Drive for desktop

It allows users to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online while collaborating in real-time with other users.
They all serve as collaborative software that allow users to view and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations together in real-time through a web browser or mobile device.
Less than a month later, on July 7, 2009, Google announced that the services included in Google Apps—Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, and Google Talk—were out of beta.
Files in other formats can also be handled through third-party apps that work with Google Drive, available from the Chrome Web Store.
On June 25, 2014, at the Google I/O developer conference, Sundar Pichai announced that Google Drive now had 190 million monthly active users, and that it was being used by 58% of the Fortune 500 companies as well as by 72 of the top universities.

Drive can provide encrypted and secure access to your files. An integrated suit of secure, cloud-native collaboration and productivity apps powered by Google AI. Storage space varies because "Office 365 gives users 50 GB betico of space in Outlook and 1 TB in OneDrive. Google Apps provides 30 GB of space which is spread among Gmail, Drive and Picasa". He stated that "comparing G Suite to Office 2016 is like bringing a handgun to a cannon fight ... Microsoft's PC-based suite is designed to have almost every feature anyone might ever need; Google's online suite is designed to have most features most people use daily." Bradley praised Google's collaborative apps, writing that it was "besting what Microsoft offers in 365".

Google Meet

Despite initially promoting the large free storage included in its offerings, Google has not increased the storage space provided since 2013. This built from an initial allowance of 1 GB at launch Gmail's launch in 2004, with the free storage limit increased to 2GB in 2005, 2.8GB in 2007, 7.5GB in 2011, 10GB in 2012, and finally to 15GB in 2013. The policy also states a notice will be given for any planned end of service. Google Drive for desktop based on File Stream, which will support features previously exclusive to each respective Client. Photos uploaded using the "saver" quality setting before June 1, as well as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files that were not modified after June 1, continued to be exempt from storage quotas. Chromebook users can obtain 100 GB of Google Drive storage free for 12 months as long as the promotion is activated within 180 days of the Chromebook device's initial purchase. Google Drive offers various tiers of storage starting with a free tier of 15 GB for individual users with options to purchase additional storage tiers for users and organizations available. In July 2017, Google announced their new downloadable software, Backup and Sync, for individual users of Google Drive. In June 2017, Google announced that a new app called Backup and Sync would replace the existing separate Google Drive and Google Photos desktop apps, creating one unified app on desktop platforms. On August 28, 2006, Google launched Google Apps for Your Domain, a set of apps for organizations. It consists of Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, Meet and Chat for communication; Drive for storage; and the Google Docs Editors suite for content creation. As enterprise reliance on Google Drive grows, IT administrators will need to implement robust data storage management strategies to ensure compliance and protect against security threats. Google automatically renews Drive subscriptions at the end of each billing cycle and gives a seven-day grace period for users to update their payment information if the auto-renewal fails. The service also supports integration with third-party applications and browser extensions that can be acquired through the Chrome Web Store, Apple's App Store or Google Play. Mobile users can also make queries in natural language using their device's voice input. On June 25, 2014, at the Google I/O developer conference, Sundar Pichai announced that Google Drive now had 190 million monthly active users, and that it was being used by 58% of the Fortune 500 companies as well as by 72 of the top universities. On November 12, 2013, Google announced that Google Drive had 120 million active users, a figure that the company was releasing for the first time. Summarized, he wrote that "According to its terms, Google does not own user-uploaded files to Google Drive, but the company can do whatever it likes with them".