Google Drive

Google Drive is a file-hosting service and synchronization service developed by Google. Launched on April 24, 2012, Google Drive allows users to store files in the cloud, synchronize files across devices, and share files. In addition to a web interface, Google Drive offers apps with offline capabilities for Windows and macOS computers, and Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. Google Drive encompasses Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, which are a part of the Google Docs Editors office suite that allows collaborative editing of documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, forms, and more. Files created and edited through the Google Docs suite are saved in Google Drive.
Google Drive offers users 15 GB of free storage, sharing it with Gmail and Google Photos. Through Google One, Google Drive also offers paid plans at tiers of 100 GB and 2 TB, along with a premium 2 TB plan that comes with Google's artificial intelligence. Files uploaded can be up to 750 GB in size. Users can change privacy settings for individual files and folders, including enabling sharing with other users or making content public. On the website, users can search for an image by describing its visuals, and use natural language to find specific files, such as "find my budget spreadsheet from last December".
The website and Android app offer a Backups section to see what Android devices have data backed up to the service, and a completely overhauled computer app released in July 2017 allows for backing up specific folders on the user's computer. A Quick Access feature can intelligently predict the files users need.
Google Drive is a key component of Google Workspace, Google's monthly subscription offering for businesses and organizations that operated as G Suite until October 2020. As part of select Google Workspace plans, Drive offers unlimited storage, advanced file audit reporting, enhanced administration controls, and greater collaboration tools for teams.
Following the launch of the service, Google Drive's privacy policy was criticized by some members of the media. Google has one set of Terms of Service and Privacy Policy agreements that cover all of its services. Some members of the media noted that the agreements were no worse than those of competing cloud storage services, but that the competition uses "more artful language" in the agreements, and also stated that Google needs the rights in order to "move files around on its servers, cache your data, or make image thumbnails".

Platforms

Google Drive was introduced on April 24, 2012, with apps available for Windows, macOS, and Android, as well as a website interface. The iOS app was released later in June 2012.

Computer apps

Google Drive is available for PCs running Windows 7 or later, and Macs running OS X Catalina or later. Google indicated in April 2012 that work on Linux software was underway, but there was no news on this as of November 2013. In April 2012, Google's then-Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai said that Google Drive would be tightly integrated with ChromeOS version 20. In October 2016, Google announced that, going forward, it would drop support for versions of the computer software older than 1 year. In June 2017, Google announced that a new app called Backup and Sync would replace the existing separate Google Drive and Google Photos desktop apps, creating one unified app on desktop platforms. Originally intended for release on June 28, its release was delayed until July 12. In September 2017, Google announced that it would discontinue the Google Drive desktop app in March 2018 and end support in December 2017.

Google Drive for desktop

In March 2017, Google introduced Drive File Stream, a desktop application for G Suite customers using Windows and macOS computers that maps Google Drive to a drive letter on the operating system, and thus allows easy access to Google Drive files and folders without using a web browser. It also featured on-demand file access, when the file is downloaded from Google Drive only when it is accessed. Additionally, Drive File Stream supports the Shared Drives functionality of Google Workspace.
In July 2017, Google announced their new downloadable software, Backup and Sync, for individual users of Google Drive. It was made mainly to replace the Google Drive desktop app, which was discontinued. Its main function is for the user to be able to set certain folders to constantly sync onto their Google Account's Drive. The synced folders and files count against the shared quota allocated between Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive.
In early 2021, Google announced that it would be combining its Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync products into one product, Google Drive for Desktop, which will support features previously exclusive to each respective Client. In July 2021, Google Drive for Desktop, a new app for Windows and Mac, was released replacing "Backup and Sync" and "Drive File Stream". Google Drive for desktop based on File Stream, which will support features previously exclusive to each respective Client. Google stopped supporting Backup and Sync as of October 1, 2021.
In 2023, a bug in Google Drive for Desktop resulted in a small number of files over a period of 6-months to disappear from user's accounts. A fix was released in December of that year.

Mobile apps

Google Drive is available for Android smartphones and tablets running Android 6.0 "Marshmallow" or later, and iPhones and iPads running iOS 15 or later.
In August 2016, Google Drive ended support for Android devices running Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" or older versions, citing Google's mobile app update policy, which states: "For Android devices, we provide updates for the current and 2 previous Android versions." According to the policy, the app will continue to work for devices running older Android versions, but any app updates are provided on a best-efforts basis. The policy also states a notice will be given for any planned end of service.
On May 4, 2020, Google rolled out a new feature update in its Google Drive app version 4.2020.18204 for iOS and iPadOS, known as Privacy Screen, which requires Face ID or Touch ID authentication whenever the app is open.

