Google Drive doesn’t show a full file path like a computer does, but you can see where a file is stored in a few seconds. In drive.google.com, search for the file, then right-click it and choose File information > Details. The Location section shows the folder it’s in, and you can click the folder to open it. If you use Google Drive for desktop, right-click the file in File Explorer or Finder to copy its full local path, such as G:\My Drive\Projects\Report.docx.
Below are all the ways to find a file’s location in Drive on a computer, phone and desktop app, plus how to get a shareable link instead of a path.
Find a file’s location on the Drive website
- Go to drive.google.com and search for the file using the search bar.
- Right-click the file in the results.
- Choose File information > Details, or select the file and click the i (View details) icon at the top right.
- Look under Location to see the folder that contains the file.
- Click the folder name to open it. The breadcrumb trail at the top of the folder view shows the full path, such as My Drive > Clients > 2026 > Reports.
Open the file’s folder directly
In search results, right-click the file and choose Show file location (on some versions, Locate). Drive opens the folder with the file highlighted.
Find a file’s location on Android or iPhone
- Open the Google Drive app and search for the file.
- Tap the three dots next to the file.
- Tap Details & activity (or Details).
- Look at Location to see the folder name. Tap it to open the folder.
Get the full path with Google Drive for desktop
- Install Google Drive for desktop and sign in.
- Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and go to the Google Drive drive.
- Find the file.
- On Windows, select it and press Ctrl + Shift + C, or right-click and choose Copy as path. On a Mac, right-click, hold Option, and choose Copy as Pathname.
This is the path you’d use in another program, such as linking a file in Excel or a script.
- Shared with me: These files live in someone else’s Drive, so the location may show the owner’s folder or nothing at all if you don’t have access to that folder. Right-click and choose Organize > Add shortcut to place a shortcut in your own folders.
- Shared drives: The location shows the shared drive name and folder. In Drive for desktop, they appear under the Shared drives folder.
Path or link: which do you need?
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Know which folder a file is in | Details > Location |
| Send the file to someone | Right-click > Share > Copy link |
| Reference the file in a desktop program | Copy as path from Drive for desktop |
| Jump to the file’s folder | Show file location |
Organize so files are easier to find
- Use consistent folder names and a simple structure, such as year > project.
- Star important files so they appear under Starred.
- Use shortcuts instead of copies when a file belongs in more than one place.
- Use search filters for type, owner and date modified.
Related: access a shared Google Drive.
Related: Add a shortcut in Google Drive.
Related: Insert the file path in Word.
Related: Publish a Google Site.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Google Drive file be in more than one folder?
A file has one location, but you can add shortcuts to it in other folders.
Why does the location say “Shared with me”?
The file belongs to someone else, and it isn’t in a folder you can see. Add a shortcut to your Drive to keep track of it.
Can I see the file path in a Google Doc itself?
Yes. In an open Doc, click the folder icon next to the document title to see and change its folder.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.