How to Add Files to Google Drive: Web, Mobile & Desktop

Download Article

Learn how to upload files and folders to your Google Drive

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: January 30, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

On the Web

|

On Mobile

|

On Desktop

|

Video

|

Q&A

|

Tips

|

Warnings

Google Drive is a handy way to store files online in Google's cloud, but how exactly do you upload files you've created on your computer or phone and not via Google Docs, Sheets, or the other Google apps? Thankfully, adding files to your Google Drive from your computer or phone is incredibly easy, and it just takes a few clicks or taps. In this article, we'll go over how to upload files to Google Drive using the website, mobile app, and desktop app. Read on to learn how.

Ways to Add Files to Google Drive

Go to the Google Drive website, sign in with your account, and click the + New button to upload files and folders.
Open the Google Drive app on your phone and tap the ＋ button in the bottom right corner, then tap Upload or Upload file.
Install the Google Drive for Desktop app, then copy and paste files and folders you want to upload to your Drive to the Google Drive location on your computer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

On the Google Drive Website

Download Article

1
Open Google Drive. Go to drive.google.com in your browser. This will open your Google Drive main page if you're logged into your Google account.
- If you aren't logged into your Google account, click the blue Sign In button in the middle of the page, then enter your Google account's email address and password.
2
Click ＋ New. This button is in the upper-left corner of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.

Advertisement
3
Select an upload option. Click one of the following options depending on what you want to upload:
- File upload: Allows you to select a specific file or group of files to upload.
- Folder upload: Allows you to select an entire folder to upload.
4
Select your file(s) or folder. In the File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window that opens, navigate to the file or folder location and click the item you want to upload.
- You can select multiple files by holding down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd (Mac) while clicking each file you want to select.
- Keep in mind that you can't upload more than 15 gigabytes of files without paying for additional storage.
5
Click Open. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will confirm your selection and begin uploading the file(s) or folder to Google Drive.
- If you're uploading a folder, you'll click OK instead.
6
Wait for the file(s) or folder to upload. The time it takes will vary depending on the size of the upload and your Internet connection.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Do not close the Google Drive webpage during this time.
- Once the files finish uploading, you'll be able to access them from Google Drive on any Internet-connected computer or smartphone.
7
Organize your files. Once your files have been uploaded to Google Drive, you can click and drag them into folders if needed. You can also remove unnecessary files by right-clicking them and then clicking Move to trash.
- To create a new folder in Google Drive, click ＋ New, click New Folder at the top of the drop-down menu, type in a name, and press ↵ Enter/⏎ Return.
- You can also share files on Google Drive.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

On Mobile

Download Article

1
Open the Google Drive app. Tap the Google Drive app icon, which resembles the triangular Drive logo on a white background. This will open your Drive page if you're logged in.
- If you aren't logged in, enter your email address and password before proceeding.
- If you haven't yet downloaded Google Drive, you can do so for free from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2
Tap ＋. It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. A pop-up menu will appear.
3
Tap Upload (Android)/Upload file (iPhone). For Android, this option is the middle button on the top row of icons. For iPhone, this option is at the top of the menu.
4
Select an upload option. Depending on whether you're using an iPhone or an Android, you'll have slightly different upload options available:
- iPhone: Tap Photos and Videos to select photos and/or videos from your Photos app, or tap Browse to select files from the Files app.
- Android: Select a file location in the resulting menu. You should see at least an Images and a Videos option here.
5
Select files to upload. Tap and hold a file to select it, then tap other files to select them as well.
- On an iPhone, some files will upload immediately after being tapped.
6
Tap UPLOAD. It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. Your selected file(s) will begin uploading to Google Drive.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you're on Android, you won't have to tap anything. The files you select will begin uploading as soon as you tap them.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
7
Wait for your files to upload. The time it takes will vary depending on the size of the upload and your Internet connection.
- Do not close the Google Drive app during this time.
- Once the files finish uploading, you'll be able to access them from Google Drive on any Internet-connected computer or smartphone.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

On Desktop

Download Article

1
Download and install Google Drive for Desktop if you don't already have it. Google Drive for Desktop is Google's desktop app for Drive. It replaced Google Backup and Sync in 2021.
- To download Google Drive for Desktop, visit this page and click DOWNLOAD FOR WINDOWS or DOWNLOAD FOR MAC, depending on which operating system you use.
- Once the installer has downloaded, navigate to its download location, double-click it, and go through the installation wizard to set it up.
2
Open the Google Drive for Desktop app. If it's the first time you're opening this app, you'll have to go through the first-time user experience, as well as sign in. If you've opened the app before and you're already signed in, skip to the next step.
- During the first-time user setup, you'll be asked if you want to sync folders or photos with Google Drive. You can choose to do so, or you can click the Skip button.
3
Open File Explorer or Finder. The Google Drive for Desktop app will allow you to use File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) to upload files and folders to your Google Drive without having to open a web browser.
4
Navigate to the file(s) or folder(s) you want to add to Google Drive. Open the location of this file or folder in File Explorer/Finder.
5
Copy the file(s)/folder(s) you want to add to Google Drive. To do this, click on the file(s) or folder(s) (pressing Ctrl on Windows or ⌘ Cmd on Mac to select multiple files) and press Ctrl+C (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd+C (Mac) to copy them.
6
Open your Google Drive folder. On the left-hand side of the File Explorer or Finder window, you'll see a new location called "Google Drive." Open this location, then navigate to where you want to upload the file(s) or folder(s) in your Drive. Typically, this is in the "My Drive" section, but you can go to any location you have access to in Drive.
7
Paste the file(s)/folder(s). To do this, press Ctrl+V (Windows)/⌘ Cmd+V (Mac). You'll see the file(s)/folder(s) get added to the Google Drive folder, and if you have the Google Drive for Desktop app still open, you'll see that your files are currently syncing.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Once the Google Drive for Desktop app says "Up to date," your file(s)/folder(s) have been added to your Drive. You can now access them on any computer, smartphone, or tablet where you're signed in to Google Drive.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How can I share files with others?

Community Answer

When you open/preview the file, there should be a "share" button at the top. Just click on this and enter their email.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question

How do I view files uploaded in Google Drive?

Community Answer

Your newly-uploaded files will appear in the "My Drive" folder after they've finished uploading. From there, you can send them to new folders in Drive. Google Drive has a document viewer, video player, and music player built-in, allowing you to open most files directly in Drive.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question

How do I access the files from another computer?

Community Answer

Sign into Google using your email account, then upload the files. The files will be available on any computer as long as you sign into that email account.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Google Drive is a good option for backing up important files or folders.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
You can access any file that you upload to Google Drive from any Internet-connected computer, smartphone, or tablet by signing into your Google Drive account.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1