This article explains the easiest, IT approved ways to save work files to Google Drive so they’re secure, backed up, and accessible from any device.

Option A — Save via the web (quick upload)

Use this when you’re on a shared or temporary device.

1. Go to drive.google.com and sign in with your work account.

2. In the left pane, choose My Drive (for personal work files) or Shared drives (team‑owned content).

3. Navigate to or create the folder you want.

4. Click New → File upload (or Folder upload), then pick items from your computer.
   You can also drag and drop files/folders into the browser window.

5. Wait for the upload status to complete; you’ll see the items appear in the folder.

Option B — Save using Drive for desktop (best for daily work)

Sync keeps a local view of your Drive that updates automatically.

Set up Drive for desktop (first time only)

1. Open Google Drive for desktop:

   • Windows: Start → Google Drive.

   • Mac: Spotlight (⌘+Space) → Google Drive.

2. Sign in with your work Google account.

3. Choose a sync mode:

   • Stream files (recommended): Files appear on your computer and download when opened (saves disk space).

   • Mirror files: Keep local copies of all files for full offline access (uses more disk space).

4. Finish setup. You’ll see Google Drive in Finder/File Explorer.

Option C — Save directly from Google Docs/Sheets/Slides (Auto‑save)

1. In Drive, click New → Google Docs/Sheets/Slides (or open an existing file).

2. Google files auto‑save as you type. Click the folder name at the top to Move into the right My Drive or Shared drive folder.

3. To convert an uploaded Office file for real‑time collaboration, open it in Drive → Open with Google Docs/Sheets/Slides → File → Save as Google Docs/Sheets/Slides.