You have a video on your phone or computer, and you need it in the right Google Drive folder. Here’s how to upload it from your device, add it to a shared folder, and get a stalled transfer moving.
Upload a video from your computer
Start at drive.google.com and sign in. The website works on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux.
Open the folder where you want the video to go.
Click New > File Upload and select your video. You can select multiple files to upload them together.
For a whole folder of videos, choose New > Folder Upload and select the local folder. Dragging video files or folders directly into the destination folder open in Drive works too.
On Android, use the Drive app
Upload from your Android phone or tablet in four steps:
- 1.Open Google Drive.
- 2.Tap New > Upload.
- 3.Find and select the video files you want to upload.
- 4.Look for the uploaded videos in My Drive, where they appear until you move them.
Send videos from an iPhone or iPad
For videos on your iPhone or iPad, use the Google Drive app. You can choose the destination folder before starting the upload.
Open Google Drive.
Tap Add > File upload. The upload command also appears as Upload file.
Select the videos you want to upload.
Tap Location to choose their destination.
To rename a file, edit File Name.
Tap Upload to start. The final confirmation also appears as Upload file.
Upload through a desktop folder
Prefer working in File Explorer or Finder? Install Drive for desktop on a supported Windows PC or Mac and sign in.
Open the Google Drive location in File Explorer or Finder. Open your intended folder under My Drive.
Copy or drag the video into that folder and let syncing finish. This works with both streamed and mirrored files.
On a Chromebook, open Launcher > Files > Downloads. Drag the video into My Drive.
Add a video to someone else’s shared folder
To upload into another person’s folder, start with the right access:
- 1.Ask the folder owner to give you Editor access. Viewer and Commenter access do not let you add files.
- 2.Open the shared folder at drive.google.com.
- 3.Click New > File Upload and select your video.
Get a stalled upload moving
Check your internet connection first.
Check your available Google account storage. The video must fit within that space, even when it is below Drive’s maximum file size.
On Android, Transfer files only over Wi-Fi restricts uploads to Wi-Fi. Open Drive’s Menu > Settings.
Under Data usage, turn off Transfer files only over Wi-Fi to allow cellular uploads.
On an iPhone or cellular-capable iPad, open system Settings > Cellular. Depending on your device or region, the section is named Cellular Data or Mobile Data.
Enable the switch for Drive to allow cellular uploads.
For paused computer uploads, open the Drive for desktop menu.
Select Settings > Resume syncing.
Seeing a processing message? Upload completion and playback processing are separate. You can watch a video you just uploaded right away in the same browser session, but it may still be processing before it plays on other devices or for the people you shared it with.
If the upload still fails, check for app updates. Then retry through another browser or the Drive app.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large can a video be when uploading to Google Drive?
Google Drive supports video files up to 5 TB. Your account also needs enough available storage to hold the file.
How do I transfer a video from Google Photos to Google Drive?
On a computer, open photos.google.com and select the video. Choose More > Download. At drive.google.com, open the destination folder and choose New > File Upload to upload the downloaded video. Automatic Google Photos-to-Drive syncing ended in July 2019.
Can I replace an existing video with an updated version?
Yes. On drive.google.com, select the existing video. Choose More > Manage versions > Upload new version, then select the replacement video. You need sufficient editing permission for the existing file.