iOS/iPadOS with Google Shared Drives

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iOS/iPadOS with Google Shared Drives

Hello

We use the Google Cloud for our organisation. Therefore we use the Shared Drive to make documents available for all participants. Everyone should be able to make handwritten comments on pdf files within the Shared Drive. The problem is that the iOS Files app (and no other app I found in the AppStore) is unable to access this Shared Drive. Instead, I only have access to ‘My Drive’.

When I add the pdf files (via link) to my drive, I can access them, but comments are not synchronized with the Shared Drive.

Is there any way to access the Shared Drive directly like there is on Android devices?

If not, why is this feature not available on iOS Devices?

iPad Air, iPadOS 18

Posted on Feb 5, 2025 12:54 AM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

Level 10

303,830 points

Feb 5, 2025 2:22 AM in response to daniel_br02

Native integration of external cloud storage providers with iPadOS requires installation of an appropriate "helper App" - in this case, the Google Drive App. The Google Drive App provides the API used by iPadOS to access Google Drive. Other cloud storage providers, such as Microsoft OneDrive, integrate with iPadOS in the same manner.

If you have any queries or difficulties with Google Drive, its capabilities or limitations, you would be best advised to make use of Google's own online help resources.

Aside from native integration using the Google Drive App, some third-party File Manager Apps offer considerably more flexibility with external cloud services. Instead of attempting to integrate Google cloud services at an OS-level using a "helper App", some third-party File Manager Apps can instead access Google Drive (and/or other external storage/cloud providers) resources directly - and as such bypass many of the functional limitations imposed by iOS/iPadOS and the Google Drive App.

One such App that may help with your difficulty is FileBrowser Professional by Stratospherix:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/filebrowser-professional/id854618029

You would be well advised to review the extensive online Manual and help files to determine suitability for your needs.

https://www.stratospherix.com/products/filebrowserprofessional/filebrowser-professional-user-guide.php

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