UPDATE: No longer works :(, how you used to be able to add Files and Folders to Google Drive.

[@houstonlatham3679]

Thank you! This was causing our small business such a headache. I had chatted with their support today and they never even mentioned this workaround. Thanks again!

[@TutorTerrific]

I’m glad it’s working for you! People are starting to report, within the last month, that the shift plus Z work around only works for folders, and that it’s not working for files. I am considering switching to Google Drive file stream for our organization.

[@AllisoNVG5]

Thank yooooooou! I was literary ABOUT TO CRY because today I wanted to add a shared folder to my drive when I stumbled upon the new "Add Shortcut" thing. I used it and immediately noticed that the folder icon was different from the others and since I am obsessed with my organizational aesthetics I did that TO ALL MY PREVIOUSLY "Added to Drive" Folders so that they would all look the same. I WAS MORTIFIED when I realized what I had done to my Google's Backup and Sync Folder and it seemed like there was no way to undo it 😭😭😭. You, sir, saved my files. I am soo thankful for that!!🙏

[@TutorTerrific]

Wow, thank you! You’re the exact kind of person I was hoping to reach with this video.

[@jjtbone]

Thank you!!!!!! I just pressed Shift-Z and it worked. Everything is is synced to my computer through Backup and Sync and life is great!

[@TutorTerrific]

Stoked for you! You are one of the lucky ones, it stopped working for most people months ago :(

[@mul_maen]

can you tell us what attributes of that folder?

[@mchanea]

I can't use Shift+Z anymore (February 2021). When I try it says "the server has encountered an error" and it does not create the link :-(

[@TutorTerrific]

Wait, it doesn’t even allow the menu to pop up?

[@gogoi.]

The workaround is Download AirExplorer App.

[@joeyowl.jolson7515]

YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I NEEDED THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

[@TutorTerrific]

Awesome, but does it still work for you?

[@joeyowl.jolson7515]

@@TutorTerrific yes it does. it only doesn't work if someone shares a folder with me from a business account

[@MilesLangley]

YES!! Just tried this and shift+z it works on the folder that was shared with me. Thank you for this tip!

[@TutorTerrific]

Oh, that’s good to hear! You must be one of the lucky ones. Pretty soon, it appears they are rolling out the change so that it only works for folders, move/add everything you want now before it’s too late!

[@chessgambit6134]

Shift plus z still shows add shortcut unlike just add in the video please help

[@TutorTerrific]

Sorry to hear that isn’t working for you anymore. They undid that workaround in phases, and I got hit even before you did. They are really pushing Google Drive file stream for network drives now.

[@davidabra8431]

this does now not seem to work :-( (April 2021)

[@petkokaramotchev9889]

Just checked (5/01/2021) and this "feature" is still working for me. Wondering why would Google remove the 'Add to my drive' feature and replaced it with 'Add shortcut to drive'. If they thought that it is a smart idea - well, their UX sucks big time. I want to use files natively on my computer, not to think every time: "OK, is this file shared with me or I shared with others?" I don't need the browser to open every time, there is a new 'Shared folder'. Was it because Google is implementing cost reduction policies or because of something else? We are a paying customer (40+ users) for G Suite and we are thinking of moving to Dropbox and Box because of this 'feature'.

[@TutorTerrific]

They are trying hard to push Google Drive file stream for businesses to use to share files. I believe, as I said in the video, that all the copies of files that I created are exponentially using up storage on their servers. I do think it is a cost saving measure, and it is a major pain, but I am really glad it works for you. For me, it stopped working last fall.

[@petkokaramotchev9889]

@@TutorTerrific I am not ‘glad’. Far away from it. Just waiting to see what they will come up with as a permanent solution. As said, we are actively planning to replace Google Drive as a collaboration space. Thanks for the answer.

[@vinni3075]

How can this work on mobile..if we want to move shared with me folder to my drive..

[@TheThejkevin]

You are a life saver. Thanks mate. I wish GoogleDrive was as efficient as Dropbox.

[@TutorTerrific]

Me too, I am considering switching, since this workaround no longer works for me :(

[@kenneth-tang]

Thanks so much man, this is what i've been searching for!!

[@TutorTerrific]

Appreciate it, let me know if it works for you. People have reported that it no longer works, and it no longer works for me..

[@mkg7manohar]

it works for the link and other but doesnt work with teamwork( where are goven access by the owner to access ). help here.

