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 Android phone or tablet:
- Open and view your files and Google Docs
- Note that supported file formats depend on other apps installed on your Android device. If your Android device is able to open TXT files, for example, Drive will be able to let you view them too.
- Edit Google documents
- Use other apps to open unsupported file types stored in Drive
- Rename your files
- Share something from your Google Drive with other people
- Star something for easy access
- Make files available to view offline
- Print files using Google Cloud Print
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 Android device, 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. If you've installed Google Drive for your Mac or PC, 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.
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 of your private and shared files that you've opened in reverse chronological order.
Shows items you’ve made available to view offline on your Android device. Read more about pinning items offline in your Android Drive app for Android.
Tips for using the app
- Tap the arrow to the right of an item's name to open the preview panel and Share it, Rename it, Remove it, Move it to a different folder , Make it available offline, Print it, Send Link to it to other users, or Send it to a different app. Most of these options are located under the Menu button in the top right hand corner of your screen.
- Tap the item's name to immediately open and view it.
- Learn more about printing files directly from your Android device using Google Cloud Print.
- 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.
- 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 Android, it still has some limitations:
- 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.