Drive – Tech Savvy Life

How to Scan Documents From iPhone Using Google Drive

Google Drive’s latest update allows users to scan documents directly to cloud storage on iPhone, a feature previously available on Android only. The new design includes a Camera button for initiating the scan and saving it as a PDF file. The app also uses machine learning to suggest relevant titles for saved images. The post cautions that the information is only valid at the time of writing due to the constant evolution of technology.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
January 23, 2024

This is for the iPhone using the latest update for Google Drive. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

Google Drive users will be glad to know the cloud storage app has a new handy feature. The app lets you scan documents directly to your cloud storage on your iPhone. The feature is already available on Android; the same functionality has made its way to iPhone.

The new Google Drive redesign comes with a new Camera button above the “+” button in the lower right corner. Another option to start a scan from the Google Drive home page is to tap that “+” sign and choose the Scan option. Both will take you to the iPhone’s Camera. Refer to the below image:

Drive Scan 3 — Selecting options to scan

Tap the button to initiate a document scan that will feel familiar. Just place the document or receipt from the Camera and take the photo.

The document-scanning feature lets you capture multiple images to scan a document with more than one page.

Once the photo is taken, you can perform the usual edits for such types of images. You can crop and rotate the image and change the color. That can be useful if you want your photo to look like a scanned document.

When you are ready to save the scan, press the Save button, and Google Drive will use machine learning to suggest a relevant title for the image or set of images that will be saved as a new PDF file. See the below image:

Drive Scan 4 — Save your scan as a PDF file

That’s another handy feature, as it will save you time and ensure you find and retrieve the scan with ease in the future.

As a reminder, your iPhone already has a built-in document scanner feature. You can scan documents directly into the Notes app with similar ease. If you sync Notes across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, you will always have the scanned document available.

However, the Google Drive alternative is also a great option. Some iPhone users might prefer scanning documents to Google’s cloud storage directly.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

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How to Free Up Space in Google Drive

It’s easy to run out of space on Google Drive, since it stores data across much of your Google account. Fortunately, it’s also easy to delete data and free up some storage. As you will see, I am running out of space. Let’s explore how to do this.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
August 10, 2021

It’s easy to run out of space on Google Drive, since it stores data across much of your Google account. Fortunately, it’s also easy to delete data and free up some storage. As you will see, I am running out of space. Let’s explore how to do this.

This is for devices using Google Drive. Screenshots are from Drive on Windows 10 PC

Dilbert and Sane — *Copyright Scott Adams, Inc./Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS*

If you use Google Drive to share large files, it’s quite easy to hit the 15GB free data limit on your Google account. While you can upgrade, for a price, it’s best to manually delete some data for more space first. After doing this, I upgraded to the 100GB plan, yet I am still out of space.

You will not need to spend hours combing through every nook and cranny in Google Drive. The website has a storage management feature that lists all your files, sorting them based on their file size.

First, open the Drive website in your browser.

You will see the Storage section at the bottom of the left sidebar. This will show you how much storage space you have left in your account. Now, click the Storage button. Refer to below image:

Next, you will see a list of all the large files in your account. Just click a file to select it. To select multiple files, hold the Command/Control key while selecting the file.

Now, to delete the file (or files), click the Remove button (the Trashcan icon) in the top toolbar. See below image:

Google Drive will remove the file and send it to the Trash.

If you want to find and open a folder where a particular file is saved (or find more files to delete), right-click and choose the Show File Location option. See following image:

Next, you can select multiple files and use the Remove (Trashcan icon) in the toolbar to delete all the files at once. (You can use this method to delete entire folders as well.)

If you do not have a backup of the file that you are planning to delete, click the Download button in the right-click menu to download a copy of the file to your local storage. Refer to below image:

Drive 4 — Download a file before deletion

Once you delete files like this, the files are no longer available in Google Drive, but you have not recovered any storage space yet. That’s because Google Drive does not actually delete the files for 30 days. So, if you change your mind, you have up to 30 days to recover the data.