[@okharshal]

OMFG I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH MY DUDE! ❤️🤝🏼✨

[@TutorTerrific]

It still works for you? Rad, that is awesome.

[@zachafronzoom6581]

It’s not working now, first it shows files are added and then shows Server error encountered☹️

[@zachafronzoom6581]

Please help us 😓😓

[@TutorTerrific]

Wait, do you mean you can download the media creation tool and then it says server error, or is it at some point later in the process you get that error?

[@Helping.aspirant]

This not working now shift +z creationg shortcut

[@TutorTerrific]

Yep, it sucks. However, for some users, it is still working. They are slowly changing it over and what seems like a random fashion. If someone shared something with you, you have to make a copy, at your which point you’ll have ownership of the copied file, and then you can move it.

[@Helping.aspirant]

@@TutorTerrific is thre any other trick by which i can create acopy the a shared file

[@TutorTerrific]

Right click, and then select “Make a Copy “ from the available options.

[@Helping.aspirant]

@@TutorTerrific taht is not working

[@aryadeomehta7528]

Please Help ! That option not available for large zip files. Its only offering add shortcut when hitting shift+z. Please help I want to download a zip file of size 16 GB. using IDM it's asking for frequent refreshing of download link. eventually ending with "download quota exceeded google drive" try again after 24 hours.

[@TutorTerrific]

If someone shared this zip file with you through Google Drive, can you Instead of adding it to your drive, download it to your computer? Since it is so large, this may be the way you have to go. 16 GB is more than half of the normal storage people have for personal accounts on Google drive. After you do that, you can extract the files and upload folders/files to Google drive from your computer.

[@mul_maen]

left click to a folder then press Shift+ Z still work not work when select file(s) and/or multiple folder thank you update 30/04/2021 : add folder only for specific share (invitation from email, not anyone who have a link)

[@TutorTerrific]

Ok, good to hear it still works in certain situations.

[@wallmachine8780]

shared with me folders only gives me the option to create the shortcut however goodsync doesn't allow me to sync it to desktop. I also am a content manager which ungreyed Move to but then when tried to Move to My Drive it said I don't have permissions to move files out of the persons account. I just want to sync it to my desktop I don't want to move and remove the original permissions, any ideas?

[@TutorTerrific]

Are you allowed to make a copy? Some people have suggested doing that. Personally, it appears that they are really pushing Google Drive File Stream.

[@wallmachine8780]

@@TutorTerrific hmm dont see an option... i installed google drive file stream and it created a file system drive but how can you now sync this to an external drive? this is painful lol

[@farismahazan4032]

make a new video about it they updated so i cant add file to my GD

[@TutorTerrific]

Really? I just tried last night, and my shortcut still works just like it does in the video.

[@muhtasimzarif31]

@@TutorTerrific I am trying it now, and even if i press Shift+Z, there is only add shortcuts. I am trying with this file. Please check it yourself and reply. drive.google.com/file/d/1C6uJDMfEjnALqjaYxKgjwlfSprt-i8XX/view?usp=sharing

[@muhtasimzarif31]

Ohh, its working for the folders, not the files. And when I add the folder, its only added the folder not the files in it. So no use. Please check it yourself with this provided link. Thanks

[@muhtasimzarif31]

Dude, it is working but it needs some time to show up the files inside the folder. I am being too impatient. :D But the owner of the file does not changes. So downloading it still problematic. The folder downloaded itself via "Backup and sync", but the files are facing error. Please check.

[@farismahazan4032]

@@muhtasimzarif31 yeah me too , its not add to the GD its just make shorcut to the GD

[@i_gsyr]

Thank you, I used this couple months ago. I heard that they will remove the shift + z starting from November and they really did, I can't do this again just now. Do you have any other option to add files to drive?

[@milanpaseka4774]

the shift + z now!!! or< Thx

[@TutorTerrific]

All I know to do is make copies of what is shared with you. You then own the copy and can do as you wish.

