How to Access ‘Shared With Me’ in Google Drive

The ‘Shared with me’ entry on Google Drive allows users to view documents and folders that they do not own but have been shared with them.

You might be able to read, comment on, or edit the shared contents depending on the permissions the sharer has granted.

In actuality, the ‘Shared with me’ section needs to be handled more like an inbox than folders shared with you.

Additionally, the files you see in ‘Shared with me’ are links to files on other people's drives; they do not reside on your drive and do not use any space. You cannot create folders in this area.

Google Drive is a service that lets users store files and folders in the cloud (on Google's servers), sync data, and share files among many devices, and with other users.

Users of Google Drive can share intriguing images, entertaining movies, and other important data anytime, anywhere, which is a huge benefit for many users.

But based on customer inquiries, it appears that some users are still unsure about how to access shared folders in Google Drive.

In actuality, you can get to them via the web or a mobile app.

Access Shared Files on Google Drive Web

If you frequently use Google Drive online, you can find the shared files in the "Shared with me" directory. You may see and access from the shared folder documents easily in this way.

1. Log in to the Google Drive web page.
2. Find ‘Shared with me’ on the left side of Google Drive.

3. All of the folders and files shared with you will be visible in the folder list on the right side of Google Drive.
4. Open the folder or file by clicking on it.

Access Shared Files on Google Drive Desktop App

1. Log in to the Google Drive web page.
2. Find ‘Shared with me’ on the left side of Google Drive.
3. All of the folders and files shared with you will be visible in the folder list on the right side of Google Drive.
4. Open the folder or file by clicking on it.

How to Create Shortcut of Shared Folder in Google Drive Desktop

When using the Google Drive desktop application, you must first log into the Google Drive website before adding shared files to My Drive.

Follow these steps to create a shortcut from the Shared With Me folder on Google Drive Desktop.

1. Log in to the Google Drive web page.
2. Find ‘Shared with me’ on the left side of Google Drive.
3. All of the folders and files shared with you will be visible in the folder list on the right side of Google Drive.
4. Open the folder or file by clicking on it.
5. In the pop-up window, right-click on the file you've chosen, then tap ‘Add shortcut to Drive’.
6. Open the desktop version of Google Drive. You can see that shared material will appear in the shape of a shortcut in My Drive.

Important notes:

• Adding a file or folder to My Drive via ‘Shared With Me’ won't really duplicate it; it will still provide a link to the original file (or folder).
• The shared file will always be the most recent version because it is a linked file.
• The file or folder won't be removed from the collaborator's/owner’s drive if it is added to ‘My Drive’.
• Any changes you make (such as editing the text in the actual file or adding new items to the shared folder) will still show up in all collaborator folders for that file/folder if you have ‘Editor’ permissions where the file/folder is placed.

Access Shared Files on Mobile Google Drive App

Follow these steps to open the Shared With Me folder using Google Drive app on your phone:

1. Open the Google Drive app on your phone.
2. In the bottom menu, four different folders will show up - Home, Starred, Shared, and Files.
3. Tap on 'Shared', and browse through the files shared with you.

How to Search for specific files/folders in the 'Shared With Me' section

People may experience frustration when locating or receiving shared files because Google's cloud Drive "Shared with me" section, by default, lists items in the chronological order they were shared.

This can make it harder to find a folder or file that was shared with you some time ago. Hence, follow these steps to learn how to search for specific files/folders in 'Shared With Me' on your Google Drive account.

1. Log in to the Google Drive web page.
2. Find ‘Shared with me’ on the left side of Google Drive.
3. In the Search Bar at the top of the screen, tap on the 'Filters' icon to launch 'Advanced Search'.

4. Adjust the filters according to the information you have about the file you're trying to find, and let Google Drive do its magic.

Conclusion

You will clearly understand how to access shared files on Google Drive after reading the instructions in this article, regardless of whether you use the desktop version, the Google Drive website, or your smartphone.

Additionally, by using the instructions in this article, you may discover how to locate the files you need in ‘Shared with me’.