Open, save, or delete files

You can open and save many types of files on your Chromebook, like 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.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Find and open a file

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Up arrow .
  2. Open Files .
  3. On the left, choose where your file is saved.
  4. 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 .

Save a file

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

  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 Driveand thenMy Drive.
  5. SelectSave.

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.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

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 MoreMoreand thenSettings.
  3. At the bottom, selectAdvanced.
  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

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Up arrow .
  2. Open Files .
  3. Select the file or folder you want to delete.Note: You can delete files in the Downloads folder, but deleting a file from your Downloads folder is permanent.
  4. Select Delete and then Delete.

Note: Files in the Recent, Images, Videos, and Audio folders are viewable only and can't be deleted directly in those folders.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Zip a file

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

  1. In the corner of your screen, click the Launcher and then Up arrow .
  2. Open Files .
  3. On the left, selectthe folder or files you want to zip.
  4. To select all the files 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 view each of the individual files in your zip file.

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and then Up arrow .
  2. Open Files .
  3. Double-click the zipped file. On the left, you'll see 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 .

Use and pin files to your shelf

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

Open recent downloads & screenshots in your shelf

  1. At the bottom right, select the shelf containerand 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

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 & 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 opening files

"Unknown file type"

  • Check if your Chromebook supports this file type. Learn which file types are supported.
  • Try saving the file to Google Drive, then opening it in your browser.

"Google Drive can't be reached at this time"

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

"Sorry, your device was not recognized" or "Sorry, at least one partition on your device could not be mounted"

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

  • Share your Google Drive files with others
  • Open and edit photos
  • Play music files and videos

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