[@joys0toys]

Thank you so very much for adding this video to KZbin. :)

[@TutorTerrific]

I appreciate that. I wish this fix still worked 100% of the time, but now it only works for folders :(

[@mohdrazif777]

From what I understand, all google docs, sheets etc will have no problem at all since they are stored in the cloud anyway. However, this will be a problem when I shared non-google files such as wordx or xlsx from PC1 to PC2 because they will appear as shortcuts in PC2 Google Drive folder. Since MS Office doesn't know how to open these shortcut files, the shortcut become absolutely useless in PC2. So, as workaround, we have to SHIFT + Z when dragging files so that the physical files will be synced between PC1 and PC2. In googleblog, it is written: After September 30, 2020, all files already living in multiple locations in My Drive will gradually be migrated to shortcuts. So what could possibly happen after 30th September 2020? All non-google files on PC2 will be useless? I think there will be less to no problem for MS Office because google can open it, but how about more complex and files such as .psd, .blend, .kbdx? Pretty sure Google can't open Photoshop or Blender in web browser.

[@TutorTerrific]

Google has stated that they will continue to allow Shift + Z to work until they figure out another solution for sharing folders and non-Google product files. If what googleblog says really is going to happen in the future with copies, I would suggest we start downloading things that we know are in multiple locations, delete them from one of the locations, and upload from the desktop. Google should treat them as two separate uploads, not copies of a single upload. One other thing I just noticed the other day that is really annoying is when you go to move a google product that is owned by someone else from one folder to another. It will try to create a shortcut and leave the file where it is, super annoying. You aren’t allowed to make a copy either.

[@learnnorth6192]

@@TutorTerrific Thanks for the video. Unfortunately, that button has now (Dec 2020) changed from Add to Add Shortcut. Are there any new workarounds?

[@lisag4878]

Shift Z no longer works either. It starts to say it is but then it says there is a server error try again later.

[@TutorTerrific]

Such a bummer, seems like there might be a server connection issue. I would recommend you try it again later just to be sure.

[@camonbike]

Not Working TOday!

[@Mr_Sarkar_S]

Thanks but now it's not working now. When I press shift+Z it shows "Add shortcut" instead of "Add". But I found a way there. When I clicked my right button of the mouse, "Make a copy" is still available there. Just click there and it will be located in your drive as a file.

[@TutorTerrific]

OK, good to know! I’m going to have to make a new video about how this now works, I’ll be sure to do a shout out to you. Google is slowly rolling out this change that makes the shift + Z shortcut obsolete, so it does still work for some people.

[@sijia26]

i did the shift+Z, its in my drive on the web, but backup/sync won't download it to my desktop, any ideas?!?

[@TutorTerrific]

What kind of file was it? And, does it instead download some little Google Drive link that if you click on, it will take you onto the web to your file online?

[@sijia26]

@@TutorTerrific it's a folder, it use to sync to desktop, not anymore with the shift z. Did they change something???

[@TutorTerrific]

That is very odd, shift plus z won’t make it sync, it should be syncing solely because it’s in your Google Drive folder on your desktop. Something similar to this actually happened to me and my colleague, who work in a shared folder using back up and sync. I will investigate further.

[@loweredb]

Thank you for making this video! Saved my sanity.

[@TutorTerrific]

Oh cool, glad to hear! Did you test to make sure that this workaround works for you still? Some are reporting that it has stopped working for files and even folders.

[@loweredb]

@@TutorTerrific tried it yesterday evening and it is still working as of today. Really hope it sticks because I have a lot of time invested in making Google drive work for my business. This was almost a deal killer.

[@TutorTerrific]

I have a feeling they’re going to start pushing Google Drive file stream pretty heavily. We might just have to bite the bullet and migrate our stuff over to that platform.

[@lauraludwig3397]

When I use the workaround, will it remove the folder from the shared with me and place it strictly in the new folder location?

[@TutorTerrific]

Yes indeed. I hope it works for you!

[@mohammadalkhoder9788]

Thanks but It seems to be working with folders only, not files

[@TutorTerrific]

I promise it works for files too. Make sure the file is highlighted, make sure you left click on it once, then press shift plus Z. I can’t verify if this works on an iPad, but I know that it works on devices running Windows and macOS.

[@yazzywanderlust]

It worked with one small folder, but I tried another folder; and it gives me a server error. Any recommendation?

[@TutorTerrific]

Oh dear, that’s very strange. Try closing your browser session and doing the same process from a different browser or different Internet connection..

[@gogoi.]

UPDATE-- 11 Feb 2021 No longer work for shared folders by others. Workaround Download- AirExplorer App on desktop

[@samburbon]

I tried AirExplorer but MountainDuck seems to be even better because you have all folders in your finder/explorer.

