Google Drive Updated to Play Friendly With Apple's Files App - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Drive Updated to Play Friendly With Apple's Files App

by

Google Drive no longer hijacks file opening duties in Apple's Files and iCloud Drive apps on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

google drive apple files
The app was updated today with a fix for the issue. Microsoft Word documents and other file types can now be viewed directly in in Apple's Files and iCloud Drive apps on iOS 11 and iOS 10 respectively.

Since a previous update to Google Drive earlier this month, the app became the default opener for many file types due to an open-in-place issue.

google drive docx files
When users with the Google Drive app installed attempted to open a DOCX file in Files or iCloud Drive, for example, the Google Drive app would automatically open and prompt the user to save the file in that app.

Google Drive version 4.2017.37510 is available on the App Store [Direct Link].

Top Rated Comments

gobikerider Avatar
112 months ago
The new version still hijacks files
Lmao damn google drive nvr plays nice
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Howl's Castle Avatar
112 months ago
works for me...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
112 months ago
Still getting this on my end. I’m not sure what the issue is now.
Same here. I ran the Google Drive update, even rebooted, and text files (.txt) are still attempting to upload into Google Drive rather than previewing directly in Files. PDFs, on the other hand, work as they should (and did prior to the update). I tried deleting Google Drive, and text files in Files previewed as they should, but after I reinstalled it, Google Drive went right back to its hijacking ways.

I don't particularly like using Google Drive, but there are certain things I need it for, so I can't just delete it indefinitely. On the other hand, although I really like the Files app, it has not yet become a major part of my workflow, so I will just avoid it until the problem gets resolved.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GadgetBen Avatar
112 months ago
I love how that's not mentioned in release notes and just something we had to discover
Yeah it's no big deal I guess....!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GadgetBen Avatar
112 months ago
DRAG AND DROP SUPPORT ADDED IN THIS UPDATE FOR IPAD!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bwintx Avatar
112 months ago
I am curious, how does google drive integrate into Files if you use more then one google account in Drive? Does files give you a quick button somewhere to switch between the different accounts?
When you tap on Google Drive in Files, it gives you the choice among your accounts. Same with OneDrive, for that matter. I can't say for Dropbox or iCloud since I have only one account in each of those.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...