Hello, dear readers of the blog site. Today I want to continue cloud storage topic(file hosting), which allow you not to carry flash drives and other media with you, but still have access to the necessary data at home, at work and on the road (from a computer, tablet or smartphone).

Our today's hero (guinea pig) will be Google Drive, which appeared one of the last among the major players in this market (if you do not take it into account), but nevertheless has in its arsenal unique capabilities that allow it to gain some competitive advantages.

Features of Google Drive and why it is so remarkable

Before I start talking about this cloud service for storing various important and not so important data, I’ll just say a couple of phrases about competitors, of which there are quite a few:

1. — seduces with its ability to work with office documents (sharing, working through an online interface). It also has the ability, unique for this type of service, to gain remote access to the contents of your computer from the Internet (not just the OneDrive folder, but the entire contents of the computer’s hard drives). The free plan gives you 7 GB of disk space in the cloud.
2. - appeared historically first in this market, and in addition to the wonderful ability to roll back to a previous version of a file (in a free account, the history of changes is stored only for the last month) has a convenient (familiar) interface and is supported by a bunch of mobile applications. 2 GB are provided for free, which can then be easily expanded to 16 GB.
3. - now it no longer looks like a simpleton compared to competitors, but nevertheless, when I posted some for download on Dropbox, they were blocked after a while, because excessive traffic was created. In Yandex, these same courses are still available and no complaints have been made about the heavy load. Here you can get 10-20 GB of free space in the cloud for free.

5 reasons to store files in Google Cloud

Google Drive also has its own features that force many potential users to choose this service.
1. The main feature, it seems to me, is exclusively convenient online work with files(tests, tables, presentations, graphics, etc.). Much of this is due to legacy tools.

   

   But the total number of file types (more than 30) that can be viewed in their web interface from any device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone) is still impressive.

   

   What's noteworthy is that for those file types that Google Drive does not support, you can install an application from third-party developers.

2. If we talk about disk space in the cloud, which this service provides free of charge, then everything is quite at the same level - 15 GB. However, you should keep in mind that this space is allotted to you not only for storing files in Google Drive, but also for storage, as well as for storage.

   If you already have mail in this system, then the login and password from your Gmail mail will be suitable for logging into Drive.

   

   If you don’t have a Google account yet, you will have to create one by clicking on the “Create an account” button shown. Everything is simple there - you need to fill out the fields, confirm your mobile phone number and start using it (you won’t be able to create an account without a cell phone number, alas).

   

   Access to files and folders for everyone via the link

   But personally, I’m generally more comfortable provide access via link by clicking on the button of the same name in the sharing dialog:

   

   Why is this convenient? Well, not everyone has a Google account (although most do), and access via a link is like a bearer deposit - whoever has the link gets access.

   In this case, you do not lose any opportunities. Even access rights You can assign the same functions to this file or folder - viewing, commenting and editing.

   

   You can share individual files or documents, or entire folders containing them. Those who follow the link you sent will have the opportunity to either simply view these files or download them (if desired). In general, everything is as it should be in “the best houses in London and Zhmerinka” (other cloud services).

   Shared folders are marked with a blue man when viewing a Google Drive folder on a computer.

   

   How to remove a file or folder on your disk from sharing

   To remove the ability to share some previously shared folders or files, you will need to go through the process described above again by clicking on the name of the user to whom access was granted:

   

   In the window that opens, just click on the cross next to his name:

   

   

   Google Drive Settings are quite primitive (to get into them, just click on the tray icon and select the corresponding item in the three-dot context menu that appears) and the only thing you may need is to log out of your account to log into another (there are 15 GB and there are so many same).

   

   Oh yes. If you have a situation where the two of you use the same account in “My Drive” (my wife and I do exactly this), then it makes sense to check the “Synchronize only these folders” box so as not to waste time, space on your computer and traffic on synchronization of “other people’s” files you don’t need.

   Online version of “My Disk” and miraculous recovery

   Let me remind you once again that the Google Drive web interface is available at drive.google.com. Naturally, it is possible from there, and not just from a computer through the program described above. To do this, there is a “My Disk” button located at the top left with a down arrow (with a spoiler).

   

   Actually, in the download window that opens, find the necessary folders or files on your computer, after which a window opens in the lower right corner indicating the download process.

   In the Google Drive web interface, you can perform certain actions on the objects available there using the context menu(appears when you right-click on a file or folder). What’s remarkable is that the same menu is available when you select a file with the left button and click the button with three dots in the upper right corner (see screenshot below).

   The sharing option we have already discussed will be available there, as well as a number of other options that are not available in the desktop version of Drive.

