Google Drive lets you lot access your files anywhere through the deject, but you might not exist getting the most out of it. We're going to bear witness you some Drive settings that yous should tweak immediately for Windows ten and mobile.

Whether it's changing your default save folder, editing fonts, or using your files offline, these tips will help you be a more efficient Drive user.

1. Set up a Default Documents Folder

Yous demand to manually put your files in your local Google Bulldoze so that they sync to the cloud. This can be cumbersome when Windows sets your storage location to be the Documents folder by default. Y'all can change this so that the default storage location is Google Bulldoze.

documents properties
  1. Press Windows key + East to open File Explorer.
  2. From the left-hand menu, right-click the Documents folder and click Backdrop.
  3. Switch to the Location tab and click Move. A new window opens.
  4. Click Google Drive from the left-manus menu, then click Select Folder.
  5. Click OK to ostend.
  6. Finally, you'll exist asked if you lot want to move your files from the former location to the new. If you want to, so that your Documents folder syncs to Drive immediately, click Yeah to proceed.

2. Use Files Offline

If you lot're using Google Drive on your computer, you don't demand to do annihilation special to use the files offline. Open them up and they'll sync the next time you lot're connected. To get the aforementioned thing for your browser, the setup procedure is a little different.

google drive settings

Get-go, you'll need to use Google Chrome. Launch it and install the Google Docs Offline extension. Then:

  1. Go to Google Drive and click the cog icon in the top right.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. On the General pane, tick Create, open and edit your contempo Google Docs, Sheets and Slides files on this device while offline.
  4. Finally, click Washed.

Y'all'll see a message to show that your changes are beingness updated, which will disappear once the process is consummate.

3. Bank check Your App Permissions

Applications can exist linked to Google Bulldoze and serve a diverseness of purposes. Y'all can get functional apps that let you do things like fax and sign documents or create menses charts. You tin can also link other programs to utilize Google Drive as a storage facility—WhatsApp's chat backups is a popular case of this.

It's wise to check which apps are paired to your Google Drive account. Perhaps you've mistakenly added something or no longer need information technology. If so, at that place's no demand for it to exist accessing your business relationship or using your information.

google drive manage apps

To manage this:

  1. Open Google Bulldoze and click the Cog icon in the pinnacle correct.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Switch to the Manage Apps window from the left-mitt navigation. Here you lot will see a list of all your apps.
  4. You can use the Options dropdown to Disconnect from Drive and remove the app entirely.
  5. If applicative, you will besides be able to Delete hidden app information. This ways the application is using your data allowance, but won't appear in your standard listing of files.
  6. Click Done when you're finished.

iv. Automatically Back Upwards Phone Data

Google Drive tin automatically back up smartphone data, similar SMS messages and device settings. This is helpful if you lose your phone or want to transfer to a new device. Also, it'south always important to support your smartphone.

To practice this:

  1. Open the Google Drive app and tap the menu icon in the top left.
  2. Go to Settings > Backup and reset (or merely Backup on iPhone).
  3. Slide Back up to Google Bulldoze on.

5. Gear up Default Certificate Formatting

When y'all start a new document, do you always alter the font to something else? Save yourself the task and a few seconds because you can set a specific font every bit the default.

google drive paragraph styles
  1. First, open a document in Google Docs.
  2. Type something, then highlight information technology.
  3. Set your desired format for the font using the dropdowns.
  4. And so go to Format > Paragraph styles > Normal Text > Update 'Normal text' to friction match.
  5. Go on the text highlighted and go to Format > Paragraph styles > Options > Salvage as my default styles.

Done! Now all new documents will use this formatting.

six. Change Notification Settings

You can choose to get various notifications from Google Drive. On the spider web version, your options are express to enabling or disabling email notifications. To practice this:

  1. Log in to Google Bulldoze and click the Cog icon.
  2. Go to Settings.
  3. Switch to the Notifications pane, and then tick the box.
  4. Finally, click Done.

On Android and iOS, the customization options are meliorate. Launch Google Drive on your phone, tap the Menu icon. Then, go to Settings > Notification settings (or just Notifications on iOS.)

Here, you tin can change settings like whether to show notifications, what specifically to be notified about, and whether to enable dissonance and vibration.

7. Ready Apps for Specific File Types

The Chrome Web Store is full of handy applications y'all tin can link with Google Drive. Some of these apps will open specific file types like PDFs. Remember of it like how your reckoner can open music files in all sorts of different media players.

google drive manage apps

If you have apps installed and want to set an app to be the default for opening a certain blazon of file, that'due south easy to change.

  1. Log in to Google Drive.
  2. Click the Cog icon.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Click Manage apps.
  5. Scroll to the app y'all wish to manage and bank check Utilize past default. Of grade, simply uncheck this box to remove the default.

viii. Set up Your Primary Google Account

If you accept multiple electronic mail addresses connected to your Google business relationship, yous might detect yourself constantly switching between them in order to access the Drive account y'all want. This is considering Google uses the first business relationship y'all sign in to as your default. You lot can reset this.

First, navigate to Google, click your Profile icon on the height right, and click Sign out of all accounts. Now, get to Google Drive and log in with the account you wish to use every bit your primary. This will now exist the Drive business relationship that loads first. Once washed, you can log into the rest of your accounts.

For more information, come across our guide on how to alter the default Google account.

Accept You Paid Attention to Bulldoze'due south Settings Lately?

Hopefully, y'all've learned something new from the tips nosotros've outlined here. They'll help you be a more efficient Google Drive user.

Remember, Google Drive is a service that is constantly evolving, so it'south worth rummaging in the settings every one time in a while to encounter what's new.

ten Mutual Google Drive Issues (And How to Solve Them)

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About The Writer

Joe Keeley (862 Manufactures Published)

Joe was born with a keyboard in his hands and immediately started writing about applied science. He has a BA (Hons) in Business and is now a full-time freelance writer who enjoys making tech unproblematic for anybody.

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