Yes, you can keep any file in Google Drive, but Drive can only preview certain types. For everything else, you see “No preview available,” and you open the file by downloading it, sending it to an app with Open with, or converting it to a format Drive understands.
In this tutorial, I’ll explain how to open unsupported files on Google Drive, which file types Drive previews on its own, what the preview can’t handle, and what to do when a video refuses to play.
Why Drive stores a file it can’t open
Storage and preview are two different jobs. Google says any file type can be stored in Drive, so the upload almost never fails because of the format. If yours does, my guide on how to upload large files to Google Drive covers size and connection problems.
Previewing is the picky part. Drive has built-in viewers for a list of common formats, and anything outside that list gets a placeholder instead of a preview.
To test it, I uploaded an AutoCAD drawing called Hillcrest Site Plan 2026.dwg to the Bluebird Landscaping folder in my demo Drive. Opening it gave me this screen.
The file isn’t broken. Drive just has no viewer for DWG drawings, so it offers to download the file or connect an app that can read it.
Compare that with a supported type. My Spring 2026 Price List.pdf opens right inside Drive, no extra steps.
Which file types Google Drive can preview
Here’s Google’s list of the most common types Drive previews, grouped the way I think about them. If your file isn’t here, expect the “No preview available” screen.
| File group | Previews in Drive | Not on the list (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Word (.DOC, .DOCX), .PDF, .TXT, .XPS | Pages files |
| Spreadsheets and slides | Excel (.XLS, .XLSX), PowerPoint (.PPT, .PPTX), Apple .numbers and .key | Access databases |
| Images and design | .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP, .TIFF, .SVG, Photoshop (.PSD), Illustrator (.AI), .EPS, .PS | Camera RAW files |
| Drawings | AutoCAD .DXF | AutoCAD .DWG |
| Audio | MP3, MPEG, WAV, .ogg, .opus | Other formats |
| Video | WebM, MPEG4, 3GPP, MOV, AVI, MPEG-PS, WMV, FLV, MTS, OGG | Other formats |
| Archives and code | .ZIP, .RAR, tar, gzip; .HTML, .CSS, .JS, .py, .java, .PHP, .C, .CPP | Other formats |
Notice the drawing row. Drive previews DXF but not DWG, which is exactly why my site plan wouldn’t open. ZIP files are a special case too, and I explain how to view ZIP files in Google Drive without unzipping them first.
How to open an unsupported file from Drive
You have three honest options, and which one fits depends on whether you need to look at the file, edit it, or share it with someone else.
Download it and open it on your computer
Click Download on the preview screen, then open the file in the program that made it, like AutoCAD for a DWG. If the download fails, work through my checklist for when you cannot download files from Google Drive.
Use Open with and a connected app
On a computer, right-click the file and point to Open with, or use the Open with button at the top of the preview. Here’s what it showed for my site plan.
Drive suggests third-party apps based on the file type. Connect more apps opens the Google Workspace Marketplace, filtered to apps that work with Drive.
Before you connect one, remember these apps are made by other companies with their own terms and privacy policies. Some ask to see some or all of the files in your Drive, so read what an app requests. You can remove one later in Drive’s Settings under Manage apps by choosing Disconnect from Drive.
Convert it to a Google format
Office files are the friendliest case. Double-click a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file and it opens in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides. From the File menu, you can save it as a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file.
That save makes a separate Google copy, and the original stays put. In my folder, the Google Doc version of the Hillcrest HOA Proposal 2026 sits right next to the .docx it came from.
If you want every Word file converted as it uploads, turn on Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format in Drive settings on a computer. The difference between Google Drive and Google Docs matters here: Drive holds the file, and Docs is the editor that opens it.
What Drive’s preview can’t do
Even with supported types, the preview has limits I’ve run into more than once.
- It’s a scaled-down view. Google says the preview may look slightly different from the full file, so fonts or layers in a PSD can shift.
- It can’t edit most files. Previewing a PDF or image lets you read it, not change it.
- Conversion has gaps. Macros don’t carry over into Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides, and embedded charts in Word and PowerPoint become images.
- No converting design files. Drive won’t turn a DWG or RAW photo into a Google format. For pictures, you can convert an image to PDF in Google Drive instead.
When a video won’t play in Drive
Videos are the most common files that upload fine but won’t open. Drive takes video of any resolution, but the maximum playback resolution is 1920 x 1080, and not every format works on every device.
The message on screen tells you what’s going on:
- “Video is still processing. Try again later.” The file isn’t ready yet. Big videos can take a while after upload.
- “This video is currently unavailable.” Drive hasn’t finished preparing it. Try again in a few minutes.
- “Video is unplayable.” The file may be corrupted or in a format Drive can’t play. Upload it again, or upload a copy in a supported format.
If your video is in one of the formats from the table and still won’t play, make sure third-party cookies are turned on in your browser, since Drive needs them for playback. Then sign out of your Google Account and back in, or reinstall the Drive app on your phone.
Still stuck? Download the video and play it with a player on your computer. My notes on when a video cannot be played in Google Drive go deeper on playback errors.
If you work with mixed file types a lot, these may help
- Save Word docs to Google Drive
- Reduce file size in Google Drive
- Fix “unable to access document” in Google Drive
- Embed a video from Google Drive
Common questions
What file types can Google Drive not open?
Drive stores every type, but it only previews the common formats on Google’s list. Files like AutoCAD DWG drawings, camera RAW photos, and most program-specific formats show “No preview available” instead.
Why does Google Drive say no preview available?
It means Drive has no built-in viewer for that file type, not that the file is damaged. Download it, open it with a connected app, or convert it if it’s an Office or text file.
How do I open a DWG or PSD file in Google Drive?
PSD files preview in Drive, though the view is scaled down. DWG files don’t, so download them or use Open with and a connected app, after checking what access that app asks for.
Why won’t my video play in Google Drive?
It may still be processing, be over 1920 x 1080, use an unsupported format, or need third-party cookies. Google Drive Help: store and play video lists the formats and error messages.
Can I convert an unsupported file in Google Drive?
Only certain types. Office, OpenDocument, text, and CSV files convert to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides. Other formats need the original program or a separate converter.
I am Carissa Gudinoa, a technology buff, and Office online and Apple expert with over 9 years of experience. I am passionate about helping others get the most out of their Apple devices. I have written extensively about Apple products and technologies. I am committed to providing my clients with the best possible service and am always up-to-date on the latest Apple products and features. I also write extensively on other software available for use at minimal cost or free. This includes Word Online, Outlook Online, Excel Online, and other Office online programs… Check out more.