   

   This is, for example, version control, which I mentioned at the beginning of the article (appears only for objects that have changed). Google stores all versions of documents for a month and, if necessary, you can always access them. You can see them by right-clicking on the file and selecting the appropriate tab.

   

   Let's say you wrote an article in Word and stored the draft on Google Drive. At a certain stage, a fragment of text was accidentally deleted, and only a few days later they died. You most likely will not have another option for restoring what you lost (unless you use it).

   

   Voila! In the menu of the desired version of the document, click on the “Download” button and your precious information is restored.

   You can also use Google Cloud access those folders on your computer, which you chose to back up when you installed Backup & Sync.

   All these file folders are available on the tab "Computers" from the left menu of “My Drive”. In principle, you can connect as many computers as you like to one account and all the data from important folders will be available to you in the cloud:

   

   The folders of this particular computer are opened by double-clicking on its name:

   

   A very convenient thing, which, coupled with all the other advantages of the Google cloud, can tip the scales towards using this particular storage service.

   On the tab "Available to me"(from the left menu) you will find all the files and folders that other users of this cloud have shared with you (provided access to view or edit). It’s also very convenient, you’ll agree.

   Settings You will find the appearance and functionality of the online version of Google Drive in the upper right area.

   

   There you can change the display of files (list or previews), see the shortcut keys for convenient work with the application, and also see a rather meager set of settings hidden behind the menu item of the same name.

   If something remains unclear, here is a video to help you:

   Online office from Google based on the My Drive service

   As I already mentioned, Google Drive is not just a place to store important data and quickly access it. This is also online office, although not as sophisticated as SkyDrive, but still quite universal and with the possibility of expanding its functionality through third-party extensions.

   This means that you can not only store objects in it, but also create or edit them. To create a new file Use the button of the same name in the upper left corner, or the drop-down menu of the “My Drive” button.

   

   As you can see, it is possible to create a new text document in an online editor (opens in a new window), a new table in the style of Excel, a new presentation (ala PowerPoint), a new form, or a drawing in the built-in graphic editor or an external one, which I’m talking about I have already written in some detail.

   

   Impressive, isn't it? If these options are not enough for you, then click on the button located at the very bottom "Connect other applications" to expand them. In the window that opens, you can read the description and, if desired, connect the application you like.

   

   For example, I chose the Pixlr Editor, an analogue of online Photoshop that is well known to me. Now I have added a corresponding item to the “Create” button menu, after clicking on which I will first have to give permission to this application to access my Google Drive so that it can save the picture I edited in Pixlr there.

   

   Some of the documents created in Google Drive can be embed on your website. It’s quite difficult for me to imagine why this might be needed, except perhaps to add a form to receive some information from readers. Or, for example, you can display the contents of electronic documents on the pages of your blog.

   

   On the page that opens, click the “Start publishing” button, and then in the lower area of ​​the window, select “Html for embedding in the page” from the drop-down list. A code will appear below, which will need to be inserted into the desired place on the web page.

   

   Actually, using the table as an example, it will be possible to show another feature of Google Drive (Docs) - document sharing. A little earlier we looked at examples of file sharing and were somewhat surprised at the complexity of this process. These complexities were precisely what was needed to implement shared access.

   So, again from the “File” menu, select the item "Sharing", after which a window that is already familiar to us will open, where you will need to add the name or email address (in Gmail, of course) of the user with whom you plan to work together on the document. There you can open access via a link. If you forgot what this is, then scroll up the article to the description of access to files and folders.

   

   In addition, you will need to indicate his rights and capabilities for working with this document by selecting one of the options from the drop-down list - editing, commenting, viewing. The difference between them is significant, so read the instructions before making a decision.

   Google Drive for mobile devices

   I used the application for Ipad and Android in my work, and in general it did not cause me any complaints. Some types of files can be edited directly in this application, although doing this on a phone is not so convenient by definition.

   

   The application doesn’t have many settings (the transition to them is at the very bottom of the menu shown in the previous screenshot), but among them there is, for example, setting up a backup copy of your phone’s data to the cloud.

   

   In addition, it is possible to automatically synchronize videos and photos with a folder in the cloud (or Google Photos).

   It's good that there is an opportunity view files offline. As you understand, when working with Google Drive and any other cloud from a mobile device, no one will upload the entire contents of the “My Drive” folder to it (this is done only on desktop computers and laptops).

   However, so that each time your gadget does not waste Internet traffic viewing the same photos or files (which do not change), you can save them in the memory of your mobile device. In the mobile version of Google Drive, this is achieved by moving the engine "Offline access" to the active position.

