Starring a folder puts it at the top of your Drive sidebar for quick access

To star a folder in Google Drive, right-click the folder name and select "Add star" from the menu. The folder then appears in your "Starred" section at the top of the left sidebar, separate from your regular folder list. You can star as many folders as you need, and unstar them just as easily by right-clicking and choosing "Remove star".

This feature works the same way whether you're using Google Drive on a computer or the mobile app. The starred folders sync across all your devices, so a folder you star on your phone shows up starred on your desktop.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any folder and select "Add star" to move it to your "Starred" section in the sidebar.
  • Starred folders appear at the top of your sidebar under a dedicated "Starred" heading, making them easier to find than folders buried in your regular list.
  • You can star multiple folders at once, and the order they appear in the "Starred" section matches the order you starred them.
  • Starring a folder does not change where it actually lives in your Drive — it only creates a shortcut to it in your sidebar.

How to star a folder on desktop

Open Google Drive in your web browser and locate the folder you want to star. Right-click directly on the folder name (not the icon). A small menu appears with several options. Click "Add star" — the folder when ready moves to your "Starred" section at the top of the left sidebar.

If you prefer not to right-click, you can also hover over the folder name and click the star icon that appears to the left of the folder name. Both methods do the same thing. Once starred, that star icon fills in with color, showing the folder is now in your starred list.

How to star a folder on mobile

In the Google Drive app on your phone or tablet, find the folder you want to star. Press and hold the folder name until a menu appears at the bottom of the screen. Tap "Add star" from that menu. The folder moves to your "Starred" section, which appears at the top of your folder list in the mobile app.

On mobile, you can also swipe left on the folder (iPhone) or right on the folder (Android) to reveal a star icon. Tap that icon to star the folder when ready without opening a menu.

Managing your starred folders

Your "Starred" section acts like a custom toolbar. You can star up to as many folders as you want — there is no limit. The folders appear in the order you starred them, with the most recently starred folder at the bottom of the list. If you want to reorganize them, you have to unstar and re-star them in the order you prefer.

To unstar a folder, right-click it (on desktop) or press and hold it (on mobile) and select "Remove star". The folder stays in your Drive exactly where it was; it just disappears from the "Starred" section. Unstarring does not delete the folder or move it anywhere.

When starring folders saves time

Starring works best when you have a few folders you use constantly. If you work in a project folder every day, star it so you can reach it in one click instead of navigating through your folder structure. The same goes for shared folders you access regularly or folders that contain templates or reference materials you need often.

If you find yourself starring more than five or six folders, you might be better off organizing them into a single parent folder instead. A long starred list becomes just as hard to scan as a regular folder list, and you lose the speed advantage.

Starred folders and shared Drive behavior

Starring works on both your personal "My Drive" and on shared Drives. When you star a folder in a shared Drive, only you see it in your starred list — other people with access to that shared Drive do not see your personal stars. This means you can customize your sidebar without affecting how your teammates organize their own views.

If you lose access to a shared Drive or a shared folder, it automatically disappears from your starred list. You do not have to manually unstar it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I star individual files, or only folders?

You can star both files and folders. Right-click any file and select "Add star" to move it to your starred list. This works the same way as starring folders and is useful for documents you reference constantly.

Do starred folders show up in search results differently?

No. Starring a folder does not change how it appears in search results or affect Drive's search ranking. It only changes where the folder appears in your sidebar.

What happens to my starred folders if I change my Google account password?

Your starred folders stay starred. Changing your password does not affect your Drive organization or any of your starred items. They sync across all your devices as long as you stay signed into the same Google account.

Can I star a folder that someone else owns?

Yes. If someone has shared a folder with you, you can star it in your own Drive view. Your star does not affect the owner's view or anyone else's access to the folder.