How to Upload Files in Google Drive Using Phone

How to Upload Files in Google Drive Using Phone (Full 2025 Guide)

We’ll cover step-by-step instructions for Android and iPhone, explain how to upload multiple files, photos, and even entire folders, plus share pro tips to make the process faster.

 Why Upload Files to Google Drive From Your Phone?

Uploading to Google Drive from your phone is useful when:

• Your phone storage is full, and you need cloud backup.

• You want to share files with friends, coworkers, or clients quickly.

• You need access to documents across multiple devices (phone, tablet, laptop).

• You want to keep photos and videos safe, even if you lose your phone.

Step-by-Step Guide for Android Users

Follow these steps to upload files from an Android phone or tablet:

1. Install Google Drive (if not already installed)

   • Go to the Google Play Store and download Google Drive.

2. Open the Google Drive App

   • Log in with your Google Account.

3. Tap the “+” Button

   • Bottom-right corner → Upload.

4. Choose Your File(s)

   • Browse your phone’s internal storage, Downloads, Photos, or Documents.

   • Tap one or multiple files you want to upload.

5. Wait for the Upload to Finish

   • You’ll see a progress bar. When done, files will appear in My Drive.

Step-by-Step Guide for iPhone / iPad Users

Uploading files from an iPhone or iPad is very similar:

1. Download the Google Drive app from the App Store.

2. Sign in with your Google account.

3. Tap the "+" icon → select Upload → choose Browse.

4. Navigate through the Files app, select your document, image, or video.

5. Your upload begins instantly. Once complete, your files will sync to Google Drive.

 How to Upload Folders to Google Drive on Mobile

Google Drive now supports folder uploads on mobile:

1. Tap the "+" icon → select Folder → give it a name.

2. Open the folder → tap Upload → select multiple files.

3. All selected files will be uploaded to that folder.

This is perfect for organizing photos, documents, or work projects.

How to Upload Photos & Videos Automatically

You can set up Google Photos to back up your photos/videos automatically:

• Open the Google Photos app.

• Go to Settings → Backup & sync → Turn ON.

• Choose backup quality (Storage saver or Original quality).

• Your photos/videos will sync to Google Drive (or Google Photos library).

Tips to Upload Faster

• ✅ Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data (saves data & faster upload).

• ✅ Compress large files before uploading (ZIP or RAR format).

• ✅ Close unused apps to improve upload speed.

• ✅ Make sure you have enough Google Drive storage (free 15GB limit, upgrade if needed).

How to Share Files After Upload

Once uploaded, you can share Google Drive files directly from your phone:

1. Open the file in Google Drive.

2. Tap Share (icon with a person + plus sign).

3. Add email addresses or copy the share link.

4. Choose permissions (Viewer, Commenter, Editor).

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Uploading files to Google Drive from your phone is super easy — whether you use Android or iPhone. Follow the steps above to keep your documents, photos, and videos safe in the cloud and access them anytime, anywhere.

Pro Tip: Bookmark this guide so you can quickly refer to it next time you need to upload files.