Backing up the hard disk

This is one of the recently added features of Google Drive. Indeed, it is possible to copy all the content of your hard drives, cameras or SD cards to Google Drive. However, you must have enough space available. This is done through the Drive desktop application that you can download here. After installing it, you must restart the computer. Then, from the Windows search bottom, please enter Backup and Sync from Google. As a result, the app will start loading for the first time. After a while, a Google Drive icon will appear in the taskbar. Specifically, on the right side, next to the time and date. Just click on it to display the menu. From there, you will access the Backup and Synchronization options.

You must choose the folders on your hard drive that you want to synchronize with the Google Drive cloud. Any changes you make from both PC and Drive will be reflected from one to the other. That is, it is a bidirectional synchronization. You can also set how to save the photos: in original or compressed quality. Remember that this decision will affect the size reduction available in Google Drive.

Commenting on Office documents

Google Drive now allows direct commenting on Office files. The interesting thing is that it is not necessary to convert them first to Google Docs format, or use a Chrome extension. Simply find an Office document and click on it. If it asks you if you want to open it with Google Docs, answer yes. In the upper-right corner, a couple of icons will appear. The one with a + is the one that allows you to add a comment. Consequently, highlight the text you want to comment on, and type the comment. This comment can be read by anyone with whom you share the document.

Convert a document to PDF

Maybe you didn’t know, but it is possible to convert documents stored in Google Drive to PDF. You don’t need to install any application or Chrome extension. Once you open the document with Google Docs. Once the document is open, go to the File menu and choose Download. In the next menu, you can download the file as PDF.

Using other non-Google applications

When you open a document or file from Google Drive, by default it opens with the related Google application. I.e. Google Docs, Google Photos, etc. However, you may want to use different apps. Fortunately, Google Drive allows you to switch them. Just click on the New icon. In the menu that appears, tap on More. Then click on Connect more apps.

In the new window, you will be able to select dozens of third-party programs. These apps work as a browser application and are compatible with Google Drive:

Select the ones you want to add, and you will be able to use them when you handle files related to these tools.

Create new documents with a URL

Last October, Google Drive released a very original feature. Indeed, we will be able to create a new document in Google Drive instantly. Just type doc.new in the browser, and Google Drive will automatically open with a blank text document, ready to be edited. There are other URLs that open different types of blank documents. These are:

• http://doc.new: opens a new Google document
• http://sheets.new: opens a new Google Sheets spreadsheet
• http://deck.new: opens a new Google presentation
• http://site.new: create new website in Google sites
• http://form.new: create new form in Google form

This is one of the best time-saving tricks. So, you can get the most out of Google Dive.

Voice typing

This trick is also very practical. In fact, writing a document while you are doing other things. Even if you don’t have the computer in front of you. Google Drive allows you to dictate texts with a microphone. If you haven’t done it, we urge you to try it. The results are excellent. With this in mind, open a new document. You can use the link we showed you above: doc.new. Next, from the Tools menu click on Voice Typing.

Tap on the microphone to dictate the text. If you are not using a laptop, you will need a headset with a microphone to dictate. You can then dictate while doing other activities.

Saves web content

You probably surf the web for a long time. In the process, you may have seen content that you want to keep. It may be an address, an interesting article or a nice picture. Well, here is another appealing feature of Google Drive. Indeed, we will be able to save any content from a web page directly to Google Drive, simply by touching a button. You only have to install an official Google Chrome extension called Save to Google Drive. When installed, the extension icon will appear in the browser. When you see something you like, click on the icon to save it to Drive. Please remember that you are not only saving what you see on the screen, but the entire web page that is currently in the foreground.

All right, we have finally seen the best tricks for Google Drive. Although most of them are intended to be used from the PC, they can also be managed from the mobile. Note that you must have a Google account to enjoy Google Drive. If you don’t have one, just sign up for the service. Something easy to do and it is also free. See you soon!

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What does Google Drive for Windows do?

We have discussed that Google Drive allows you to access files from different devices. However, it is also an office suite that allows you to edit text, generate presentations and work with spreadsheets. Well, the PC app works as a shortcut to the content stored in the cloud. It is therefore a good alternative to Microsoft’s OneDrive.

Therefore, by installing Google Drive for PC, you will be able to synchronize files. It is indeed possible to download items from the cloud, but you can also upload files from local storage. This aspect allows you to have your files always at hand. To take advantage of the 15 GB that Google gives for free. The downside is that you will not be able to directly edit documents in Google Docs and other apps. You will certainly see the files in the synchronized folder. But they are not editable documents. They are actually shortcuts to edit them online. Therefore, you will be able to synchronize and share your files. But the office functions are limited to use in the web browser.

How to download Google Drive for PC

The first thing you need to do is to log in to your Google Drive account. Once there, you have to click on the cogwheel. This will bring up a small menu of options. Please click on Get backup and sync for Windows.

You will be redirected to the Google Drive tools download page. You can also go directly from here. Please click on For Individuals and confirm the download.

The wizard will immediately start downloading the files needed for the installation. Then, the tool configuration process begins.

The first thing you have to do is to log in with your Google credentials.

Next, select the folders on the computer you want to synchronize. This is an optional step. In fact, just uncheck all the boxes. In addition, we can also send the photos and videos to Google Photos.

Once this is done, the synchronization process will begin. You can see how the Google Drive icon now appears in the file explorer.

So we have seen how to set up Google Drive for Windows 10. It is always advantageous to have cloud storage options. See you soon!

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