Find files in Google Drive

You can find files in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides by searching for:

  • File title
  • File contents
  • Items featured in pictures, PDF files, or other files stored on your Drive.

You can also sort and filter search results.

Get quick access to your files

Under "Quick Access," you'll see recent and suggested files. 

  • To open a file, double-click the one you want.
  • For more options, right-click the file.

Search for your files

  1. On your computer, sign into drive.google.com.
  2. At the top, type a word or phrase into the search box.
  3. On your keyboard, press Enter.

Search tips

  • Search results will appear as you type.
  • Google Drive searches the titles and content of all files you have permission to see.
  • To see all results, press Enter on your keyboard.

Filter your Drive results

To find files more easily in Drive, you can narrow search results by filtering them.

  1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
  2. At the top, type a word or phrase into the search box.
  3. To narrow your search, click the Down arrow Down Arrow.
  4. Fill out any of the following sections:
    • Type: File types such as documents, images, or PDFs.
    • Date modified: The date a file was last edited.
    • Item name: Searches only for the title of the file.
    • Has the words: Searches for words and phrases within documents.
    • Owner: The person the file belongs to.
    • Shared with: Who can view, comment, or edit the file.
    • Location: Whether the file is in a specific folder, "Trash," or "Starred." You can also search for files available to people in your organization.
    • Follow up: If the file has action items assigned to you, or suggestions in files you own.
  5. At the bottom, click Search.

More search options

Advanced search in Google Drive

You can refine a search in Drive with these advanced searches. 

Note: Not all examples work on all devices.

Quotes

  • Find documents that contain an exact word or phrase.
  • Example: "match this phrase exactly"

Minus sign

  • Find documents that exclude a particular word. If you want "salsa," but not "dancing"...
  • Example: salsa -dancing

owner:

  • Find documents owned or shared by a specific person.
  • Examples:
    • owner:bob@gmail.com
    • from:bob@gmail.com

to:

  • Find documents you shared with a specific person or a group.
  • Examples:
    • to:bob@gmail.com
    • to:bobsgroup@googlegroups.com

is:starred

  • Find items marked with a star.

is:trashed

  • Find items that are trashed.

type:

  • Search by the type of document: folder, document, spreadsheet, presentation, PDF, image, video, drawing, form, site, script, table, or jam file.
  • Example: type:spreadsheet

Before & after

  • Find items that were edited before or after a certain day. Format the date as YYYY-MM-DD.
  • Examples:
    • before:2014-05-01
    • after:2014-05-01

title:

  • Search by title
  • Example: title:Conference 2014

app: 

  • Find Google Fusion Tables or Apps Script files. 
  • Examples:
    • app:"Google Apps Script"
    • app:"Google Fusion Tables"

Source:domain (Google for work or school)

  • Search for items that have been shared across your organization’s entire domain, instead of items created by you or your group. 
  • Example: To search for files related to domain, use source:domain
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