   

   There you can, if you wish, activate access to the file via a link or joint editing of this document, perform all sorts of actions on it (delete, move, rename), and also open the file in another application installed on your gadget.

   To sum it up, then Google cloud impression good. Previously there were complaints, but now all the flaws have been removed. It turned out conveniently, massively and virally. I now use this cloud along with Dropbox, although in the latter I still took a paid plan.

   Good luck to you! See you soon on the pages of the blog site

   You might be interested

   Google Forms - how to create an online survey on a website in Google Forms Google Calendar - what it can do and how to use it to its full potential Google Sheets - their features and features Google Translate - translation from photo, voice input, phrasebook, offline mode and much more
   Online FTP client Net2ftp and Google Alerts - useful services for webmasters

» Google Drive Review

Google Drive (Google Drive) is a free virtual data storage with online access. In essence, this is file hosting with excellent reliability, a user-friendly interface and huge capacity. This storage is also called cloud .

Download link:
(15 GB free).
Just in case:
(10 GB free).
Login link: .
Account registration link: registration .

How much space is given?

Currently you are allocated b> 15 GB. That's a lot!
Please note that email (the emails themselves and attachments) also takes up space. We recommend not hoarding unnecessary emails and emptying your trash bin.

How it works?

1. You upload a file from your device (computer or smartphone) to the cloud.

You can download directly through a browser or through a special program, and also upload information with one click.

2. Data is saved in cloud .

3. Knowing the login and password for your Google Drive, you can log into it at any time and gain access to everything that you uploaded there. Essentially this is your personal virtual flash drive , which you can use from your own or from any other person’s computer where there is Internet access.

What can you save?

1. Photo (JPG, PNG, JPEG)
2. Video (MPEG-4, AVI, FLV, MOV, WMV)
3. Documents and tables (DOC, XLS, PDF, TXT)

How is this service useful?

• Save important data.

The computer can break down, the hard drive can burn out, the phone can be lost or drowned - in all cases, all the information accumulated over the years is lost. With Google Drive, your data will not disappear anywhere.

• Access files from any device.

2. Access to all accumulated information is available.

3. Files can be viewed, edited and downloaded.

• There is public access.

If your work requires that several people be allowed to access your account at once, this can be arranged. Moreover, users can be given different rights (to view, to edit, to add new data).

Additional features

• Editing and creating new documents.

You can develop new tables, edit them, and create presentations.

• Google forms.

Using them, you can create communication forms for websites, conduct surveys and votes.

• Google drawings and applications.

These services allow you to make drawings, diagrams, diagrams, and also use graphic processing elements. Additionally, you can use converters, audio and video editors, photo effects, radio modules and much more.

• Offline access to content.

If you want to continue working even without the Internet, in this case you need to set up offline mode. How to do it?

Instructions for a computer or laptop.

1. Turn on the Google Chrome browser.

3. Disable incognito mode (if it was enabled).

4. Install the extension for Chrome (you can do this on this page).

5. Open the section: https://drive.google.com/drive/settings. Check the box to agree to saving the information to your computer.

6. For optimal performance and file protection, you need to download Google Drive for your computer. Then all that remains is to use the program. It will work without the Internet, but the system must have enough free memory. This is for convenience and speed only. You can also use the web version. In any case, all information is uploaded to the server - the cloud.

Instructions for iPhone/iPad and Android devices.

1. Download and install the Google Drive application from the AppStore or Android Market.

2. Open it and set up offline access mode.

3. To view the files, simply launch the application.

Be sure to try this service! It will be useful to everyone who values ​​security, convenience and new technologies.

Hi all! Google Drive is free cloud storage plus a suite of office applications. How can you benefit from access to these features and how to use Google Drive?

Among many similar products, Google Drive cloud storage has a significant advantage, namely its close integration with Google services.

What does this mean? The Android operating system is owned by Google and more than 80% of all mobile devices run on this platform. The Google Chrome browser today has achieved undisputed leadership among the best Internet browsers. Google Corporation is a de facto global monopolist of Internet search, possessing colossal resources for advanced development - Google's innovative developments appear earlier than those of competing organizations.

To make it easier and more convenient to understand Google Drive, how to use it , It makes sense to start at the beginning and go through all the basic steps.

Getting started with Google Drive

If you do not yet have the Google Chrome browser installed on your computer, then you need to make up for the omission, since it is with the help of this browser that it is most convenient to master the Google Drive cloud storage and get the most direct access to all the endless possibilities of Google services.

At the next stage, you will be asked to download and install Google Drive on your computer.

