Google Drive & Google Docs 101: Access, Create, and Organize

Google Drive and Google Docs are powerful, free tools that let you create, store, and access documents from anywhere—no need to worry about saving files to one computer or losing important work. Whether you’re writing a report, collaborating with a team, or organizing your files, these tools make it easy to stay productive. Plus, it’s free for up to around 15gb of storage (always subject to their changes).

If you’ve ever struggled to find a document, wondered how to create a new file, or needed to move things into folders, this guide will walk you through the basics step by step.

What is Google Drive?

Google Drive functions like the “Folders” section on your PC, but with added convenience and flexibility. Beyond just storing files, it includes built-in tools for creating documents, spreadsheets, forms, and presentations directly in your browser or through Google’s mobile apps.

Instead of saving files to your computer’s Documents folder, you store them in Google Drive, allowing access from any device with an internet connection. This can be a GREAT option to have access to important documents in case your computer ever crashes! Plus the documents are easy to share or collaboratively edit.

Every document you create is automatically saved in the Google Drive cloud, eliminating the risk of losing work. Just as you can open a Word document from your PC’s folders, you can open Google Docs and other file types directly from Google Drive—plus … there’s no need to constantly click “Save,” as your work is preserved automatically as you type.

Creating and Using Google Drive Files

Accessing Google Drive

1. Go to Google Drive.
2. Sign in with your Google account if prompted.
3. This is your Google Drive – a place to store and access your files.

Tip: If you don’t see the files you expect, you may be signed into a different account. Click your name/image in the top right corner and either sign out and then sign into the other account, or select “Add another account.”

Creating a Google Doc

1. In Google Drive, click the + New button (top left).
2. Select Google Docs to open a new word editor document.
3. Start typing! Google Docs saves automatically as you go.
4. Name your document in the top left where it says “Untitled Document” so you can find it later.

Note: Google sometimes assigns a name based on the first words you type, but it’s best to name your document yourself for easier organization.

Other Google Drive File Types

You can create, read, and edit different types of documents:

• Google Docs – Like Microsoft Word, for writing and editing documents.
• Google Sheets – Like Microsoft Excel, for creating spreadsheets and organizing data.
• Google Slides – Like Microsoft PowerPoint, for making presentations.
• Google Forms – Easily create a form and collect responses.
• Google Folders – Use folders to organize and arrange your files in Google Drive.

Finding Saved Documents Later

1. Open Google Drive.
2. Your documents will be listed here – click to open any file.
3. Use the search bar at the top to quickly find a file.
4. To see documents others have shared with you, go to the “Shared with me” section on the left sidebar.

Opening a Google Document File

• Find the file using one of the methods above.
• Double-click the file name. It will open in Google Docs (or the correct program) in your browser.

Moving Documents into Folders

• Find the file you want to move.
• Drag and drop it into a folder on the left sidebar.
• OR Right-click the file, select “Move to”, then choose a folder. Click Move to confirm.