Did you know that Google has a hidden gem that most Google workspace users surprisingly don’t know about, yet is included in most Google plans and is ridiculously easy to use?
If you are part of an organization that uses Google Drive as its primary form of online communication and documentation, then you know how hard it can be to find things in Google drive. I felt this same pain point and thankfully Google already created a solution for it some years ago so you can save time and find what you need as quickly as possible.
So what is the secret? Google for your Google stuff! Find what you need quickly across everything you have access to through your Google account through Cloud Search.
Google explains, “Use the power of Google to search across your company’s content in G Suite. From Gmail and Drive to Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and more, Google Cloud Search answers your questions and delivers proactive recommendations to help you throughout the day. Find your work - Find the information that you need throughout your workday. Find your colleagues - Quickly find and easily connect with a co-worker. Get what you need, before you ask - Get timely and relevant assist cards that help keep you organized throughout the day.”
You can access Cloud Search if you have a Business Standard, Business Plus, or Enterprise (not business starter) account.
Cloud Search follows the same sharing settings everywhere else in Google services. What you see is based on the sharing settings already used across all the items you are searching for, such as Google Drive, Calendar, etc.
To make searching even more simple, you can use Boolean operators.
- Exact phrase with quotation marks - https://cloudsearch.google.com/cloudsearch/search?authuser=0&q=%22door%20dash%22&it=1667432755460&iq=false
- Sign to omit something - https://cloudsearch.google.com/cloudsearch/search?authuser=0&q=%22door%22%20-dash&it=1667432766961&iq=false
- 25+ Google Drive Search Operators from resource - https://seosly.com/blog/google-drive-search-operators/
As with anything, there are some limitations. Any content created at other Google Workspace organizations and shared with you won't show up in search results. In addition, deleted and draft emails won't show up in search results. Events only from your primary calendar show up in search results. Cloud Search doesn't currently support secondary calendars or calendars shared with you. In large documents, only the first several thousand words are searchable.
Cloud Search does not support searching for content embedded into classic and new sites using the embed widgets.
Overall, this is a super tool that can save you loads of time and headache searching your Google accounts for contacts, documents, events, emails and more!
➡️Go to Cloud Search: https://cloudsearch.google.com/
➡️Turn Cloud Search on if it isn't already: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6...
➡️Download the app for iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-...
➡️Download the app for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...
