Managing files and folders on Google Drive can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to tracking what you’ve shared with others. Google provides the “Shared with me” folder, but what if you want to see what you are sharing? Manually browsing through thousands of files and folders is not practical. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to quickly check which files and folders you’ve shared.

Quick Solution

To get started, log into your Google Drive account at Google Drive ( https://www.google.com/drive/ ). Then, in the search bar located at the top, type the following command:

This command will display all files and folders that are shared publicly. However, you may notice that it also includes files shared with you by others. To filter the search results and only view the files and folders that you are sharing, combine the search with the following command:

Thus, the full command will look like this:

This will show a complete list of all files and folders that you have shared.

Over time, as you copy, move, share, and delete files on Google Drive, you may lose track of some of your data. These “orphaned” files—those that are no longer associated with any folder—won’t appear in your regular file view. To check for these hidden files, simply enter the following command in the Google Drive search bar:

This command will display all files that are not currently assigned to any folder. For many users, this command reveals a significant number of forgotten or misplaced files.

By regularly using these commands, you can maintain better control over your shared and orphaned files in Google Drive, ensuring your data is organized and secure.

To further enhance your ability to manage and search for files on Google Drive, here are some additional useful commands:

type: – Searching by File Type

If you want to filter your results by specific file types such as documents, images, or videos, you can use the following command:

Other useful variations include:

• type:image – to find only images
• type:pdf – to find PDF files
• type:video – to find video files

This makes it easier to locate specific types of files quickly in a cluttered drive.

before: and after: – Filter by Date

To search for files created or modified before or after a specific date, you can use these commands:

These commands are especially useful if you’re looking for files from a particular time period on a large drive.

title: – Search by File Name

If you remember part of a file’s name but not its location, you can search by title:

Google Drive will display all files containing the word “report” in their name, making it easier to find the specific document.

app: – Filter by the App Used to Create the File

If you want to filter files by the application in which they were created, you can use this command:

This will show only the files created in Google Docs. Other examples include:

• app:sheets – for Google Sheets files
• app:slides – for Google Slides files

is:starred – Find Starred Files

If you’ve previously marked important files with a star, you can quickly find them using this command:

is:trashed – Search for Files in the Trash

If you’ve accidentally deleted a file and can’t find it, this command will display all files currently in your trash:

from: – Search for Files Shared by a Specific Person

If you want to see files shared with you by a specific person, use this command with the email address of the person:

By using these additional commands, you can further optimize your Google Drive workflow, making file management more efficient and organized. These advanced search techniques help you quickly find specific files, manage shared data, and stay in control of your digital workspace.