Search & retrieve your files in Drive with Gemini

Important: To use Gemini in Drive, you must have an eligible Google Workspace or Google AI plan. Learn more about Gemini features and plans.

Instead of a traditional search and manual review of the results in Drive, ask Gemini to find specific info or files. Because Gemini understands natural language, you can search with everyday phrases instead of exact file names or keywords.

To understand how Google uses your data and what to expect from Gemini suggestions, learn more about disclaimers and data usage.

Get answers directly in search

You can type natural language into the Drive search bar to quickly locate specific files across your Workspace or get summary answers to your questions.

Find files across Google Workspace with natural language

Instead of relying on exact keywords, you can use natural language to find specific files or folders, including those shared in other Workspace apps.

Helpful Tips to Find a missing file in Drive

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. In the search bar at the top, enter a prompt like:
   • "Show me the slide decks about the project timeline that Deepti shared with me in Chat."
   • "Show me the PDF Josh emailed me last week about the marketing strategy."
3. To verify the information, click the inline citations to view the source files.

Get answers directly in search with AI Overviews

When you ask a question about the contents of your files, an AI Overview may appear at the top of your search results to provide a summarized answer.

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com.
2. In the search bar at the top, enter a question like:
   1. "What is the Q3 marketing budget?"
   2. "Summarize the ABC project timeline for this year."
3. An overview appears at the top of your search results summarizing the answer.
4. To verify the information, click the inline citations to view the source files.

After getting an AI overview from your search results, you can move directly into the Ask Gemini full-screen workspace to ask follow-up questions, compare the findings, or turn your research into a saved project.

1. From your search overview, click Ask Gemini.
2. Your conversation will transition into the full-screen workspace, bringing your current search context and source files with you.

Tip: You can provide feedback on the overview by clicking thumbs up or thumbs down.

Control your AI Overviews scope

You can choose which Google Workspace apps Gemini uses to find files and generate AI Overviews.

1. On your computer, go to drive.google.com
2. In the search bar at the top, click AI Overview search .  
3. Check or uncheck the boxes to include or exclude sources:
   • Drive files
   • Gmail attachments & links
   • Chat uploads & links
   • Calendar attachments & links

Tip: These settings only apply to Gemini AI Overviews and natural language file finding. They do not affect your standard Drive search results.

Related resources

• Get started with Gemini in Google Drive
• Use Gemini in Drive for research & analysis
• Share your Gemini research using Drive projects