You can find files using suggested files, search chips or conventional search. You can also sort and filter search results.
Open suggested files
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Drive app .
- The app displays recent and relevant files in My Drive and shared drives.
Use search chips
You can use search chips before you enter a term in the 'search bar' to narrow down the list of files in Drive. To use search chips:
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Drive app.
- At the top, tap Search Drive.
- Tap to select a search chip. You can select:
- Type
- Folders
- Modified: Today, Yesterday, Last seven days.
- After you tap on the chip, you can further narrow your results: type in the search bar.
- Tap Search.
These chips appear below the search bar. They will search all files, folders and subfolders. To remove a search chip, on the right of the chip, tap .
As you enter your search, you'll find suggestions to select relevant chips that can reduce the need to enter long text.
Search for your files
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Drive app.
- At the top, type a word or phrase in the search box.
Search tips
- Google Drive searches the titles and content of all files that you have permission to see.
- To see all results, tap Search .
- To save your Drive searches, turn on Web & App Activity.
- To search within a folder, go to the folder, enter your search and click the suggestion that pops up.
- If you search from a folder location, it automatically adds that filter to the top.
- You'll get filter suggestions as you enter text.
In Drive, you can search by:
- File title
- File contents
- Type
- Other metadata, which includes:
- Description field
- Shared labels
- File location
- Owner
- Creator
- Modified date
- Approvals
- Follow-ups
- Items or words featured in pictures, PDF files or other files that are stored on your Drive
Search for your files in Docs, Sheets or Slides
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Docs, Sheets or Slides .
- At the top, tap Search .
- Type a word or phrase into the search box.
- On your keyboard, tap Done.