A little warning is needed here. If you do not have a particularly powerful computer, it is better to use Google Drive using the web interface in the browser, since the Google Drive application consumes quite a lot of hardware resources and the system will slow down during the synchronization process.

Since Google Drive cloud storage allows you to use all files stored on the server from any device, at the same time do not forget to install Google Drive on all your smartphones, tablets, laptops and all-in-one PCs.

Don't worry, Google Drive apps are designed for all platforms, both mobile and desktop.

Features of using Google Drive

• Work on text documents, tables and presentations, slide shows from any computer.
• Collaborate on documents remotely. To do this, you need to find Access in Settings and specify who and to what extent is allowed to read, edit or comment on documents.
• You can publish any file on the Internet for free access to all users. This can be useful, for example, when you don't want to waste internet traffic sending large video files to other users. Google Disk allows you to simply email a link to download a file - and let the recipient pay for the Internet.

It should be mentioned that after the modernization, the two services Google Drive and Google Docs were merged and now it makes no difference which application you run - the capabilities will be the same. You can instantly switch from any application to any other.

Features of Google Drive synchronization

After connecting and installing Google Drive on your desktop computer, some changes will occur in the system.

• The Drive folder will appear in Windows Explorer. Any files you place there will automatically sync with your cloud storage. Using the context menu, you can send any file from other folders on your hard drive to the cloud.
• New shortcuts to office applications included in the Google Docs package and a shortcut to the Application Launcher will appear on the Desktop. Using these shortcuts, you can launch a text editor or other programs directly from the Desktop and start working right away.

A Google Drive icon will appear in the system tray; clicking on it will give you access to the Settings Menu. In particular, from there you can configure the synchronization order. Specify which files should be synchronized and which should not be synchronized. Set the number of simultaneously downloaded files and upload speed.

In general, there is absolutely no need to worry about how to sync Google Drive with your computer. , after all, all these processes are automated and come by default. As an option, if you have a slow computer, so as not to wait a long time for synchronizing files from the Disk folder, you can upload documents, videos, and photos through a browser.

If you are going to use Google Drive as a network drive on your smartphone or tablet, you must install the mobile application and sign in using your Google account. If you want to work with texts, then you need to download and install the Google Docs mobile application. The difference with desktops here is that each application for working with texts, tables, and presentations on tablets must be installed separately. This is done to save local memory, which is limited on mobile devices.

You can connect Google Drive in the mobile File Manager and to upload to the cloud, you just need to copy the selected files to the Google Drive folder.

Another question is how to access Google Drive from someone else’s computer? To do this, enter the address in your browser drive.google.com and log in using your Gmail address and password. On a mobile device, you won’t be able to access Drive online; you will be redirected to the application download page every time. You will have to install mobile Google Drive or one of the office applications.

That's all for me. See you soon!

Best regards, Evgeniy Kuzmenko.

Google Drive, you can log in to it either using a computer or using a phone and tablet, which allows you to use files at any convenient time and anywhere. In order to use the storage, you must register a personal Google account.

From computer

Many users who have recently started using cloud storage from Google are interested in how to log into Google Drive. This requires:

1. Go to the cloud storage page at drive.google.com.
2. If you have already logged in, a page with your files will immediately open. If not, then you need to select an account and click on the “Login” button, or enter your username and password, and then click “Login”.

Important! If you are using cloud storage from someone else’s computer, you should log out of your account after completing all work. Otherwise, the confidentiality of your data will be at risk.

From phone

If you urgently need to use files from cloud storage, and only have a mobile phone at hand, then you can log into Google Drive using the official application for Android or iOS. To do this you will need:

1. Go to the store.
2. Find the application and install it on your smartphone.
3. Wait for the installation to complete and log in using your username and password.

Important! In order to use this application, you will need a smartphone with Android no lower than 4.0 or iOS no lower than 7.0. For Windows phones, you can only install the unofficial application.

Password recovery

If problems arise when logging into the cloud storage, for example, the password was forgotten or lost, then you need to do the following.

The popular cloud storage from Google provides ample opportunities for storing data of various types and formats, and also allows you to organize joint work with documents. Inexperienced users who have to access Drive for the first time may not know how to log into their account. How to do this will be discussed in our article today.

Like most of the company's products, Google Drive is cross-platform, meaning it can be used on any computer, as well as on smartphones and tablets. Moreover, in the first case, you can contact both the official website of the service and a specially developed application. How exactly you will log into your account depends primarily on what type of device you plan to access the cloud storage from.

