Find, save, & manage files

You can manage your files across your device, cloud storage, and connected devices with the Files app. It helps you organize, get, and interact with your digital content efficiently.

Find & open a file

1. On your Googlebook, open the Files app .
2. On the left, choose where your file is saved.
   • For files you’ve just downloaded, created, or used, select Recent.
3. To open a file, with your mouse, double-click the file.
   • Or, you can:
     1. Right-click the file.
     2. Select Open.

Tips:

• To get information about a file, like size or file type.
  1. Right-click the file.
  2. Select Get info.
• If your device doesn’t have apps that can open the file type, you can find a compatible app. In the dialog, select Search Play Store.

Select an app to open a file

You can select an app to open a file:

1. On your Googlebook, open the Files app .
2. With your mouse, right-click the file.
3. Select Open with….
   • A dialog appears with a list of compatible applications.
4. Select the app you want to open the file with.
   • To set the app as the default for that file type: Select Always.
   • To use the app just this time: Select Just once.

Search for a file

1. On your Googlebook, open the Files app .
2. At the top right, in the search bar, enter your search criteria.
3. To refine your search results, select a filter.

Customize how your files are displayed

You can adjust how your files are displayed.

• List format: You can find files and folders in a detailed list. This format includes columns for:
  • Name
  • Size
  • Type
  • Modified date
• Grid format: You can find files and folders as larger thumbnails. This format is ideal for visually identifying content, like images and videos.
• Sort: You can sort the file name, type, size, and modified date by ascending or descending order.

Add a file to Gemini Notebook

Important: This feature is only available in English, French, Canadian French, and German.

If you have the Gemini Notebook app installed, you can add files directly. Use the Files app to send them to a Gemini notebook.

1. On your Googlebook, open the Files app .
2. Select the file or files you want to add to a Gemini notebook.
3. Right-click the file.
4. Choose one of the following options:
   • Select Add to Notebook.
   • Select Share select Gemini Notebook.
5. Select an existing Gemini notebook or select Create New to make a new one.

Zip & extract files

You can easily create and manage zipped files in the Files app. These are compressed files that help save space and combine multiple files into one.

To zip files

To compress one or more files or folders into a zip file:

1. Select the files or folders you want to zip.
2. With your mouse, right-click the selected items.
   • Or, at the top right, select More .
3. Select Zip.

Extract zip files

To decompress a zip archive and access its contents:

1. Select the zip file you want to extract files from.
2. With your mouse, double-click the zip file.
   • Or, you can:
     1. Right-click the zip file.
        • Or, at the top right, select More .
     2. Select Extract.
        • The files will be extracted into a new folder with the same name as the zip file.

Browse content in a zip file without extracting the files

You can browse the contents of a zip file as if it’s a regular folder without fully extracting the files from it.

1. Select the zip file you want to browse.
2. With your mouse, right-click the zip file.
   • Or, at the top right, select More .
3. Select Browse.

Tips:

• You can open the files within a zip file but they’re read-only.
• To extract, at the top right, select Extract to... Extract.