All articles tagged with #google drive
Anthropic says Claude Cowork access is now available on mobile and web for all paid accounts, and Google Workspace connectors for Claude can now send Gmail messages and manage Google Drive files.
Starting Aug 10, 2026, Google Photos will stop backing up via Google Drive. New content added to Drive folders will not be backed up to Photos after that date, though existing photos stay safely stored. Backups must be performed directly through photos.google.com (using 'Back up folders') or via the Photos web app, which can run in the background, with the page/app kept open (or set to launch at startup) to continue automatic syncing.
From August 10, 2026, Drive for desktop will stop backing up photos to Google Photos. Google Photos itself remains active, and the backup process will move to Google Photos directly. If you used Drive for desktop to auto-back up computer folders, switch to backing up those folders in Google Photos (via the website or mobile/web app), then verify the backups. Casual users who back up only from mobile aren’t affected; those with large photo libraries should plan the transition and maintain an extra backup elsewhere.
Google rebrands NotebookLM as Gemini Notebook, adding Drive auto-sync and multi-format exports for Ultra/Pro users, while OpenAI launches Codex Micro hardware and the AI market intensifies in the OpenAI vs. Anthropic “Token Wars.”
ZDNET tester assesses Google's Organize My Files, powered by Gemini AI, which suggests moves and new folders to tidy Drive. It can surface useful reorganizations (like resumes and a new Family/Real Estate folder), but the tool feels unfinished: suggestions can repeat, it misses deeper cleanup, and it requires Google Workspace and AI access. As a result, the reviewer still faces a messy Drive and ongoing subscription costs, though the feature shows potential for future improvements.
Google Drive’s Organize My Files feature uses AI to suggest moving scattered files into existing or new folders. Users can review, tweak destinations, and click “Move files” to auto-organize. The tool is being rolled out more broadly to Workspace accounts and users on Google’s AI plans, with global English availability.
Google Workspace launches 'Suggest File Moves' in Drive, powered by Gemini, which analyzes your files to propose moves into existing folders or new ones. Users review and approve changes in an interactive dashboard before anything is moved. The rollout is global in English across major plans, with a promo lifting usage caps through July 15, 2026; after that, per-user daily limits apply.
Google Drive gains a major scanner overhaul powered by on-device AI, introducing Smart Batch Scanning for multi-page capture, Auto-Best Frame to replace blurry shots, and Duplicate Detection, all running offline via Google Play services; the refreshed Material 3 UI and improved privacy focus aim to streamline mobile scanning from Drive and Files by Google, though features currently require devices with at least 8GB RAM.
Google is reportedly redesigning Workspace app icons—including Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and more—with a gradient style and color-shift away from the four-brand palette, giving a fresher look that hints at deeper AI integration; rollout hasn’t begun yet.
Warp is a beta cross‑platform file-sharing setup that pairs an Android app with a Chrome extension to transfer images, videos, documents, or text from Android to a Mac, Windows, or Linux PC. It uploads content to Google Drive and keeps only the latest 10 files, requiring Google account linking. While convenient for quick transfers and multi‑device use, large transfers (like a 2 GB video) can be slow compared with direct device‑to‑device transfers.
Google Play Services v26.06 adds a new Local File Backup feature that automatically saves downloaded documents to Google Drive, keeping them accessible across devices. Details on how to enable/disable and exact behavior are not yet clear, and this feature appears separate from device-to-device or factory-reset backups.
Google Labs has introduced an experimental AI agent called 'CC' that connects to Gmail, Calendar, and Drive to generate daily summaries and assist with tasks, available in early access for US and Canada users with a waitlist for prioritized subscribers.
Google experienced a significant outage affecting Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Docs, and other Workspace services, with thousands reporting problems accessing files and services, prompting an investigation and temporary workarounds.
Google Drive now offers Audio Overviews for PDFs, allowing users to listen to 2-10 minute summaries generated by Gemini technology, enhancing accessibility and efficiency, initially available in English for certain Google Workspace tiers and subscribers.
Google's Gemini Deep Research tool can now access users' Gmail, Drive, and Chat data to enhance research responses, raising privacy concerns despite Google's assurances that data used for training AI is not derived from connected apps. The system employs multi-step research plans and is comparable to offerings from OpenAI and others, but users are cautioned to avoid sharing confidential information and not to rely on it for professional advice.