20 tips to get the most out of Google Drive, Docs, Slides, and Sheets

Unlock the Power of Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides: 20 Pro Tips!

(This article was originally published on May 9, 2017 and has been updated.)

Google Drive has revolutionized how we work with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. But are you using its full potential? This guide reveals powerful, often overlooked features to boost your productivity.

Mastering Google Drive: 8 Essential Tips

1. Offline Access: Work seamlessly even without internet. Enable offline mode in Google Drive's settings (cog icon > Settings > check "Offline").

2. Format Painter: Effortlessly copy formatting. Select text, click the paint roller icon, and then select the text you want to reformat.

3. Image and PDF Search: Google Drive indexes text within images and PDFs, making them searchable. (Note: Handwritten text may not be reliably searchable.)

4. Cross-Computer Sync: Use the Google Drive desktop client (Windows/macOS) to sync files between computers. Files placed in the Google Drive folder automatically upload and sync. (Remember storage limits!)

5. Tagging Collaborators: Quickly notify collaborators in comments using "@" or " " followed by their name.

6. Version History: Easily revert to previous versions. Access version history via File > Version history. You can also use the "Last edits" link.

7. Identify Large Files: Check your storage usage and identify your largest files by clicking the storage quota box on the left of the Google Drive screen.

8. Stream Videos: Stream MP4 videos directly from Google Drive without extra software.

Google Docs: 4 Advanced Techniques

9. Internal Linking: Link to other Google Docs within your document. Use the link icon on the toolbar and search for the file.

10. Custom Fonts: Enhance your documents with Google Fonts. Access them via the font dropdown menu > More fonts.

11. Voice Typing: Dictate your documents. Go to Tools > Voice typing and use the microphone.

12. Custom Dictionary: Add frequently used words to your personal dictionary to avoid misspellings. Right-click on a misspelled word and choose "Add [WORD] to dictionary."

Google Sheets: 4 Productivity Boosters

13. Series Fill: Quickly fill cells with series (numbers, days, etc.). Highlight the starting cells, click the bottom-right handle (plus sign), and drag.

14. Instant Calculations: View sum, average, min, and max of selected cells in the bottom-right summary box.

15. Template Power: Start projects with pre-built templates. Find them on the Google Sheets homepage.

16. Image Insertion: Add images directly into cells using =IMAGE(URL) or insert them as floating objects via Insert > Image.

Google Slides: 4 Presentation Hacks

17. Bulk Editing: Make consistent changes across multiple slides using the master slide (Slide > Edit theme).

18. Color-Matched Images: Find images that match your presentation's color scheme using the "Search the web" option in the image insertion menu.

19. Chromecast Streaming: Stream presentations to a Chromecast or AirPlay receiver via the Slideshow menu > Present on another screen.

20. Online Embedding: Embed presentations on websites. Use File > Publish to the web to get a public URL or embed code. Customize settings for autoplay and loop.

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