Saving your resources to the cloud - here's how!

Saving your files to the cloud is essential for making sure you never lose important resources, such as the Drive Resources workbooks... However, many of you are still saving everything to your desktop, which could mean you will lose them if you have an issue with your laptop. This blog will show you how to add Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to your File Explorer, making it quick and easy to drag and drop files directly into the cloud.

Why Use the Cloud?

• You can access your files from any device with internet access.

• Your files are automatically backed up.

• You can easily share your files with colleagues.

You will be aware of File Explorer (the folder icon at the bottom of your screen), as this is where you access all your files, but did you know you can add Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to File Explorer? This means you can easily drag and drop downloaded files straight into whichever Drive your school uses. So, let’s get into how to do that!

Adding Google Drive to File Explorer

1. Click Google Drive for Desktop to download the file. It will appear in your Downloads folder with the Google symbol followed by ‘GoogleDriveSetup’.

2. Click on the downloaded file in your Downloads folder.

3. It will ask if you want to allow changes, and you need to click ‘Yes’, and then follow the on-screen instructions to install Google Drive for Desktop.

4. After installation, sign in with your Google account credentials.

5. During the setup, you'll be asked to choose folders on your computer to sync with Google Drive.

Accessing Google Drive in File Explorer

Once the setup is complete, Google Drive will appear in File Explorer on the left-hand side, usually under ‘This PC’:

The little arrow next to the Google symbol expands to show the folders within Google Drive, so you can easily drag and drop files into the folder you choose.

Adding OneDrive to File Explorer

If you’re using Windows 10 or 11, OneDrive should be installed on your computer. Check the bottom-right corner of your screen for the cloud icon (mine is grey). If it’s not there, search for OneDrive in the Start menu and open it. Mine takes me straight to the File Explorer, but you may need to sign in with your Microsoft account.

During the setup, you should be asked to select which folders you want to sync with OneDrive. However, you can also access that by right clicking on the cloud icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen and selecting ‘Settings’. From there, you should see the option to select ‘Account’ on the left, which will bring up ‘Choose folders’ in the centre of the screen.

Finding OneDrive in File Explorer

OneDrive will appear in File Explorer on the left side, just like Google Drive. It has a blue cloud icon. You can also find it by clicking on the cloud icon at the bottom of your screen and then selecting ‘Open folder’:

In File Explorer, you can now drag and drop files into OneDrive, and they will automatically sync to the cloud. Your IT people will love you!

Tips for Organising Your Files

Organise your files into folders within Google Drive or OneDrive to make them easier to find.

Name your files and folders clearly so you can locate them quickly.

By adding Google Drive and OneDrive to your File Explorer, managing and backing up your files becomes so easy. This will save you time, reduce the risk of losing precious resources, and make it easier to access your resources from anywhere. Give it a try and see how much easier it is to find that resource you were searching for!