Adding a Google Doc or any other file to multiple folders within Google Drive makes it easy to find the file and helps you stay organized. If you have files that need to be in multiple folders in your Drive, it’s simple to add them.
1. From your drive, check the file(s) you wish to add to multiple folders.
2. Select the ‘Move to’ button or you can click on ‘More’ and then choose ‘Move to’.
3. To select multiple folders hold down the ‘Control’ key for Windows or the ‘Command’ key for Mac.
4. Finally click on ‘Move’.
* Adding a file to multiple folders does not create multiple copies of that file. If you make a change in the file under one folder, the change will appear in the file of the other folders.
There are several ways to add a file to your Google Drive. You can create documents in your browser, upload them from your computer, or automatically copy files to Google Drive from another service. Let’s go over every method.
Create New Files in Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Slides
Creating new documents in Google Drive is simple. Simply head to
drive.google.com and click the + New button at top-left.From here you can create a new document in and Google Drive service.
You can also quickly create a new document by typing certain URLs in your address bar, as Google outlines here.
Introducing a ✨ .new ✨ time-saving trick for users. Type any of these .new domains to instantly create Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites or Forms ↓ pic.twitter.com/erMTHOsdyH
— Google Docs (@googledocs) October 25, 2018
Here are those URLs:
Docs: doc.new, docs.new, document.new
Forms: form.new, forms.new
Sheets: sheet.new, sheets.new, spreadsheet.new
Sites: site.new, sites.new, website.new
Slides: slides.new, deck.new, presentation.new
This is a really quick way to open a new tab and create a document, so try to remember one URL for each kind of document you make regularly.
Upload Files or Folders From Your Computer to Google Drive
You can also upload files from your computer. One way to do this is to click the New button, as shown above. Next, click File upload to browse your computer for any file or Folder upload to browse your computer for any folder.
Another, potentially faster way to do this is by clicking-and-dragging. Simple drag the file or folder from your computer’s file browser and drop it onto an open instance of Google Drive in your browser.
Sync Files Using Google Drive Backup and Sync
Google offers Backup and Sync, an application you can install on your computer in order to back up any folder on your computer over to Google Drive automatically. Simply install Backup and Sync and you can add any folder on your computer to automatically upload all files to Google Drive. You'll also get a new Google Drive folder on your computer. Save or add files to that folder and they'll be added to Google Drive, and you'll also be able to see your Google Drive files in File Explorer or Finder.
Add Files From Other Services Using Zapier
Want to automatically copy files from other applications over to Google Drive? You can do that with Zapier. For example, you could automatically send all attachments in Gmail over to Google Drive.
If you need to share a document on Google Drive but aren't sure how, these simple steps will have you collaborating online in no time.
Image: Andy Wolber / TechRepublic
G Suite, Google’s cloud-based office software platform, has made remote collaboration simpler than ever. Sharing and creating documents can be done in a snap, and locally stored files can be uploaded and shared via Google drive as well.
If you’re working from home and need to collaborate with coworkers, Google Drive can be invaluable–if you know how to use it.
Remote workers who are new to Google Drive need to start with the basics, like how to upload a file. There are two ways to upload documents, photos, videos, and other types of images to Google Drive, and both can be done in a snap.
SEE: Google calendar: Tips and tricks (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Method one: How to drag and drop
In Figure A, you’ll see an empty Google Drive folder, which shows the message Drop Files Here Or Use The New Button. That’s exactly what you need to do to upload a file to Google Drive.
Figure A
To upload using the “drag and drop” method, make sure you’ve browsed to the location of the file you want to upload from your computer. In this case, I’ve created a test document that I’ve placed in a test folder on my desktop (Figure B).
Figure B
Open the Google Drive folder you want to upload the document to in your web browser, and then open the folder where the document you want to upload is located, using the Finder in macOS or the Explorer in Windows.
Click and hold on the document you want to upload, drag it to the Google Drive window (Figure C), and then release it.
Figure C
It may take a few seconds to upload the file, during which time a window in the bottom-right corner of your Google Drive page will show the upload status. Once complete, you’ll see the file listed in your Google Drive folder (Figure D), and you’ll be ready to share it with others.
Figure D
Method 2: How to use the New button
If you prefer to browse to the file you want to upload instead of dragging and dropping, that’s possible as well.
With Google Drive open, like in Figure A, look for the colorful plus sign next to the word New on the left side of the screen. Click that button, and you’ll be presented with a number of options (Figure E).
Figure E
In this case, we want to upload a file, so click File Upload. If you have a whole folder full of documents to upload, you can do that as well–just click the option right beneath File Upload, and select the folder you want to copy to Google Drive.
When you click File Upload, a Finder/Explorer window will open. Navigate to the document you want to upload, and click Open (Figure F).
Figure F
After clicking Open, the upload process continues as it did with the drag-and-drop method. Once Google Drive finishes the upload, you’ll be able to share the document with whoever needs it.
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