Moving, copying, and deleting files and folders – File Organization and Management – Google Drive

Here’s a guide on moving, copying, and deleting files and folders in Google Drive:

Moving Files and Folders:

1. Open Google Drive in your web browser and sign in to your Google account.
2. Locate the file or folder you want to move.
3. Select the file or folder by clicking the checkbox next to its name.
4. Once selected, click on the “Move” button in the toolbar at the top or right-click and select “Move to.”
5. In the “Move” dialog box, choose the destination folder where you want to move the file or folder.
6. Click “Move” to complete the move operation. The file or folder will be relocated to the selected destination.

Copying Files and Folders:

1. Open Google Drive in your web browser and sign in to your Google account.
2. Locate the file or folder you want to copy.
3. Select the file or folder by clicking the checkbox next to its name.
4. Once selected, click on the “More actions” button (three vertical dots) in the toolbar at the top or right-click and select “Make a copy.”
5. A copy of the file or folder will be created in the same location with the name “Copy of [original file/folder name].”
6. To move the copied file or folder to a different location, follow the steps for moving files and folders mentioned above.

Deleting Files and Folders:

1. Open Google Drive in your web browser and sign in to your Google account.
2. Locate the file or folder you want to delete.
3. Select the file or folder by clicking the checkbox next to its name.
4. Once selected, click on the “Trash” button in the toolbar at the top or right-click and select “Move to trash.”
5. The file or folder will be moved to the “Trash” section on the left-hand side of the Google Drive interface.
6. To permanently delete the file or folder, open the “Trash” section, select the item, and click on the “Delete forever” button. Be cautious, as deleted files cannot be recovered.

Note: Moving or deleting a folder will also move or delete its contents, including files and subfolders.

Here is some additional information on moving, copying, and deleting files and folders in Google Drive:

1. Moving Files and Folders:
   • When you move a file or folder in Google Drive, it is transferred from its original location to the new destination while preserving all its properties, permissions, and sharing settings.
   • You can move files and folders within your own Google Drive or across different folders and shared drives.
   • If you move a file or folder to a shared drive, it will become accessible to the members of that shared drive.
2. Copying Files and Folders:
   • When you make a copy of a file or folder in Google Drive, a duplicate version is created, allowing you to have multiple instances of the same file or folder in different locations.
   • The copied file or folder retains the original file name with “Copy of” added to it.
   • You can copy files and folders within your own Google Drive or across different folders and shared drives.
   • Copies of files and folders have independent properties, permissions, and sharing settings from the original items.
3. Deleting Files and Folders:
   • When you delete a file or folder in Google Drive, it is moved to the “Trash” section where it remains for 30 days by default.
   • Deleted files and folders still consume storage space during this period.
   • To recover a deleted file or folder within the 30-day window, go to the “Trash” section, select the item, right-click, and choose “Restore” or click on the “Restore” button in the toolbar.
   • After 30 days, files and folders are automatically permanently deleted from the “Trash” and cannot be recovered.
   • To free up storage space, you can manually empty the “Trash” by selecting the items and clicking on the “Trash” icon or “Delete forever” button.
4. Moving and Copying Files/Folders via Drag and Drop:
   • An alternative method to move or copy files and folders in Google Drive is by using the drag-and-drop functionality.
   • Select the file or folder you want to move or copy and drag it to the desired destination folder within the Google Drive interface.
   • As you drag the item, you’ll see a visual indication of whether it will be moved or copied based on the cursor icon.
   • Release the mouse button to complete the move or copy operation.
5. Keyboard Shortcuts:
   • Google Drive supports keyboard shortcuts that can expedite moving, copying, and deleting files and folders.
   • To access the list of available keyboard shortcuts, press “?” while in Google Drive or click on the “Settings” (gear) icon and select “Keyboard shortcuts.”
   • Learn and utilize the relevant keyboard shortcuts for moving, copying, and deleting files and folders to streamline your workflow.
6. Notifications and Collaborative Considerations:
   • When you move or delete a shared file or folder in Google Drive, it may affect other collaborators’ access and visibility.
   • Collaborators may receive notifications about the file or folder being moved or deleted, depending on their notification settings.
   • Before moving or deleting shared files or folders, it’s recommended to communicate with collaborators and consider the impact on their access and work.

By utilizing these features in Google Drive, you can easily organize and manage your files and folders by moving, copying, and deleting them as needed.