Open, salvage, or delete files

You tin can open and relieve many types of files on your Chromebook, like documents, PDFs, images, and media. Learn which types of files are supported on your Chromebook.

Your Chromebook's hard bulldoze has express space, and so your Chromebook volition sometimes delete downloaded files to free up infinite. Larn how to store your downloads.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Discover and open a file

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Up arrow .
  2. Open Files .
  3. On the left, choose where your file is saved.
  4. Find your file and double-click information technology to open up.

If you're opening a file on an external storage device, remove the device safely when you're done by clicking Eject .

Save a file

To salve the page, image, or document you're viewing:

  1. Press Ctrl + s.
  2. At the bottom, enter a name for your file.
  3. Optional: To the left of the file name, change the file blazon.
  4. In the left column, choose where you'd like to save your file, such every bit Google Bulldozeand thenMy Drive.
  5. SelectRelieve.

Annotation: If you're using your Chromebook at schoolhouse or work, you lot can save files in your Shared drives binder. Select Google Drive and then Shared drives.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Change where your files are saved

Past default, your files are saved to your Downloads folder, a temporary binder on your Chromebook'southward hard drive. You tin change where downloads are saved past default or select a specific folder for each download.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the height correct, select MoreMoreand thenSettings.
  3. At the lesser, selectAdvanced.
  4. Under "Downloads," change your download settings:
    • To change the default folder:select Modify, and choose where y'all want to save your files.
    • To choose a specific binder for each download: plough on Ask where to salvage each file earlier downloading.

Delete a file

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Upwards pointer .
  2. Open up Files .
  3. Select the file or folder you want to delete.Note: You can delete files in the Downloads binder, just deleting a file from your Downloads binder is permanent.
  4. Select Delete and then Delete.

Note: Files in the Recent, Images, Videos, and Audio folders are viewable but and can't be deleted directly in those folders.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Cypher a file

To bundle files or folders together into a unmarried file, you lot can cypher them.

  1. In the corner of your screen, click the Launcher and then Up arrow .
  2. Open up Files .
  3. On the left, selectthe folder or files you want to zip.
  4. To select all the files you'd like to naught, press Ctrl and click each file one at a time.
  5. Optional: To put all of your files in a new binder, press Ctrl + e.
  6. Right-click your selected files or folder, then click Zip selection.

Unzip a file

Y'all tin view each of the private files in your nada file.

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Up pointer .
  2. Open up Files .
  3. Double-click the zipped file. On the left, you lot'll see the zip file.
  4. To open an individual file, double-click it.
  5. Optional: To remove the zip file from the list of folders on the left, click Eject .

Apply and pin files to your shelf

You can find recent downloads, screenshots, and pinned files in the shelf container.

Open recent downloads & screenshots in your shelf

  1. At the lesser right, select the shelf containerand then your file.

Hide the shelf preview:

  1. At the lesser right, next to the time, right-click and select the shelf container.
  2. Select Hide preview.

Tip: Your contempo downloads and screenshots are temporary. To make them permanent, you can pivot files to your shelf.

Pin files to your shelf

Observe a pinned file:

  1. At the lesser right, select the shelf container.
  2. Right-click your file.
  3. Select Prove in folder.

Insert pinned files into documents

You can add images or screenshots to your documents from your shelf.

Drag images or screenshots:

  1. At the lesser right, select the shelf container.
  2. Select images or screenshots.
  3. Drag them into your document.

Re-create & paste images or screenshots:

  1. At the bottom right, select the shelf container.
  2. Right-click your images or screenshots.
  3. Select Copy image.
  4. In your document, right-click anywhere.
  5. Select Paste.

Fix problems opening files

"Unknown file type"

  • Check if your Chromebook supports this file type. Learn which file types are supported.
  • Endeavour saving the file to Google Drive, then opening it in your browser.

"Google Drive tin can't be reached at this fourth dimension"

"Sorry, your external storage device is not supported at this time"

"Sorry, your device was not recognized" or "Sorry, at least one partition on your device could not be mounted"

Let your apps access external drives

You tin can permit apps from Google Play to read and write files on external storage devices. Files and folders created on the device are visible to anyone who uses the external drive.

  1. At the bottom right, select the fourth dimension.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. Select Storage management and then External storage preference.
  4. Plough storage device on or off to allow access.

Do more with your files

  • Share your Google Bulldoze files with others
  • Open and edit photos
  • Play music files and videos

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