If you want to reclaim the storage space, you will have to force Google Drive to permanently delete the data. To do this, go to the Trash or Bin section in the sidebar. See below image:

Now, in the Trash, you will see a list of files that have yet to be deleted. To individually delete a file, right-click and choose the Delete Forever option. Or, click Empty Trash to delete all the files. See following image:

Next, in the pop-up that appears, confirm using the Delete Forever button. Refer to below image:

Drive 7 — Confirm to delete the file(s) forever

Now, all the files will be deleted. Once you reload the page, you will see that the storage space has been recovered.

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I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.
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You now know how to clean up storage space on Google Drive. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

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How to Protect Your Google Drive on iPhone and iPad

Storing important and or sensitive documents in Google Drive isn’t the most secure way to protect your data, but if you are, your iPhone and iPad can help keep everything safe. Let’s see how to protect this cloud storage mobile app using Face ID or Touch ID.

Your mobile device may already be setup to use Face ID or Touch ID. You may ask, why set this up for a particular app, the Google Drive? A friend may ask to see your device. What if they accessed your documents via Google Drive without your knowledge? There is nothing to stop them because you already unlocked your device. So, we are going to add another layer of protection. Of course, enabling two factor authentication for your Google account is the best way to keep prying eyes out of your cloud files.

Note! To follow this guide, you will need the Passcode for your device. The screenshots are for an iPhone.

This is for iPhone and iPad devices

Dilbert and Health — *Copyright Scott Adams, Inc./Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS*

Open Google Drive

Start by opening the Google Drive app. Use Apple’s built-in Spotlight Search if you can’t find it on your Home screen. Refer to below image:

Google Drive Protect 1 — Locating Google Drive app

Next, tap the Hamburger icon in upper left of the screen. See following image:

Google Drive Protect 2 — The Hamburger icon

Open the Settings

From the slide out menu that appears, select the Settings option. See below image:

Google Drive Protect 3 — Opening Settings

Next, tap on the Privacy Screen option. Refer to below image:

Google Drive Protect 4 — Opening the Privacy Screen option

Set the Privacy Option

From here, toggle on the Privacy Screen option. See following image:

Google Drive Protect 5 — Turning on the Privacy Screen option

Allow Permission

Now, your iPhone or iPad will display a pop-up box asking for permission to access Face ID or Touch ID. Tap the OK button to allow permission. Refer to below image:

Google Drive Protect 6 — Allowing permission for Google Drive by Face ID

The next time you exit and reopen Google Drive, you will be presented a screen for your face or fingerprint to access your cloud storage.

Now that the Privacy Screen setting is enabled, you will see several new options to customize the feature further.

Set Privacy Screen Delay

By default, the Privacy Screen feature locks the Drive app the moment you lock your iPhone’s or iPad’s display or leave the app. If you want to add a time delay, tap on the option that corresponds to the Delay listing. See below image:

Google Drive Protect 10 — Accessing Privacy Screen Delay options

You have four options to choose from:

Immediately (the default)
After 10 seconds
After 1 minute
After 10 minutes

Once you have checkmarked your selection, tap the Back arrow. By default, the Immediately option is selected and is the recommended setting. Refer to below image:

Google Drive Protect 11 — Setting the Privacy Screen Delay option

Using the Passcode Method

You have the option of using your Passcode to protect your files instead of your Face ID or Touch ID. This feature offers a more secure method of accessing Google Drive.

To do this, let’s go back to the Privacy Screen settings menu, then tap the Open System Settings blue link. See following image:

Google Drive Protect 7 — Opening System Settings to change access method

You are taken to the Drive’s section for your iPhone or iPad Settings menu. Here, just toggle off permission to use Face ID or Touch ID. See below image:

Google Drive Protect 8 — Turning off Face ID permission

Now, the next time you open the Google Drive app,you will be required to enter your device’s lock screen Passcode. Refer to below image:

Google Drive Protect 9 — Entering your Passcode to access Google Drive

You have successfully locked your Google Drive app either using your Face ID/Touch ID or your Passcode. That’s it.

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Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong: Events and Aftermath