Google Drive features you didn’t know about but should start using.

Many Google Docs users know how useful it can be as an autosave browser-based text editor. However, few people know that Google Drive actually offers many other features that are unique among text editing software. Whether you’re already a frequent Google Docs user, or just looking for alternatives to Microsoft Word, you will absolutely be able to benefit from some of these unique features:

Some people can only work out their thoughts by speaking them, instead of actually writing. These people often make recordings of what they want to say. Well, Google Docs takes it a step further; allowing you to simply speak to write. It can really cut down on the time you spend on a document, and it’s great for anyone who has a visual impairment but plans to write through speech programs.

1.Commenting on unconverted .doc files

One problem people have with using Google Drive as a converter is that it often does not properly convert formatting. This isn’t necessarily Google’s fault, as they don’t have access to the formatting that other files have, such as Microsoft Office. However, Google Drive allows you to make comments on .doc files without any conversion. This can let you keep the formatting of the Microsoft document, but still, allow you to make notes on it for later use.

2.Publishing files as public pages                

Many people know that you can use Google Drive programs to work on documents with a group of people at the same time. However, not everyone fully understands the benefit of the published features. Published Google Drive files can be publicly viewed (if published this way) allowing for an easy way to create public documents. This can be used for personal and business use alike.

3.Smartphone document scanning

With the Google Drive app, you can scan documents to be immediately saved as PDFs to whatever folder you want. You can use this for anything from receipts to billing statements. This can be a great alternative place to keep all the important documents you have.

4.Auto-translation

Everyone knows that Google Translate isn’t 100% accurate all the time. However, it can help you get a better understanding of what a foreign sentence might be saying, without needing to find an actual translator. Google has also done a lot within the last few years to make their translation software more accurate. Google Docs and other Drive software come pre-prepared with this same translation feature. It can be really helpful when working on a document with a group of foreign language speakers.

5.Laser pointer mouse in Google Slides

While this is an easy trick to do in Google Slides, it is very uncommon in PowerPoint programs. All you have to do is click the “pointer” button while on a published Slides document, and you get to have a unique pointer. This can not only be useful for a professional presentation, but it can also be fun to change things up from the regular mouse button. 

Of course, these are only a few of the numerous features that Google Drive has to offer, and Google continues to update each of its programs with new features all the time. For example, you can also encrypt files on Google Drive for additional security.