Website interface

Google Drive has a website that allows users to see their files from any Internet-connected computer, without the need to download an app.
The website received a visual overhaul in 2014 that gave it a completely new look and improved performance. It also simplified some of the most common tasks, such as clicking only once on a file to see recent activity or share the file and added drag-and-drop functionality, where users can simply drag selected files to folders, for improved organization.
A new update in August 2016 changed several visual elements of the website; the logo was updated, the search box design was refreshed, and the primary color was changed from red to blue. It also improved the functionality to download files locally from the website; users can now compress and download large Drive items into multiple 2 GB.zip files with an improved naming structure, better Google Forms handling, and empty folders are now included in the.zip, thereby preserving the user's folder hierarchy.
In April 2024, Google rolled out support for a night mode theme to users.

Storage

Google Drive offers various tiers of storage starting with a free tier of 15 GB for individual users with options to purchase additional storage tiers for users and organizations available. This built from an initial allowance of 1 GB at launch Gmail's launch in 2004, with the free storage limit increased to 2GB in 2005, 2.8GB in 2007, 7.5GB in 2011, 10GB in 2012, and finally to 15GB in 2013. Despite initially promoting the large free storage included in its offerings, Google has not increased the storage space provided since 2013.
Google does not provide a mechanism to track storage used by individual folders in Google Drive, requiring users to utilize Filerev, an application developed by a [|third party] for this functionality. Functionality to track total usage is available natively.

Individual user account storage

Google gives every user 15 GB of free storage. This cloud storage is also shared with Gmail and Google Photos. Users can purchase additional space through either a monthly or yearly payment. The option of yearly payments was introduced in December 2016, and is limited to the 100 GB and standard 2 TB storage plans. Furthermore, the yearly payments offer a discount. In May 2018, Google announced that storage plans would be moved over to Google One.
, these are the storage plans offered by Google:

Storage	Price
15 GB	Free
100 GB	$1.99/month
2 TB	$9.99/month
2 TB w/ AI	$19.99/month

Chromebook promotions

users can obtain 100 GB of Google Drive storage free for 12 months as long as the promotion is activated within 180 days of the Chromebook device's initial purchase. This is available in all countries where Google Drive is available. Offer can only be redeemed once per device. Used, open-box, and refurbished devices are not eligible for the offer.

Google Workspace storage

Google offers 30 GB of Drive storage for all Google Workspace Starter customers, and unlimited storage for those using Google Workspace for Business. Since July 2022, the Google Workspace for Education – valid for educational institutions and Universities in particular – provides 100 TB of storage. Universities with more than 20.000 Workspace users are offered an optionally increased storage limit.

Storage scheme revisions

On April 24, 2012, Google Drive was introduced with free storage of 5 GB. Storage plans were revised, with 25 GB costing $2.49/month, 100 GB costing $4.99/month and 1 TB costing $49.99/month.
Originally, Gmail, Google Docs, and Picasa had separate allowances for free storage and a shared allowance for purchased storage. Between April 2012 and May 2013, Google Drive and Google+ Photos had a shared allowance for both free and purchased storage, whereas Gmail had a separate 10 GB storage limit, which increased to 25 GB on the purchase of any storage plan.
In September 2012, Google announced that a paid plan would now cover total storage, rather than the paid allocation being added to the free; e.g. a 100 GB plan allowed a total of 100 GB rather than 115 GB as previously.
In May 2013, Google announced the overall merge of storage across Gmail, Google Drive and Google+ Photos, giving users 15 GB of unified free storage between the services.
In March 2014, the storage plans were revised again and prices were reduced by 80% to $1.99/month for 100 GB, $9.99/month for 1 TB, and $99.99/month for 10 TB. This was much cheaper than competitors Dropbox and OneDrive offered at the time.
In 2018, the paid plans were re-branded as "Google One" to emphasize their application beyond Google Drive, along with the addition of a $2.99/month plan for 200 GB, and increasing the $9.99 plan to 2 TB at no additional charge.
On November 11, 2020, Google announced that it would discontinue unlimited storage for files stored using Google Docs file formats in Drive along with photos and videos uploaded to Google Photos using its "saver" setting. The update was announced to come into effect on June 1, 2021. Photos uploaded using the "saver" quality setting before June 1, as well as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files that were not modified after June 1, continued to be exempt from storage quotas.
In September 2021, Google added a 5 TB storage plan priced at $24.99/month.