Organize your files in Google Drive

To organize your files in Drive, you can create folders to make files easier to find and share with others.

Note: If you organize a lot of files or folders at once, it might take time for the changes to appear.

There is no correct way to organize your files in Drive. However, below are some general suggestions for how to keep your files in order.

• Use a naming convention: Keep file names short, simple, and meaningful. You can also add a date, use hashtags, or numbers.
• Color code folders: Use colors to label folders so you can easily identify the type of file.
• Create folders and subfolders: Folders help you keep track of files and find them quickly.
• Drag and drop files: You can drag and drop files into folders.
• Add descriptions: You can add descriptions to files and folders. To do this, right-click the file or folder Click File Information Details . Scroll to the bottom of the side panel and add your description.
• Use the Star feature: Star important files and folders to quickly access them. To do this, right-click the file or folder Click Organize Add to starred .

Tips to organize your files:

• Use folders inside folders: Start with a simple structure and adjust as you need. You could have folders for each project ("Project_1", "Project_2", "Project_3"), and then smaller folders inside for different topics or assignments.
• Use clear names: Use easy-to-understand names for your files and folders. Use dates (like "YYYY-MM_DD_Project_Notes"), project names ("Book Report_The Forest"), or keywords ("Math Homework_Chapter 5") to keep track of everything.
• Color code your folders: Use colors to label folders. You can use the same color for similar projects (like using green for projects related to gardening), and so on.
• Star your favorites: Put a star on files you need to find quickly. You can find all your starred files in one place.

Remember, the goal is to make your Google Drive easy to use and navigate. A simple, organized structure helps you find what you need quickly and efficiently.

Tip: If you organize a lot of files or folders at once, it might take time for the changes to appear.

Create, move & copy files

Create a folder

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Drive app.
2. At the bottom right, tap Add .
3. Tap Folder.
4. Name the folder.
5. Tap Create.

Move a file or folder

Important: To move a file, you must have permission to move the file from the source to the destination, otherwise the file won’t be moved. A shortcut is created in the destination folder instead.

You can move an item from anywhere in Google Drive: the main window, the left panel, or search results.

Note: If you move folders with a lot of files or subfolders, it might take some time for the changes to appear.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Drive app.
2. Next to the file you want to copy, click More Move.
3. Choose the folder, then tap Move here.
   • To create a new folder, tap New folder .

You can also move items between side-by-side screens open in the Drive app.

Important: Both instances of Drive must be logged into the same account.

1. On your Android device, open 2 instances of the Drive app side by side.
2. From your primary Drive account, long press on the file or folder you want to move.
3. Drag your selected file or folder into its new location.

Make a copy of a file

To make a copy of a file, go to drive.google.com on a computer.

Delete a file or folder

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Drive app.
2. Next to the file you want to copy, click More .
3. Tap Remove.

If you accidentally put an item in the trash, you can restore your item.

Change the color of your folder

You can customize the color of folders and shortcuts to folders in your My Drive and shared drives. If you change any colors, it only applies to your version of Drive.

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Drive app.
2. Next to the folder you want to change, tap More Change color.
3. Choose the color you want.

Drag files into and out of Drive

You can drag and drop files into Drive to upload them. You can also drag files out of Drive and drop them into other apps. When you drag a file out of Drive, you will paste a link to the file in the other app.

Important: Your device must be on Android N or later and be in split screen mode. Not all apps support drag and drop.

1. Touch and hold the item.
2. Drag the item into another app.
3. Lift your finger to drop the item.

Find duplicate files or folders

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Drive app.
2. Select an option:
   1. Sort files by name and ensure you’re in the list view. This can help you spot duplicate files with similar names.
   2. Use the search bar to look for specific file types or names that you suspect might have duplicates.

If you accidentally put an item in the trash, you can restore your item.

Related resources

• Find files in Google Drive
• Move files & folders into shared drives
• Learn how shortcuts replace files & folders stored in multiple locations