See how to download files from Google Drive on PC, Android and iOS                             Google Drive lets you download files directly from the service's website or app to your computer and Android and iOS devices. This means saving photos, entire folders or any other kind of …

Google Drive lets you download files directly from the service's website or app to your computer and Android and iOS devices. This means saving photos, entire folders or any other type of file to the device of your choice.

You can even download multiple items at once natively and without complications.

How to download files from Google Drive on your computer

To perform the procedure below, you must have a Google account and of course files available on the cloud storage service.

1. Visit the Google Drive page. If your account is not logged in, please login;

2. Go to the folder where the file you want to download is and click on it. It can be document, photo, folder or any other item. If you want to select more than one, hold down Command (Mac OS) or Ctrl (Windows) pressed until you click on all you need;

3 Once selected, tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen and go to Download;

Google Drive

4 Then choose the folder where you want to store the file (s) on your computer and click To save;

5 If you have just downloaded one file, simply click on it to open it;

6 However, if you have downloaded several at a time or a folder, the downloaded file will be compressed. To open it, you will need to have unzip software installed on your machine, such as WinZip, 7-Zip or WinRar.

All of these programs work similarly. Just open the zipped folder and find the option Extract to to extract the file to your preferred folder.

How to download files and photos from Google Drive on Android

To perform the procedure below, you must have the Google Drive app installed on your Android device. On the smartphone, you cannot download entire folders at once. However, the user can also download multiple files at once.

1. Open the Google Drive app for Android;

2. If you want to download just one file, tap the three dots icon next to the name and in the menu that opens go to Download;

3 If you want to download multiple files at the same time, touch the first item for a few seconds until you see a check indicating the selection. Then tap on the others you need to save;

Google Drive

4 After all are selected, tap on the three dots icon at the top of the screen on the right.

5 In the menu that opens, choose Download;

6 The file will be available in the folder Downloads from your Android.

How to download files and photos from Google Drive on iPhone and iPad

To perform the procedure below, you must have the Google Drive app installed on your iOS device.

How to download file from Google Drive to another app on iOS

1. Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone or iPad;

2. Then tap the three dots icon next to the file name you want to download;

3 So, go on in Open in and select the app you want to view it in.

How to download photo or video on iOS camera roll

1. Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone or iPad;

2. Then go to the three dots icon next to the file name you want to download;

3 So, choose to Send a copy and then by Save Image or Save video.

In what formats are Google Drive files saved?

According to Google, you can download files in the following formats:

  • Docs: HTML, RTF, DOCX, OpenOffice, PDF, EPUB, Text Files
  • Spreadsheets: CSV, HTML, ODS, PDF, XLSX, TXT (for a single page)
  • Presentations: PDF, PPTX, TXT
  • Images: PNG, JPEG, SVG, PDF

Here's how to access everything Google knows about you.

How to access Google Drive files without internet (offline)

Want an alternative to being able to view and edit Drive files on your phone even without internet access? Simply bookmark desired documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to work offline.

The way is the same on both Android and iOS. With the app open, just follow: three dots icon next to the file name activate the key next to the option Available offline.

To view and edit these items, open the Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides apps and go to the four horizontal line icon in the upper left corner of the screen. Then access the option Offline.

Did you like the tip? See also how to use Google Forms and master forms!

Taysa Coelho

Journalist graduated from UFRJ, writes about technology for seven years. Carioca currently lives in Portugal, the country he adopted. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, reading, watching movies, and doing series marathons. Instagram is her favorite social network, but WhatsApp saves her from missing those who stayed in Brazil.