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Google Drive for the web finally goes dark
Manage your files in low-light conditions without straining your eyes
Dark mode took off with the advent of AMOLED displays a few years ago, with many web developers and app management teams scrambling to implement the new feature. It makes reading much easier on the eyes, and some would argue it also reduces power consumption on AMOLEDs, but in any case, Google wasn’t a forerunner in adoption. To this day, a vast majority of Workspace apps don’t offer the convenience on the web version, but things are now starting to change, starting with Drive.
Google Drive is getting an ingenious new categorization system
The feature is similar to the labeling system available in Google Workspace
Depending on how many files you have stored in Google Drive, you may have trouble keeping everything organized. The search function can help you quickly pull up individual files by name, but it does little in terms of organization. Now, Google seems to be working on a feature that would allow users to categorize the files they store in Drive.
Google says Drive spam files are safe to open, but don't click any links
A recent rash of phishing attempts asks users to approve suspicious files
Ever since the dawn of the internet, spam, malware, and viruses have been a part of our vocabulary. Entire companies have been torn down over executives clicking the wrong link in an email, and with scam call centers growing in size and proficiency, it’s more important than ever before to become online-literate and report things like phishing text messages. Google has had more than its fair share of spam concerns over the years but has done a lot to fight it off, including creating tools to reduce the amount of spam emails in Gmail. Recently, there’s been a surge of spammers that are targeting users of Google Drive, so much so that Google has responded to user concerns regarding the issue.
Google Files' document scanner is finally rolling out more widely
Not everyone uses Drive, so having the scanner in more Google apps is great
Google recently introduced a new document scanner to Drive on Android that takes a lot of hassle out of the scanning process. It then turned out that this scanning feature is actually a part of Google’s ML kit, available for use for any Android app. That’s exactly what Google Files now taps into, with the local file organization app now widely rolling out the familiar document scanner.
How to find your WhatsApp backups in Google Drive
See where WhatsApp keeps backups in Google Drive and your device's storage
WhatsApp's backups protect you from losing chats, media, and stickers. When you connect your Google account with the app, your data syncs to the cloud based on the frequency you select. You can restore what you lost if you accidentally clear your chat history, uninstall the app, or set up a new device. Local backups are also an option if you don't have anything in Drive.
New Google Drive update will help videos load much faster
The long-awaited search filters are also making it to Drive
Google Drive is one of our favorite cloud-based file storage solutions, and the seamless integration with Workspace makes it all the more desirable to those in the ecosystem. Uploading videos to Google Drive is as easy as it gets, thanks to sharing tools built into the Android share sheet. But video playback hasn't been on par with fellow Google-run service, YouTube, even if the video player looks indistinguishable from the video streaming platform. The Google Drive team has now announced a couple of features for Drive, one of which tries to remedy the subpar video playback on the file storage app.
How to upload videos to Google Drive
Google drive makes it easy to save all of your important documents and images to the cloud
With 4K video recording becoming the norm, filling up your iPhone and Android phone space is easier than ever. While you can rearrange and remove several files and apps as a temporary fix, you'll eventually run out of space and be back at square one. Instead of going back and forth with managing files, upload your large videos to Google Drive and keep them accessible at your fingertips all the time.
Google brings Drive's fancy document scanner to all apps
You can easily crop and filter your scan before sending it back to the app
Google has several apps, products, and services tied to its name, and while many are consumer-facing, the company is still fully invested in its enterprise initiatives. For example, it has refined the components of Google Drive over the years, updating everything from the functionality to its UI. Toward the end of 2023, the company did just that with its Workspace suite — Google redesigned its document scanner UI to accommodate the look and feel of Material You. Now, you’ll be able to use the document scanning feature with any app on your Android device.
How to use Synology Drive as a Google Drive alternative
Synology Drive has got what it takes to replace Google Drive, given you're okay with the upfront cost
Google Drive is great for storing files in the cloud, accessing them when needed, and collaborating with a team. However, the internet isn't always reliable and can cause issues when accessing files. In such cases, you need an offline solution, and Synology may have the best options. Synology has awesome NAS enclosures. Its accompanying software, Synology Drive, packs goodies similar to Google Drive while adding an extra layer of privacy.
