Most users access Google Drive via its web app. Google Drive desktop, web and mobile apps Each application also enables users to save, edit and share files in Microsoft Office formats. There are also mobile apps for Google Android and Apple iOS. Users can access the apps on the web using browsers including Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari.

Although the Google versions lack some capabilities that those Microsoft Office applications have, they are simple, collaborative and free.Įach application in the suite enables users to create and edit documents, presentations and spreadsheets that they can store in Google Drive. Respectively, they can be compared to Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Excel. Google Docs is a word processor, Google Slides is a presentation program and Google Sheets is a spreadsheet program. Google Docs, Google Slides and Google Sheets make up Google Drive's office suite. The owner can also regulate permissions for both folders and files, using access levels such as 'can edit,' 'can comment' and 'can view.' What are Docs, Slides and Sheets? Then, the owner can control the level of visibility (public or privately shared with specific Google accounts) and transfer ownership to another user using Gmail addresses. When the end user creates a file or folder, he or she becomes its owner by default. Files that the user adds to one folder are available through a Google Drive web app or the Google Drive folder on each device. A Google Drive folder will appear along with other folders in each device's file system. Then, the user can either upload files from his or her computer or create files in Google Drive.Īlternatively, the end user can download a Google Drive application to one or more devices. 'My Drive' will automatically appear, which can contain uploaded or synced files and folders, as well as Google Sheets, Slides and Docs. Then, the user types '' into his or her browser. To get started with Google Drive, the end user must create or sign in to a Google account. Google Drive competes with Microsoft OneDrive, Apple iCloud, Box, Dropbox and SugarSync. Google Drive integrates with the company's other services and systems - including Google Docs, Gmail, Android, Chrome, YouTube, Google Analytics and Google+. The service syncs stored documents, photos and more across all of the user's devices, including mobile devices, tablets and PCs. Google Drive is a free cloud-based storage service that enables users to store and access files online.

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