The fastest way to upload from iPhone

Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone, tap the + button at the bottom right, then tap Upload. Choose Photos and videos, Files, or Scan depending on what you want to send. Select the item, and it uploads to your Drive when ready. The file appears in the "My Drive" folder unless you move it later.

If you do not have the Google Drive app installed, read it free from the App Store. The web version (drive.google.com in Safari) also works but is slower on iPhone and does not let you upload from your camera roll directly — you have to use the app for that.

Uploads happen in the background, so you can close the app or lock your phone and the file will still transfer. A small checkmark appears next to the file name once it is done. If your connection drops, Google Drive pauses and resumes when you reconnect.

Key Takeaways

  • The Google Drive app on iPhone uploads photos, videos, and files by tapping the + button and selecting Upload.
  • Files upload to "My Drive" by default, but you can move them to a folder or shared drive after upload.
  • Uploads continue in the background even if you close the app or lock your phone.
  • If you need to upload a file type the app does not recognize, use the web version at drive.google.com in Safari.

Uploading photos and videos from your camera roll

Tap the + button, then Upload, then Photos and videos. Your photo library opens. Tap any photo or video to select it — a blue checkmark appears. You can select multiple items by tapping each one. Tap Upload in the top right corner when you are done choosing.

Google Drive keeps the original file on your iPhone. The copy in Drive is separate, so deleting one does not delete the other. Videos take longer to upload than photos, especially over cellular data. If you are uploading a large video, use Wi-Fi when possible.

Uploading files from other apps

If you have a document, PDF, or spreadsheet in another app — Notes, Mail, Files, or a third-party app — open that app first. Look for a Share button (usually three dots or an arrow pointing out of a box). Tap it, then scroll down and tap Save to Files or Save to Google Drive if that option appears. If you see Save to Files, choose a location, then open Google Drive and move the file into Drive manually.

Some apps do not have a direct Google Drive option. In that case, save the file to your iPhone's Files app first, then open Google Drive, tap the + button, tap Upload, tap Files, and navigate to the file you just saved.

Uploading files using the Files app

Open the Files app on your iPhone. Navigate to the file you want to upload — it might be in iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or another location. Tap and hold the file until a menu appears. Tap Share, then scroll down and tap Save to Google Drive. If that option does not appear, tap More at the end of the row to see additional choices.

A window opens asking which folder in Google Drive you want to save to. Tap the folder, then tap Save. The file transfers when ready. You can also tap New Folder in this window to create a folder during upload.

Uploading by scanning documents with your iPhone camera

Open Google Drive, tap the + button, then tap Scan. Point your iPhone camera at the document. Google Drive automatically detects the edges and takes a photo when it has a clear view. Review the scan, then tap Save. The scanned image uploads as a PDF to your Drive.

You can scan multiple pages in one session. After the first page uploads, tap Scan another page to continue. This is useful for receipts, contracts, or handwritten notes you want to store in Drive.

Moving uploaded files into folders

After a file uploads, it lands in "My Drive" at the top level. To move it into a folder, tap and hold the file name until a menu appears. Tap Move, then select the folder you want. If the folder does not exist yet, tap Create new folder, name it, and move the file there.

You can also create a folder before uploading. Tap the + button, tap New folder, name it, then upload files into it by tapping the folder first, then the + button again.

Troubleshooting uploads that stall or fail

If an upload gets stuck, check your internet connection. Switch from cellular to Wi-Fi or vice versa — sometimes one is faster than the other. Open Google Drive again and look for the file. If it shows a small clock icon, it is still uploading. If it shows an exclamation mark, the upload failed.

Tap the file with the exclamation mark and tap Retry. If it fails again, the file might be too large, corrupted, or in a format Google Drive does not support. Try uploading a different file to confirm your connection works. If the problem persists, sign out of Google Drive (tap your profile picture, then Sign out), sign back in, and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload directly from email on my iPhone?

Yes. Open the email with the attachment, tap and hold the attachment, then tap Save to Files. Choose a location, then open Google Drive and move the file into Drive using the method described above. Some email apps have a direct "Save to Google Drive" option — check the share menu first.

What file types can I upload to Google Drive?

Google Drive accepts almost any file type: documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, images, videos, audio files, and compressed folders. The app may not display all types in preview, but they upload and store without issue. Very large files (over 5 GB) may take a long time or fail on cellular data.

Does uploading from iPhone use my iCloud storage or Google Drive storage?

Files upload to Google Drive storage, not iCloud. Your Google account comes with 15 GB free. Once you reach that limit, you must purchase more storage or delete files. Uploading does not affect your iPhone's storage — the original file stays on your phone.

Can I upload files to a shared folder or shared drive?

Yes. When you tap Move after uploading, you can select any folder you have permission to edit, including shared folders and shared drives. If you do not see the shared folder in the list, make sure you are signed into the correct Google account.

Why is my upload so slow on iPhone?

Cellular data is usually slower than Wi-Fi. If you are on cellular, switch to Wi-Fi if available. Large files and videos take longer regardless of connection. Background app refresh can also slow uploads — check Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure Google Drive is enabled.