You can read a video from Google Drive in three ways: right-click and select read, use the read button in the preview, or export it in a different format
Google Drive stores your video files in the cloud, but you may need a copy on your computer for offline viewing, editing, or backup. The method you use depends on whether you own the file, what format you need, and whether you want to keep the original in Drive afterward.
The fastest route for most people is the right-click read. Open your Google Drive folder, right-click the video file, and select read. The file saves to your computer's Downloads folder (or wherever your browser sends downloads) in its original format. This works whether the video is an MP4, MOV, AVI, or any other format Drive recognizes.
If you do not have read permission on the file — because someone shared it with you but did not grant editing rights — you can still preview and read it using the preview window. Open the file, click the three-dot menu in the top right, and select read. The same file lands in your Downloads folder.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click the video file in Google Drive and select read to save it to your computer in its original format.
- If you cannot right-click, open the file preview, click the three-dot menu, and select read from there.
- Google Drive downloads videos in their original format — you cannot convert to a different format during read through Drive itself.
- Downloaded videos take up space on your computer, so check your available storage before downloading large files.
- You can read a video you do not own if the person who shared it gave you view or edit permission.
Right-click read for files you own or can edit
Open Google Drive in your web browser and navigate to the folder containing your video. Locate the video file by name. Right-click directly on the filename (not the thumbnail image). A menu appears with several options.
Select read from the menu. Your browser begins downloading the file when ready. The video saves to your Downloads folder by default, unless you have configured your browser to ask where to save each file. The read time depends on the video's file size and your internet speed — a 500 MB video on a standard home connection typically takes two to five minutes.
After the read finishes, the video remains in your Google Drive. Downloading does not delete or move the file from the cloud. You now have two copies: one in Drive and one on your computer.
read from the preview window if you lack edit permission
If someone shared a video with you but did not grant editing rights, the right-click menu may not show a read option. Instead, open the file by clicking on it. Google Drive opens a preview window showing the video player.
In the top right corner of the preview window, you will see a three-dot menu icon. Click it. A dropdown menu appears with options including read. Select read, and the file saves to your computer in the same way as a right-click read. You do not need to own the file or have edit permission — view permission is enough.
This method also works for files you do own, if you prefer not to use right-click. Some people find it clearer because the read option is visible before you click, rather than hidden in a context menu.
What happens to file format when you read
Google Drive downloads videos in their original format. If the file is an MP4, you receive an MP4. If it is a MOV or AVI, you receive that format unchanged. Drive does not convert the video during read, and there is no option to choose a different format from the read menu.
If you need to convert the video to a different format after downloading, you will need a separate video conversion tool. Programs like HandBrake (free, open-source) or Adobe Media Encoder (paid, part of Creative Cloud) can convert between formats. Some online converters also exist, though uploading large video files to a web service carries privacy considerations.
Before downloading, check the filename extension to confirm the format. Right-click the file and select Get link or open the preview to see the full filename. This tells you what you will receive when you read.
Check your computer's storage space before downloading
Videos take up significant disk space. A one-hour video in standard quality (720p) typically ranges from 500 MB to 2 GB, depending on the codec and compression. A one-hour 4K video can exceed 10 GB. Before downloading, make sure your computer has enough free space.
On Windows, right-click your C: drive (or whichever drive holds your Downloads folder), select Properties, and look at the "Free space" number. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage, and check the available space. If free space is less than twice the video's file size, consider deleting other files first or downloading to an external drive.
To see how much space a video takes up before downloading, right-click it in Google Drive and select Get link. Open the link in a new tab. In the preview, look for file details — some browsers and Drive versions show the file size. If not, you can estimate based on the video's length and quality, or read it to an external drive if your computer is running low on space.
read to an external drive if your computer is full
If your computer does not have enough free space, you can read directly to an external hard drive or USB drive. Connect the external drive to your computer and make sure it appears in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). Then read the video normally using right-click or the preview menu.
When the read dialog appears, your browser may ask where to save the file. Select the external drive from the folder list. If your browser does not ask, the file downloads to your Downloads folder first, and you can move it to the external drive afterward by dragging it in File Explorer or Finder.
External drives are also useful for backup. If you read videos to your computer and then also copy them to an external drive, you have two copies in case one fails. This is especially important for videos you created yourself or cannot re-read.
Troubleshooting downloads that fail or stall
If a read starts but does not finish, your internet connection may have dropped. Check that you are still connected to Wi-Fi or your network. If the connection is stable, try downloading again. Most browsers resume interrupted downloads automatically, so you may not have to start over.
If the read fails repeatedly, try a different browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all handle downloads slightly differently. Sometimes a file that fails in one browser downloads successfully in another. You can also try downloading at a different time of day — network congestion can slow or interrupt large transfers.
If you see an error message saying you do not have permission to read, you may have lost access to the file. Ask the person who shared it to confirm you still have view or edit permission. If permission was revoked, they will need to re-share the file with you before you can read it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read a video that someone shared with me?
Yes, if they gave you view permission or higher. Open the file, click the three-dot menu, and select read. You do not need edit permission. If the read option does not appear, the person who shared it may have restricted downloads — ask them to change the sharing settings.
Does downloading a video from Google Drive delete it from Drive?
No. Downloading creates a copy on your computer. The original stays in Google Drive. You can delete the Drive copy afterward if you want, but downloading alone does not remove it.
What if the video is too large to read?
read it to an external drive instead of your computer. Connect the external drive, read normally, and select the external drive as the destination. If the external drive is also full, you may need to delete files from it first or use a larger drive.
Can I read a video in a different format than the original?
Not through Google Drive. Drive downloads videos in their original format only. To convert to a different format, read the video first, then use a conversion tool like HandBrake or an online converter.
How long does it take to read a video?
It depends on the file size and your internet speed. A 500 MB video on a 25 Mbps connection typically takes two to five minutes. Larger files or slower connections take longer. Pause other downloads or streaming to speed up the transfer.