How to back up all your Google account data
Losing your phone is a painful experience but you needn't lose all your data along with it if you've taken the right precautions
Google takes measures to protect user data, but the company is not infallible. You could lose it all to accidental deletion, account issues, or other unforeseen circumstances. It's up to you to take responsibility for your account's security and use best practices, such as strong passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA), and, more importantly, backups.
You can now send Drive files to meeting attendees' calendars
Conveniently share files with meeting attendees ahead of time
In a virtual workspace environment, the ability to seamlessly share files with team members or fellow employees is of utmost importance. For organizations that are dependent on Google Workspace for collaborative tools and communication, Drive is the obvious choice for a file storage service. Google is now making it effortless to share Drive files with attendees of future meetings that are listed on Google Calendar.
Google Drive is a freemium cloud storage service that integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace and Android. Drive has over one billion users and hosts trillions of files (some are likely yours), but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe. Just because everyone else uses it, does that mean it's a secure file storage option to use with your new Chromebook?
Google has a new tool to restore those missing Drive files
Even with Google's solution, getting back those lost files isn't a sure thing
Google Drive decided to play hide-and-seek with months of user data in November, triggering a flood of complaints on the Google Support forum. Google admitted that a "limited subset" of Drive for desktop users got the short end of the stick. If you're caught up in this mess, Google has released a guide that might help you reclaim your lost files.
Google Drive’s latest facelift makes it more personalized on the web
The new home page looks fresh and follows Material Design 3 guidelines
Google Drive has a lot of perks, ranging from its collaborating tools to cross-platform availability, but its straightforward UI is what makes it a popular choice among users. Its home page on the web already looks well laid out with several smart tools that help make your files more accessible. But Google wants to make Drive’s home page even more helpful with additional personalization options and a Material Design 3 treatment.
How to access Google Drive on any device
You can access Google Drive on almost any device, but the best way to access it changes by platform
Google Drive is one of the most-used cloud storage services in the world and comes as a standard app on Android phones. It's versatile, has a decent amount of free storage, and is great for consumers and businesses. There are options to upgrade the storage thanks to affordable Google One plans, which are a great option for people using one of the best budget Android phones that may not have much onboard storage.
Google Drive’s document scanner finally graces iOS
Even better, it includes an AI-powered feature that suggests titles for your scans
We all encounter the occasional need to scan documents, be it for work or personal use. Luckily, scanning documents is no longer a tedious chore confined to bulky office machines—just use your smartphone camera. It's pretty straightforward, and there are many apps for it. Google recently upgraded the game with an update to Google Drive's document scanner on Android, and it's bringing the same convenience to iOS devices.
How to permanently delete and restore files on your Google Drive
Deep clean your Google Drive account for better storage management
Google's 15GB of free cloud storage provides enough space for your important videos, pictures, documents, and audio. With your Google account, you can access these files from any internet-connected smartphone, computer, or tablet. If the free storage is insufficient for your needs, you can get additional space of up to 2TB with a Google One membership subscription, if you don't mind the cost.
Google Drive seems to have lost some user data, reports say
Users are taking to Google’s support forums to complain
Read update
It looks like Google Drive is experiencing some issues with disappearing files. Multiple users have taken to the Google Support forum to report that they lost access to some of the files that they’ve uploaded to Google Drive, with them seemingly fully gone from the cloud service. Google recommends you don’t make any changes to your Google Drive if you’re affected while the company investigates the issue.
This Google Drive competitor is now a full-fledged alternative
Privacy-focused Proton Drive has come to macOS, and can thus sync your files across all major platforms now
Google Drive is among the first names that come to mind when we think of the best cloud storage providers. But, come to think of it, there are just a few parameters which any service has to offer to become one of the best — privacy, support for multiple operating systems, and effortless file sync. Proton Drive nails the privacy aspect like all other Proton services, and it is now finally stepping up to Google Drive with a native app for macOS, making it possible to sync files across all major operating systems.
Google Drive’s integrated document scanner gets a fresh coat of paint
New features and Material Design 3 elements come standard
Google Drive is a handy cloud storage solution, and one of our favorites for several important reasons. It gives us uninhibited access across operating systems and the web app isn’t missing features either. Moreover, every document created using Workspace tools like Sheets, Slides, and Docs is automatically synced to Drive. Google also allows you to snap photos and upload them as documents through the Google Drive app for Android. A recent update has given the document scanner interface a fresh coat of paint, and we couldn’t be happier.