Open, relieve, or delete files

You can open and save many types of files on your Chromebook, like documents, PDFs, images, and media. Learn which types of files are supported on your Chromebook.

Your Chromebook'southward difficult drive has express infinite, so your Chromebook will sometimes delete downloaded files to free upwards space. Learn how to shop your downloads.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Detect and open a file

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Up arrow .
  2. Open Files .
  3. On the left, cull where your file is saved.
  4. Find your file and double-click information technology to open.

If yous're opening a file on an external storage device, remove the device safely when you lot're done past clicking Squirt .

Relieve a file

To salve the folio, image, or document you're viewing:

  1. Printing Ctrl + s.
  2. At the bottom, enter a name for your file.
  3. Optional: To the left of the file proper noun, change the file type.
  4. In the left cavalcade, choose where you'd similar to save your file, such equally Google Bulldozeand thenMy Drive.
  5. SelectRelieve.

Annotation: If you're using your Chromebook at school or work, you can save files in your Shared drives folder. Select Google Drive and then Shared drives.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Change where your files are saved

By default, your files are saved to your Downloads folder, a temporary folder on your Chromebook'due south difficult bulldoze. Yous can change where downloads are saved by default or select a specific folder for each download.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top correct, select MoreMoreand thenSettings.
  3. At the bottom, selectAdvanced.
  4. Nether "Downloads," change your download settings:
    • To alter the default folder:select Change, and choose where you want to save your files.
    • To choose a specific folder for each download: turn on Ask where to relieve each file earlier downloading.

Delete a file

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Upwards arrow .
  2. Open Files .
  3. Select the file or folder you want to delete.Note: Yous can delete files in the Downloads folder, only deleting a file from your Downloads folder is permanent.
  4. Select Delete and then Delete.

Note: Files in the Recent, Images, Videos, and Audio folders are viewable simply and tin can't exist deleted direct in those folders.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Nothing a file

To parcel files or folders together into a single file, you tin null them.

  1. In the corner of your screen, click the Launcher and then Upwardly pointer .
  2. Open Files .
  3. On the left, selectthe folder or files y'all want to zip.
  4. To select all the files yous'd similar to zip, press Ctrl and click each file one at a time.
  5. Optional: To put all of your files in a new folder, printing Ctrl + e.
  6. Right-click your selected files or folder, then click Zip pick.

Unzip a file

You can view each of the private files in your zip file.

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Upward arrow .
  2. Open up Files .
  3. Double-click the zipped file. On the left, y'all'll see the cypher file.
  4. To open an private file, double-click it.
  5. Optional: To remove the nil file from the list of folders on the left, click Eject .

Employ and pivot files to your shelf

Y'all can observe recent downloads, screenshots, and pinned files in the shelf container.

Open recent downloads & screenshots in your shelf

  1. At the bottom correct, select the shelf containerand then your file.

Hide the shelf preview:

  1. At the bottom right, next to the time, correct-click and select the shelf container.
  2. Select Hide preview.

Tip: Your recent downloads and screenshots are temporary. To make them permanent, you can pivot files to your shelf.

Pin files to your shelf

Find a pinned file:

  1. At the bottom correct, select the shelf container.
  2. Correct-click your file.
  3. Select Evidence in folder.

Insert pinned files into documents

You can add images or screenshots to your documents from your shelf.

Drag images or screenshots:

  1. At the bottom correct, select the shelf container.
  2. Select images or screenshots.
  3. Drag them into your document.

Re-create & paste images or screenshots:

  1. At the bottom correct, select the shelf container.
  2. Right-click your images or screenshots.
  3. Select Copy image.
  4. In your document, right-click anywhere.
  5. Select Paste.

Prepare problems opening files

"Unknown file type"

  • Check if your Chromebook supports this file type. Learn which file types are supported.
  • Try saving the file to Google Drive, so opening information technology in your browser.

"Google Drive tin't be reached at this time"

"Distressing, your external storage device is non supported at this time"

"Sorry, your device was not recognized" or "Sorry, at to the lowest degree one partition on your device could not be mounted"

Let your apps access external drives

Yous tin allow apps from Google Play to read and write files on external storage devices. Files and folders created on the device are visible to anyone who uses the external bulldoze.

  1. At the bottom right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. Select Storage direction and then External storage preference.
  4. Plow storage device on or off to allow access.

Do more with your files

  • Share your Google Drive files with others
  • Open up and edit photos
  • Play music files and videos

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