Google Drive Search Operators

Search operators to find files and folders in Google Drive.

29 operators across 6 categories

Tips & Notes

  • Combine operators with spaces (implicit AND).
  • Use quotes for exact phrase matching in file names and content.
  • Drive searches both file names and content for text-based files.
  • Shared drive files may require different permissions to search.
  • Recent files appear first by default; use date operators to override.

File Type

OperatorDescriptionExampleCopy
type:documentFind Google Docstype:document meeting notes
type:spreadsheetFind Google Sheetstype:spreadsheet budget
type:presentationFind Google Slidestype:presentation quarterly
type:formFind Google Formstype:form survey
type:drawingFind Google Drawingstype:drawing diagram
type:folderFind folderstype:folder projects
type:pdfFind PDF filestype:pdf contract
type:imageFind image filestype:image logo
type:videoFind video filestype:video training
type:audioFind audio filestype:audio podcast

Ownership & Sharing

OperatorDescriptionExampleCopy
owner:Find files owned by a specific personowner:john@example.com
owner:meFind files you ownowner:me report
from:Find files shared by a specific personfrom:jane@example.com
to:Find files you shared with someoneto:team@example.com
sharedwith:Find files shared with a specific personsharedwith:me
is:sharedFind files that are sharedis:shared type:document

Date Filters

OperatorDescriptionExampleCopy
before:Find files modified before a datebefore:2024-01-01
after:Find files modified after a dateafter:2024-06-01

Location & Status

OperatorDescriptionExampleCopy
is:starredFind starred filesis:starred
is:trashedFind files in trashis:trashed
in:Find files in a specific folder by namein:Projects
app:Find files created by a specific appapp:"Google Docs"

Content & Title

OperatorDescriptionExampleCopy
title:Search only in file namestitle:invoice
"exact phrase"Find files with an exact phrase"annual budget 2024"
-Exclude files with a termreport -draft
ORMatch either termbudget OR forecast

Advanced

OperatorDescriptionExampleCopy
followup:Find files with follow-up suggestionsfollowup:suggestions
followup:actionitemsFind files with action itemsfollowup:actionitems
source:domainFind files from shared drives in your domainsource:domain