This article will show you how to email a file stored in your Google Drive. This can be done on a mobile device and a computer.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: On a mobile device
Step 1. Launch the Google Drive app
Click the green-yellow-blue triangle icon on a white background. If you're already signed in to your account, the Google Drive home page will open.
If you are not logged in yet, enter your email address and password
Step 2. Select the file
Press and hold the desired file until a check mark appears next to it. If the file is in a folder, first click on the folder to open it.
On Android, selecting a file will open a menu
Step 3. Push ⋯
This icon is at the bottom of the screen. A menu will open.
Step 4. Tap Add People
It's at the top of the menu. A new window will open.
Step 5. Enter your email address
Do this in the People box at the top of the screen.
As you enter your email address, the corresponding contact will be displayed at the bottom (if you have one in your Google Contacts). Tap a contact to automatically enter an email address
Step 6. Select a sharing level
Tap the pencil icon
, and then select one of the following options:
- Editing (iPhone) or Allow Editing (Android) - Allow recipients to make changes to the file.
- Commenting (iPhone) or Allow commenting (Android) - Allow recipients to view and leave comments. Not available for photos, videos, or PDFs.
- View (iPhone) or Allow viewing (Android) - Allow recipients to view but not change the contents of the file.
Step 7. Tap "Submit"
It's a paper airplane-shaped icon at the top right of the screen. The file with the specified permissions will be sent to the recipient.
Before sending the file, you can enter your comment in the Comments field to notify the recipient (for example, about the contents of the file)
Method 2 of 2: On the computer
Step 1. Open the Google Drive website
Go to https://www.drive.google.com/ in your web browser. If you're already signed in to your account, the Google Drive home page will open.
- If you're not signed in yet, click Go to Google Drive, and then enter your email address and password.
- To change your account, click on your profile picture (or letter) in the upper right corner of the page, and then click on the account you want.
Step 2. Click on the desired file to select it
If the file is in a folder, first double-click the folder to open it.
If you open a photo or video, it will open in the same window
Step 3. Click on the Share icon
It looks like a silhouette of a person with a "+" symbol and is located in the upper right corner of the Google Drive page. A new window will open.
Step 4. Enter the email address of the recipient of the file
Do this in the Enter Names or Email Addresses field.
If the recipient is in your Google Contacts, the corresponding contact is displayed at the bottom as you enter the email address. Tap it to automatically enter your email address
Step 5. Select a sharing level
Tap the pencil icon
, and then select one of the following options:
- Editing - Allow recipients to make changes to the file.
- Commenting - Allow recipients to leave comments, but not change the file.
- View - Allow recipients to view, but not change the contents of the file and not leave comments.
Step 6. Click Submit
It's a button in the lower left corner of the window. The file with the specified permissions will be sent to the recipient.