Doing so will allow you to easily share the file with others and unlock tools so you can collaborate with others in real-time.įiles that can be converted to Google Drive format are: Google Drive supports many different file types, but if you plan on editing files in Google Drive, they will need to be converted to the Google Drive format. It's easy to convert a file to Google Drive format for easy collaboration. Here is a breakdown of the most commonly used Google Drive applications: Not only do they let you create and edit documents, they're also equipped with intuitive tools that allow for real-time collaboration. Most users will gravitate to these programs, which include Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. And one of Drive's best features is its integration with Google's office suite of cloud-native apps, which, if you have experience with Microsoft Office, will look familiar. To understand why Google Drive is so popular, it's important to note that it's built to work seamlessly with Google. Google Drive gives you the power to upload and save a range of file types - documents, photos, audio, and videos - to Google servers, or the "cloud." Drive can serve as a backup solution, or as a way to free up space on your device. So how to take advantage of all that space? Our guide covers all the basics, from how to use Google Drive to upload and access files on any device, to all the tools that make collaboration with others a breeze. If you have a Google account, you already have 15 GB of free storage on Google Drive. But when compared to competitors like DropBox and Apple's iCloud service, Google Drive's popularity is built on useful collaborative tools and built-in integrations with Google's suite of products and services. Using a cloud storage service like Google Drive has plenty of advantages, such as easier file sharing and having a remote location to backup your files.