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Getting started with Google Drive

Want to get started with Google Drive? Watch the video below to learn how.

Creating a Google account

In order to use Google Drive, you will need a Google account. Google accounts are free, and signing up for one is fairly simple. In order to create a Google account, you'll need to enter some information, including your name, birth date, and location. Creating a Google account will automatically create a Gmail email address and a Google+ profile.

To create a Google account:

1. Go to www.google.com. Locate and select the Sign in button in the top-right corner of the page.
   
   
   
2. Click Create an account.
   
   
   
3. The sign-up form will appear. Follow the directions and enter the required information.
   
   
   
4. Next enter your phone number. Google will send a verification code to your phone that you will use to complete the sign up process.
   
5. Enter the verification code sent to your phone and click Verify.
   
6. The personal information page will appear. Follow the directions and enter your information, including your birth date and gender.
   
7. Review Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then click I agree.
   
8. Your account will be created.

Just like with any online service, it's important to choose a strong password—in other words, one that's difficult for someone to guess. For more information, check out our Password Tips lesson.

Accessing Google Drive

Once you've set up your Google account, you can access Google Drive by going to http://drive.google.com in your web browser.

You can also navigate to Google Drive from any Google page (such as Gmail or Google search) by selecting the grid icon near the top-right corner, then clicking Drive.

The Google Drive interface

Your Google Drive may be empty right now, but as you begin to upload and create files you'll need to know how to view, manage, and organize them in the interface.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to become familiar with the Google Drive interface.

Google Drive for mobile devices

Available for both iOS and Android, the Google Drive mobile app allows you to view and upload files to Google Drive using your mobile device.

Google also has separate mobile apps for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. To learn more, check out Google's blog post on New mobile apps for Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Google Drive for desktop

If you prefer to work on the desktop, you can download the Google Drive desktop app to your computer. Available for Windows and OS X, this app makes it a bit easier to upload your existing files and work offline. Once it's installed, you'll see a new Google Drive folder on your computer. Any files you move into this folder will automatically be uploaded to your Google Drive.

Challenge!

1. Visit www.google.com to sign up for a Google account if you don't already have one.
2. Open Google Drive.
3. Notice on the left side how much of your storage is used and how much is available.
4. Try clicking some of the menu options, like Shared with Me and Google Photos.

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