How to Download Google Drive Files on iPad

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Google Drive is undoubtedly one of the best cloud drive applications available; however, using it on iPhones and iPads isn’t as easy as in Windows or Android. The Android ecosystem blends very well with Google Drive, as the same company makes both. Using Google Drive on an Android system feels intuitive.

However, when it comes to iPhones or iPads, the Apple ecosystem and the software make the usability of Google Drive unintuitive.  Not to say it is any less effective than on Android, just that you need to go through a few more hoops and hurdles to do what you need to get done.

So, to make things easier for all iOS users, we have created this guide to help you download Google Drive Files on your iPad. It does look easier to follow and will save you space on your drive. 

How to Download Google Drive Files on iPad

You can check out the process here to download Google Drive Files on iPad. Similar to what you have done on other systems, this too works pretty much similar.

This method applies to both iPhones and iPads, and you can copy the steps to whichever of the two devices you want. 

  • Unlock your iPad and check to see if you have the Google Drive app or not.  
  • If not, head over to the AppStore and install Google Drive. 
  • Enter your credentials to access the Drive. 
  • Once you’re logged in, you will see four tabs at the bottom of the screen. Click on the last one, which represents the folder icon. 
  • All the files in your Drive will show up here, like a root directory. 
  • To download a file, select it and press the icon with three dots next to it. 
  • Click on Open in from the menu that is displayed on the screen. Choose Save to files from the succeeding menu. 
  • You then need to choose the destination for this file. You can save the file on your iCloud or any other connected drives that you might have and also on your phone itself.  

As you can see, Google Drive retains all the functionality on iOS platforms as it has on Android systems; you just need to perform one or two extra steps. 

Read How to Transfer Files from Google Drive to iCloud

How to Use the Files App to Download Google Drive Files on iPad 

The stock file manager application on iPad and iPhones is a much smarter way to deal with files placed on cloud storage like Google Drive. It offers surprisingly good integration with Google Drive, which you might not have expected. Refer to the instructions provided below to see how to use it. 

  • Unlock your iPad and open the Files app.
  • Press the Browse tab twice to reach the root directory. 
  • Press the three-dot icon at the top right of the screen and select Edit. 
  • After that, all the Drives connected to the file manager will be displayed on the screen. 
  • Find Google Drive and click on the toggle beside it to switch it on and hit Done. 
  • Once you’ve done that, click on the Google Drive option again to open it and select the folders you want to download. 
  • Select as many files or folders you want, click the icon next to the delete button at the bottom of the screen, and hit Copy. 
  • Now go back and navigate wherever you want to place these files, either on your iCloud Drive or your phone storage. 
  • Long-press on the screen where you want to paste these files and click on Paste.

This is it. All your files will now be copied from Google Drive to your iPad. Now, you can either make space on the internal storage or simply download them directly to iCloud.

Read How To Sort Files in Google Drive

Download Files From Google Drive onto Your Mac

Downloading files and documents on a Mac are no different from downloading items on a Windows machine, but just in case you were in doubt, we have listed down all the steps you need to follow. 

  • Open your Mac and load up your preferred browser. 
  • Head over to the Google Drive website at drive.google.com. 
  • Enter your credentials to access the Drive. 
  • Once you’re logged in, select any file or folder you’d like to download and draw out the contextual menu by right-clicking on it. 
  • Select Download from the list. 
How to Download Google Drive Files on iPad
  • If the file is small in size, Google Drive will check for viruses and then download it if the file size exceeds the threshold to be checked for viruses. A warning message will show up saying it can’t scan for viruses. Click on Download anyways if that happens, and the download should begin.

This is it. The steps above are as easy as anything and anyone can simply follow them and download files on your Mac.

If you encounter any specific issue with this, you can let us know or try updating your operating system which always helps in the end.

Read How to Copy and Paste Files in Google Drive

Can I Upload Files to Google Drive From My iPad?

A lot of users have been asking if and not users can upload files to Drive directly to an iPad. You will need the Google Drive application installed on your iPhone or iPad for this method to work. Here are the steps that will work perfectly for you.

  • Unlock your iPad and make sure you have the Google Drive app installed. 
  • Enter your credentials to access the Drive. 
  • Once you’re logged in, click on the plus icon at the bottom of the screen. 
  • Select Upload from the menu and choose between photos & videos or browse. 
  • The Browse option will allow you to upload documents, videos, and other files. In contrast, the Photos & videos option will take you to the gallery, where you can select any image or video you want to upload.

Read How to Remove Suggested Files in Google Drive

Conclusion

That’s it, folks; as you can see, you can utilize all the Google Drive functionalities on iPads and iPhones. You just need to execute a few extra steps, nothing more. 

The biggest advantage of backing up Google Drive files is that you can save space on the drive itself. 15GB is never enough since it syncs all other Google integrated tools. Hence downloading and sending it on your iPad make more sense.

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