Note: The same account is used for authorization in all Google services. The login and password with which you could log in, for example, to YouTube or GMail, within the same ecosystem (a specific browser or one mobile device), will automatically be applied to cloud storage. That is, to log into Drive, if and when required, you need to enter data from your Google account.

Computer

As mentioned above, on a computer or laptop you can access Google Drive either through any convenient browser or through a proprietary client application. Let's take a closer look at the account login procedure using the example of each of the available options.

Browser

Since Drive is a Google product, to clearly demonstrate how to log into your account, let's turn to the company's Chrome web browser for help.

1. To get started, click on the button "Go to Google Drive".



2. Enter your login from your Google account (phone or email), then click "Further".
   
   
   Then enter the password in the same way and go again "Further".



3. Congratulations, you're signed into your Google Drive account.
   
   



In addition to the direct site address we provided above and the saved bookmark, you can get to Google Drive from any other web service of the corporation (except YouTube). To do this, just use the button indicated in the image below. "Google Apps" and select the product you are interested in from the list that opens. The same can be done on the Google home page, as well as directly in the search.

Client application

You can use Google Drive on your computer not only in the browser, but also through a special application. The download link is provided below, but if you prefer, you can proceed to download the installer file yourself. To do this, click on the gear-shaped icon on the main page of the cloud storage and select the appropriate item in the drop-down list.

1. After going to the official website from our review article (the link above leads to it), if you want to use Google Drive for personal purposes, click on the button "Download". If the storage is already used for corporate purposes or you are just planning to use it in this way, click "Begin" and follow the prompts, we will only consider the first, usual option.
   
   
   In the window with the user agreement, click on the button “Accept the terms and download”.
   
   
   Next, in the system window that opens "Conductor" specify the path to save the installation file and click "Save".
   
   

   Note: If the download does not start automatically, click on the link marked in the image below.

   

2. After downloading the client application to your computer, double-click it to start installation.
   
   
   This procedure occurs automatically,

   

   then you just need to press the button "Begin" in the welcome window.



3. Once Google Drive is installed and running, you can sign in to your account. To do this, first specify the login from him and click "Further",
   
   
   then enter your password and click on the button "To come in".



4. Pre-configure the application:
   
5. Done, you have entered the Google Drive client application for PC and can begin to fully use it. Quick access to the storage directory, its functions and parameters can be obtained through the system tray and a folder on the disk located along the path you previously specified.



Now you know how to sign in to your Google Drive account on your computer, whether you use a browser or the official app to access it.

Mobile devices

Like most Google applications, Drive is available for use on smartphones and tablets running Android and iOS mobile operating systems. Let's look at how to log into your account in these two cases.

Android

On many modern smartphones and tablets (unless they are intended for sale exclusively in China), Google Drive is already pre-installed. If it is not available on your device, use the Google Play Store and the direct link below to install it.

1. Once on the application page in the Store, tap on the button "Install", wait until the procedure is completed, after which you can "Open" mobile cloud storage client.



2. Check out Drive's capabilities by scrolling through the three welcome screens, or "Skip" them by clicking on the corresponding inscription.



3. Since using the Android operating system requires having an active Google account authorized on the device, you will be logged into Drive automatically. If for some reason this does not happen, use our instructions from the article provided at the link below.
   
   
   Read more: How to sign in to Google account on Android
4. If you want to connect another account to the storage, open the application menu by tapping on the three horizontal bars in the upper left corner or by swiping across the screen from left to right. Click on the small down pointer located to the right of your email and select "Add account".



5. In the list of accounts available for connection that opens, select "Google". If necessary, confirm your intention to add an account by entering a PIN code, pattern, or using a fingerprint scanner, and wait until the verification is completed quickly.



6. First enter your login and then the password for the Google account on which you plan to access Drive. Tap both times "Further" for confirmation.



7. If login confirmation is required, select the appropriate option (call, SMS or other available one). Wait until you receive the code and enter it in the appropriate field if it does not happen automatically.



8. Read the Terms of Use and click "I accept". Then scroll through the page describing the new features and tap again "I accept".



9. Once the verification is complete, you'll be signed in to your Google Drive account. You can switch between accounts in the side menu of the application, which we addressed in the fourth step of this part of the article; just click on the avatar of the corresponding profile.

iOS

iPhone and iPad, unlike mobile devices from the competitive camp, are not equipped with a pre-installed Google cloud storage client. But this is not a problem, since you can install it through the App Store.

Conclusion

In this article, we tried to provide as much detail as possible about how to log into your Google Drive account. Regardless of what device you use to access the cloud storage, authorization in it is quite simple, the main thing is to know your username and password. By the way, if you have forgotten this information, you can always restore it, and we have already told you how this is done.