Open, save or delete files

You can open and save many types of files on your Chromebook, such as documents, PDFs, images and media. Learn which types of files are supported on your Chromebook.

Your Chromebook's hard drive has limited space, so your Chromebook will sometimes delete downloaded files to free up space. Learn how to store your downloads.

Tip: Some folders are read only. You can't delete or rename them from the Files app.

Find and open a file

  1. Open Files .
  2. On the left, choose where your file is saved.
    • For files that you’ve just used, select Recent.
    • For a list of recent files by type, use the button to select that file type.
    • For Android app files, select My files and then Play files. To show more folders, at the top right, select More and then Show all Play folders.
    • For files in your cloud, select the folder, such as Google Drive. You can also add another cloud file system.
  3. Find your file and double-click it to open.

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

Tip: In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and enter the name of the file that you want.

Save a file

To save the page, image or document that you're on:

  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 type.
  4. In the left column, choose where you'd like to save your file, such as Google Drive and then My Drive.
  5. Select Save.

Note: If you’re using your Chromebook at school or work, you can save files in your shared drives folder. Select Google Drive and then Shared drives.

Rename a file

You can rename files, folders or external devices.

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
  2. Open Files .
  3. Select the file or folder name.
  4. Press Ctrl + Enter.
  5. Type in a new name, then press Enter.
Add another cloud file system
  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
  2. Open Files .
  3. At the top right, select More .
  4. Select Add new service and then SMB Shares.
  5. A window will open. Select Add File Share. Fill in your info.
  6. Select Add.

Note: Your Chromebook supports third-party file systems that use DocumentsProvider APIs. If you download one of these Android file apps from the Play Store, it will appear on the left-hand side of your Files .

To connect to other cloud file systems:

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
  2. Open Files .
  3. At the top right, select More .
  4. Select Install new service.
  5. To install a new cloud file system, choose a system and follow the on-screen steps.
Change where your files are saved

By default, your files are saved to your Downloads folder, a temporary folder on your Chromebook's hard drive. You can change where downloads are saved by default or select a specific folder for each download.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More More and then Settings.
  3. At the bottom, select Advanced.
  4. Under 'Downloads', change your download settings:
    • To change the default folder: select Change, and choose where you want to save your files.
    • To choose a specific folder for each download: turn on Ask where to save each file before downloading.

Delete a file

Important: Most files are sent directly to Bin. For files that aren't sent to Bin, you must confirm that you want to permanently delete them.

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
  2. Open Files .
  3. Select the file or folder that you want to delete.
  4. Select Bin.

Tip: Files are permanently deleted from Bin after 30 days.

To restore a file that you sent to Bin:

  1. On your Chromebook, open Files .
  2. On the left, select Bin .
  3. Select the file that you want to restore and then Restore from Bin.

Zip a file

To bundle files or folders together into a single file, you can zip them.

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

Unzip a file

You can check each of the individual files in your ZIP file.

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
  2. Open Files .
  3. Double-click the zipped file. On the left, you’ll find 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 .

Tip: To unzip a group of zipped files in a single folder, right-click the folder and select Extract all.

Use and pin files to your shelf

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

Open recent downloads and screenshots in your shelf
  1. At the bottom right, select the shelf container and then your file.

Hide the shelf preview:

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

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

Pin files to your shelf
  1. At the bottom left, select the Launcher .
  2. Open Files .
  3. On the left, select the folder that contains the file that you want to pin.
  4. Right-click the file.
  5. Select Pin to shelf.
  6. To unpin files, right-click the file.
    1. Select Unpin from shelf.

Find a pinned file:

  1. At the bottom right, select the shelf container.
  2. Right-click your file.
  3. Select Show 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 bottom right, select the shelf container.
  2. Select images or screenshots.
  3. Drag them into your document.

Copy and 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 when opening files

'Unknown file type'
'Google Drive can’t be reached at this time'

Make sure that your Chromebook is connected to the Internet. Learn how to connect to Wi-Fi or fix problems connecting to Wi-Fi.

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

You can also use Google Drive to check the files on your storage device:

  1. Plug your storage device into another computer.
  2. Open Google Drive. If you haven't signed in, make sure to sign in using the same Google Account that you have on your Chromebook.
  3. Upload the files from the device. Find out how to upload files to Google Drive.
  4. Open your Chromebook and sign in.
  5. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
  6. Open Google Drive.
'Sorry, your device was not recognised' or 'Sorry, at least one partition on your device could not be mounted'

You'll need to reformat your external storage device:

  1. Back up your files somewhere else before erasing. The following steps will erase all files on the storage device.
  2. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
  3. Open Files .
  4. On the left, right-click the storage device.
  5. Select Format device.
Let your apps access external drives

You can allow 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 time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. Select Storage management and then External storage preference.
  4. Turn storage device on or off to allow access.

Do more with your files

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