Adding a File to Multiple Google Drive Folders: A Simple Guide

Hey there! Today, let’s dive into the world of Google Drive and discover a nifty trick on how to add a file to multiple folders. It’s a process that might seem puzzling at first, but fear not, because I’m here to guide you through it step by step.

So, you’re probably wondering, why would I even want to add a file to multiple folders? Well, let me explain. Sometimes, you have a document or a photo that belongs to more than one category or project. Instead of making copies and cluttering up your drive, you can simply add it to different folders. It’s like having a superpower to organize your files!

Now, let’s get down to business. Here’s how you can achieve this feat:

Step 1: Sign in to your Google Drive account. If you don’t have one yet, don’t worry, it’s free and easy to create.

Step 2: Locate the file you want to add to multiple folders. It could be a Word document, a presentation, or even a picture of your fluffy pet.

Step 3: Right-click the file and select “Add to My Drive” to bring up a drop-down menu. From there, choose “Move” to move the file to a new folder.

Step 4: A window will appear showing all your folders. Select the folder where you want to place the file and click “Move”. Simple as that!

Step 5: Now, here comes the magic part. To add the same file to another folder, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting the file. Then, right-click and choose “Move”.

Step 6: Just like before, the window with your folders will pop up. Select the second folder and hit “Move”. Voila! You’ve successfully added the file to multiple locations.

Remember, you can repeat this process to add the file to as many folders as you need. It’s like creating countless shortcuts to access your file from different paths, without any complicated duplication.

That’s it, my friend! You’re now a master of adding files to multiple Google Drive folders. Enjoy the power of organization and never let your files get lost in the digital abyss again. Happy organizing!

Google Drive has undergone numerous updates in recent years, which can be confusing for its users, especially when it comes to moving files.

Previously, you could add a file to multiple folders by holding the ‘Ctrl’ key, but now that’s no longer possible. However, the feature still exists, albeit with a slight difference in the process.

Adding a file to multiple folders in Google Drive is simple, and there are a few different methods you can use. Let me explain them all to you in this article.

Method 1: Use the ‘Shift + Z’ Hotkey

If you have a functional keyboard, using the ‘Shift + Z’ hotkey is the easiest way to place a file in different folders. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to your Google Drive.
2. Find the file you want to move.
3. Hold the ‘Shift’ and ‘Z’ buttons simultaneously.
4. A new window will appear with a list of possible destinations.
5. Choose ‘My Drive’.
6. Select the folder where you want to move the file.
7. Click ‘Add Shortcut’ and the file will be moved to the chosen folder.

After doing this, you’ll see that the file isn’t entirely moved. Instead, a new copy or shortcut is created and saved in the designated folder.

Now you have two copies of the file: one in your Google Drive menu and one in the destination folder. You can repeat this process for each folder where you want to move the file, so that you have a copy of the same file in all the chosen folders.

To check the location of the original file, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the created shortcut file.
• From the menu, select “Show file location”.
• This will take you to where the original file is located.

You can also delete the shortcut copies to get rid of unnecessary duplicates of your files. However, be careful not to delete the original file unintentionally. You can differentiate them by looking at the file icon – the shortcut copy will have a small curved arrow symbol indicating that it’s a shortcut.

Method 2: Drag-and-Drop

If you don’t want to use the hotkey, you can also move files using the drag-and-drop method. Simply hold the ‘Ctrl’ button while doing this. If you’ve done it before, the method hasn’t changed. If you haven’t, here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open your Google Drive.
2. Make sure you can see both “Folders” and “Files” in the menu.
3. Select the file you want to add to multiple folders.
4. Hold the ‘Ctrl’ button and drag the file from the menu to the desired folder.
5. This will create an additional copy of the file in the destination folder.

You can check the original location of the file using the same method as in the previous one.

Method 3: Using ‘Make a Copy’

Both of the methods mentioned above create temporary copies. If you delete the original file, you’ll delete all the copies, unless you only delete the shortcut copy.

If you want to make a permanent copy of a file, you can use the ‘Make a Copy’ option. This way, even if you move this copy to another folder and then delete the original, it will remain intact. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to your Google Drive.
2. Select a file.
3. Right-click on it.
4. Click ‘Make a Copy’. This will create a copy of the file named ‘Copy of [File Name]’.

You can move this copy to any folder by clicking on it and dragging it to the desired location. Alternatively, you can right-click on the file and choose the ‘Move to…’ option. It has an icon of a folder with an arrow pointing to the right. This way, you can add multiple permanent copies of a file to different folders.

The good news is that these files are separate from each other, so if you delete one, you won’t lose all of them. However, there are some downsides. They take up a lot of space and it’s not as easy to keep track of them compared to other methods.

It’s important to pay attention to the size of the file you want to copy because larger files can use up a significant amount of extra storage space.

Be Smart When Moving

When you move files, be careful about where you move them and which folders you choose. If you accidentally move a private file into a public folder, other people may be able to see, share, and download it. Always double-check the location of each file you move to ensure they’re in the right place.