The Google Drive app lets you open, view, rename, and share your Google Docs and files. Here’s what you can do in the Drive app on your iPhone or iPad:
- Google documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings
- All Microsoft Office formats
- TXT and PDF files
- Images (JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIF)
- Movies (MOV, AVI, MP4)
Every time you open something with the Drive app, it’ll update to the latest version of the file. If a collaborator is actively working on something, you won’t see updates being made in real time unless you’re working on a Google document.
Navigating the app
When you open the Drive app on your iPhone or iPad, you'll see a list of different ways to view what's on your Drive.
My DriveEverything in your Google Drive that you’ve created, synced and uploaded. Folders will be shown first, followed by files and Google Docs in alphabetical order. You can automatically sync My Drive to the Google Drive folder on your computer.
All of the files, folders and Google Docs that have been shared with you. To sync files in this view, move them to My Drive on your computer. The Shared with me filter doesn't include files shared to a mailing list or files set to 'Anyone with the link' or 'Public' (unless the file has been shared directly to your email address).
Items that you’ve marked with a star. If you star something in the Google Drive app, it’ll be starred in Google Drive on the web.
All the private and shared files that you've opened, in reverse chronological order.
Shows items you’ve made available to view offline on your iPhone or iPad. Read more about pinning items offline in the Drive app for iOS.
Shows the most recent files you uploaded to your Drive app. This section will also show files from other apps that you’ve opened in Drive.
Tips for using the app
- Tap the arrow to the right of an item's name to open the details panel and Share it, Rename it, Remove it, Move it to a different folder, or Make it available offline. Most of these options are located under the Actions button in the top-right corner of your screen when you are in the details panel.
- Tap the item's name to immediately open and view it.
- Google Docs, files, and folders refresh every few minutes when you have the app open. Every time you open, close, and reopen an individual item, it’ll be updated.
- If you run into a serious, persistent error, restart the app. To do this, go to your Home screen, double-tap your iPhone's or iPad's Home button, press and hold the Drive app icon until the red "stop" button appears in its top-left corner, and tap the red "stop" button. Then press your Home button to return to your device home screen and re-open Drive.
- Learn about using the app for editing Google documents, viewing Google presentations, and accessing Google spreadsheets.
The app can't do everything (yet)
While we continue to develop the Google Drive app for iOS, it still has some limitations:
- Google spreadsheets can currently be viewed and edited only through the mobile browser. We’re working on an iOS-native editor for Google spreadsheets.
- There is currently no Trash section in the app. Anything you remove to the Trash on the app or the web will be available to find, view, and restore on the web only.