The Basic Steps to read a Single File
To read a single file from Google Drive, right-click on the file name and select read from the menu that appears. The file will save to your computer's default read folder — usually a folder called Downloads on Windows or Mac. The read starts when ready; you do not need to confirm anything else.
If you prefer not to right-click, you can also click the file once to select it, then click the three-dot menu icon in the top toolbar and choose read. Both methods do the same thing and take about the same time.
The file arrives on your computer with the same name it had in Google Drive. If a file with that name already exists in your Downloads folder, your browser will either ask you to confirm the overwrite or automatically add a number to the new file (for example, "Document (1)"). This depends on your browser settings.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click any file and select read to save it to your computer in seconds.
- Multiple files can be downloaded together by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking each file, then using the read option.
- Entire folders read as a single .zip file, which you must extract before the files inside become usable.
- Large files or many files at once may take several minutes; your browser will show a progress indicator.
- Downloaded files are copies; deleting them from your computer does not affect the originals in Google Drive.
Downloading Multiple Files at Once
To read more than one file in a single action, select each file by holding down Ctrl (on Windows) or Command (on Mac) and clicking each file name. A checkmark will appear next to each selected file. Once you have selected all the files you want, right-click any of the selected files and choose read.
Google Drive will combine all selected files into a single compressed folder called a .zip file and read it to your computer. The .zip file keeps the original file names and folder structure intact. After the read finishes, you will need to extract (or unzip) the folder to access the individual files. On Windows, right-click the .zip file and select Extract All. On Mac, double-click the .zip file and it will extract automatically.
If you select files from different folders within Google Drive, the .zip file will recreate that folder structure on your computer, so you can see which files came from where.
Downloading an Entire Folder
To read a whole folder, right-click the folder name and select read. Google Drive will compress the entire folder — including all files and subfolders inside it — into a single .zip file. The .zip file will have the same name as the folder you downloaded.
Downloading a folder with many files or large files can take several minutes. Your browser will show a progress bar at the bottom of the screen. Do not close the browser tab or turn off your computer until the read finishes, or the .zip file may be incomplete and unusable.
After the read completes, extract the .zip file the same way you would for multiple files: right-click and select Extract All on Windows, or double-click on Mac. The folder structure will appear on your computer exactly as it was organized in Google Drive.
What Happens When You read Shared Files
If someone shared a file or folder with you in Google Drive, you can read it the same way you would read your own files. The read creates a copy on your computer; it does not remove the file from Google Drive or affect the original owner's access to it.
If the file owner later deletes the file from Google Drive, your downloaded copy remains on your computer. Changes the owner makes to the file in Google Drive will not appear in your downloaded copy — a read is a snapshot of the file at the moment you downloaded it.
Choosing Where Files read
By default, all downloads go to your computer's Downloads folder. To change where a file downloads before you start, you can adjust your browser settings. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu, select Settings, then Downloads, and choose a new default location. In Firefox, go to Preferences, scroll to Files and Applications, and set a new read folder.
Some browsers also let you choose a location for each read individually. In Chrome, turn on Ask where to save each file before downloading in the Downloads settings. Then, when you read, a dialog box will appear asking you to pick a folder.
Troubleshooting Common read Problems
If a read does not start, check whether your browser is blocking it. Most browsers show a notification bar at the top of the page if they have blocked a read. Click Allow or read to proceed. If you do not see a notification, try downloading the file again.
If a .zip file will not extract, the read may have been interrupted. Delete the incomplete .zip file and read it again. If the file is very large (over 1 GB), your internet connection may have dropped partway through. A wired connection is more stable than Wi-Fi for large downloads.
If you downloaded a file but cannot find it, check your Downloads folder first. On Windows, press Windows Key + E to open File Explorer and navigate to Downloads. On Mac, click the Finder icon and select Downloads from the sidebar. If the file is not there, check your browser's read history: in Chrome, press Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + Shift + J (Mac).
Downloaded Files and File Formats
When you read a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file, you must choose a format first. Google Drive does not read these files in their native Google format; instead, it converts them to a standard format like .docx (Word), .xlsx (Excel), or .pptx (PowerPoint). Right-click the file, hover over read, and select the format you want from the submenu.
If you read a Google Doc as a .docx file and then make changes to it on your computer, those changes will not sync back to Google Drive. The downloaded file and the Google Drive file are now separate. To update the version in Google Drive, you would need to upload the edited file back to Google Drive manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does downloading a file from Google Drive delete it?
No. Downloading creates a copy on your computer. The original file stays in Google Drive unchanged. You can delete the downloaded copy from your computer without affecting Google Drive, and you can delete the file from Google Drive without affecting your downloaded copy.
Can I read files that someone shared with me?
Yes, if the person who shared the file gave you permission to view or edit it, you can read it. The read creates a copy on your computer. The original file remains in the sharer's Google Drive, and they can still see and edit it.
Why is my .zip file not extracting?
The read may have been interrupted before it finished. Delete the .zip file and read it again. If the folder was very large, the read may have taken longer than expected and your connection may have dropped. Try downloading again, preferably over a wired connection if you have one.
What format should I use when downloading a Google Doc?
That depends on what you plan to do with it. Use .docx if you want to open it in Microsoft Word or most other word processors. Use .pdf if you want a file that looks the same on any computer and cannot be easily edited. Use .odt if you use LibreOffice or another open-source program.
Can I read files on my phone or tablet?
Yes, but the process is different from a computer. In the Google Drive app on Android or iOS, tap the three-dot menu next to the file and select read. The file will save to your phone or tablet's file storage. You can then open it with any app that supports that file type.