[@samburbon]

Update: I don't use Mountainduck anymore, the sync was very slow sometimes. The next alternatives which I'm going to test are oDrive or Raidrive. Both are also integrated into the finder/explorer.

[@ಠ_ಠ-ಜ4ಯ]

Is there a way to do this on iphone?

[@TutorTerrific]

I’m not sure, for any Google products, you can make a copy of some things someone else owns and then you can move that around in your drive however you want, but I haven’t heard of the keyboard shortcut for mobile devices of any kind. It sucks.

[@TheFeliceSkye]

Ugh! This doesn’t work anymore...I just want to put a ton of loose pictures into a folder to minimize the visual clutter, but it keeps trying to create a shortcut😔 thanks for your video anyway.👍🏾

[@TutorTerrific]

I know, it’s a bummer, just sucks how Google is taking this route.

[@saulochonay3614]

@@TutorTerrific I just tried Shift+z and still works

[@geminilius]

doesn't look like this works anymore. :(

[@daniellee4551]

Thanks for the video! This is exactly what I’m looking for ! But.. when I add shared folder with shift Z, it appears in my google drive for 2 seconds and then disappears. Any ideas ?! Is this work around closed ?

[@TutorTerrific]

For a lot of people now, it is indeed closed. Can you click on any of the sharing options before the menu closes?

[@daniellee4551]

@@TutorTerrific I can. I can add to my drive but the folder I add will remove it self momentarily after I’ve done it. 😕

[@edexstore]

As of now Shift + Z shows create shortcut itself

[@TutorTerrific]

I literally just tested it just now after reading your comment, and it still works. Do not right click on the file. Make sure you left click on the file one time to highlight it, then press shift plus Z. I promise the secret menu is still showing up.

[@dariitovzla]

Hey! Do you know if there is another way besides Shift + z, that no longer works? Thanks

[@juliomauriciomoranbrenes2153]

i need help too !!!!

[@roots6786]

I encounter that error when attempting to do the Shift + Z on the root folder, but if I do it on a subfolder, it works perfectly!

[@TutorTerrific]

How strange, I have heard of this happening before, seems like a glitch in Google’s attempt to make this not work anymore.

[@Zowiezo101]

From what I understood, it has to do with permission settings of the folder. I'm going to try this tomorrow and hope it fixes ny problem

[@ChigoIEbere]

This doesn't seem to work anymore.

[@TutorTerrific]

Are you sure? Are you making sure that the file or folder that you wanted to add has been clicked on and highlighted first? I had to make sure that was the case before the menu popped up with shift+z.

[@ChigoIEbere]

@@TutorTerrific It keeps bringing up add shortcuts

[@TutorTerrific]

I just checked myself, and it’s working on my windows computer, Using Google Chrome as my browser.

[@ChigoIEbere]

@@TutorTerrific Odd and can you drag things into a folder to add them without it spitting them out?

[@federicomontenegro9148]

I dont know what happend but dosent work right now

[@TutorTerrific]

It’s not you, they made another change. Now the shift plus Z shortcut only works for folders, not necessarily even the files inside the folders. So frustrating Google.

[@federicomontenegro9148]

@@TutorTerrific OMG the last week works

[@cjchen7909]

what else can we do? this is killing me

[@TutorTerrific]

Thay will force their hand, because they can. They want you to share files using another product, not backup and sync.

[@ritvikrangaraju6994]

bruh lifesaver thanks so much, left a like and sub

[@TutorTerrific]

Thank you very much. I am glad I could help.

[@mosymuis]

Holy shit, how ridiculously well hidden. But an essential tip to know. Thanks!

[@TutorTerrific]

Wait, does it actually still work for you? A lot of people report that the shift+z shortcut is now producing the “add shortcut” menu instead of the secret menus. I checked with my colleague and it still works for folders for him.

[@mosymuis]

@@TutorTerrific Yep. Worked great. In a G Suite-env...

[@0xrpj]

@@TutorTerrific it doesn't work now

[@TutorTerrific]

Yep, it stopped working for me a few weeks ago. Does it work when you try and move over a folder?

[@0xrpj]

@@TutorTerrific Nope.

[@dhairyapurohit4925]

Thank you so much brother you saved me , means a lot ✌️✌️

[@TutorTerrific]

Thank you! I wanted this video to help people, and it seems like people are finding it.

