You’ve received a link to a Google Drive folder – what’s next?
Here’s a simple choose-your-own-level outline.
Open a shared Google Drive folder
Start here: Click the folder link you were sent. It should open in your web browser.
If the folder opens
-
- Click a file or subfolder to view it.
- Use the Back button in the browser to return to the folder.
If Google asks you to sign in
-
- Sign in with the Google account the folder was shared with.
- Don’t have a Google account? Try opening the link anyway. If access is restricted, ask the sender to share it with your email address or adjust the link’s access settings. Some links can be opened without a Google account; others require one.
The Word document opened in Google Docs—how do I open it in Word?
When you click a Word document in Google Drive, it may open in your web browser using Google Docs. That doesn’t necessarily mean the file has been changed or converted.
To open it in Microsoft Word on your computer
- In the Google Docs window, choose File → Download → Microsoft Word (.docx).
- When the download finishes, open the downloaded file. It should open in Word if Word is installed on your computer.
- If it opens in the browser instead, find the downloaded file—usually in your Downloads folder—and open it from there with Word.
Important: This downloads a separate copy to your computer. Changes you make to that downloaded copy won’t automatically update the file in Drive. To share your edited version, send it back to the folder owner or upload it to Drive.
If you only want to view it
You can just view it in Google Docs without installing anything.
More help: Download a Google Docs file · Work with Microsoft Office files in Google Drive Google
If you want the folder to appear on your computer
This is optional. You do not need to do this just to open the link and view files.
If you regularly work with shared Word documents, Google Drive for desktop can make Drive files accessible from Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder. Google
With the Google Drive folder available on your computer, Word files accessed through Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder will open in Word.
More help: Google Drive for desktop · Google’s setup instructions
If you can’t open the folder
Send the person who shared it a short message:
“I can’t open the folder link. Could you check that I have access, and let me know which email address or account I should use?”
For the person sharing the folder: Google Drive has an Anyone with the link option that can allow viewing without signing in, but a work or school account may restrict that option. Use it only if appropriate for the files. Google