[@ms.sakura97]

Thank you so much for making this video. God bless you more

[@TutorTerrific]

Wow, that’s very nice. Tell me, does every part of what I showed in my video still work for you? For most people, it’s shifting to not working anymore.

[@ms.sakura97]

@@TutorTerrific It is still working for me. And that Shift+ Z saves me. Thank you again :)

[@helpdesk685]

took you 5 to say that thanks for explaining dude but that not what i was looking for :D

[@Sh00pM0n]

It no longer works for me... But still thanks!

[@mtrentvander]

5:57 Click on file > Hit shift + z. You're welcome.

[@federicomontenegro218]

The problem is not share with the other person like before...

[@TutorTerrific]

Yep, and that is exactly how I discovered the problem in the first place. Someone was attempting to share a folder with me, and I only got a shortcut to it.

[@federicomontenegro218]

@@TutorTerrific Yes works! thanks

[@robinpurple2769]

Thank you so much!!!

[@chrislaurens9551]

Thank you!!!

[@AdilMudhoffar]

Its Still Work, Great¬

[@TutorTerrific]

That’s rad, you are one of the lucky ones! It stopped working for me months ago :(

[@abdulkarimabbas2548]

Thanks a lot

[@TutorTerrific]

You’re welcome.

[@AngelineZaghloul]

Two comments: 1) Why do you spend 6 mins talking about the problem, when it took 30 seconds to explain the fix? 2) This doesn't actually work anymore. Can you please record a new video with an actual fix to the problem? Thanks

[@TutorTerrific]

1. I know I took a long time to explain it, but all you had to do was simply go to the description of the video to find a link to the fix, and you could’ve skipped all that introduction. 2. I haven’t had much time to look into a workaround for Google’s latest changes, and I am finding so far that there is no fix to what google is doing to make shortcuts permanent. It is truly unfortunate and frustrating, but if I find more time this week I’m going to research it some more.

[@deepjyotistories]

Not working for me brother thanks anyways

[@TutorTerrific]

Sorry to hear that, looks like you’re gonna have to make copies of the things you want to add to your drive then you should be able to add them.

[@deepjyotistories]

@@TutorTerrific How to do that?

[@deepjyotistories]

@@TutorTerrific Kindly explain in bit more details.

[@TutorTerrific]

I will double check that this works in the “shared with me” folder, but for Google products, if you right click on one and select “make a copy”, it will create a copy of it that you are now the owner of. Once you’re the owner, you can download it, upload it, and add it to your drive.

[@deepjyotistories]

@@TutorTerrific Its stuck at "creating a copy".

[@rain3748]

I press like dude

[@TutorTerrific]

Much appreciated, hope this vid helps you out.

[@abbiejoychan9828]

thank youu

[@TutorTerrific]

You are welcome!

[@motodork]

Shift + Z is now completely gone. And I think that's total bullshit.

[@TutorTerrific]

What, my video, or the fact that Google is doing this?

[@motodork]

@@TutorTerrific my apologies. “Not” should have been “now.” I mistyped. CTRL+Z no longer works. However, there is still a workaround.

[@igormacedo2841]

@@motodork hi! What is the new workaround?

[@motodork]

@@igormacedo2841 I believe you can create a folder on your google drive. Then create shortcut to the other persons video and put that shortcut in the folder you just created. Google drive will then create a copy of the video in that folder

[@gamingflexers6588]

you are GOD thx

[@MrNardusdutoit]

Why did they do this... Now I am 10 clicks further away from being more productive...

[@TutorTerrific]

I personally think it’s for the reason I share the beginning my video. A lot of copies of files were being made, and Google was seeing an Exponential increase in used Google Drive server storage. Now that they realize how many people know the shift plus z shortcut, they’re starting to make that inaccessible to users. It still works for some, but the number of people it’s not working for is increasing.

[@blaz_e007]

Superrr

[@TutorTerrific]

Thanks!

[@blaz_e007]

@@TutorTerrific keep doing making this kind of rare videos 👍

[@TutorTerrific]

That’s definitely what I want to do, it’s just hard to find content like this that’s rare enough that most nobody else has made a video for, but it is important enough that a lot of people will find. It’s a tough balance to get.

[@blaz_e007]

@@TutorTerrific that's true👍

[@aldasarmanavicius6826]

Yes shift+z :D Liuks

[@TutorTerrific]

At least it is an easy shortcut to remember!