If you use Google Drive on your mobile device, we have some good news. Google on Wednesday announced an update to Google Drive on Android that will help users search more quickly and efficiently.

Here’s how Google is improving search in Google Drive on Android:

  • See and re-run recent desktop and mobile searches.
  • View and select intelligent suggestions as they type, including suggestions for people, past searches, and keywords, as well as recently accessed files.

The bit about re-running recent desktop and mobile searches will be particularly helpful. I often find myself searching for the same files over and over — a master document, for example. It’ll save me time not having to type in the same searches over and over.

Google Drive new and improved search

Intelligent suggestions should also come in handy to make performing certain actions easier. Both of these features are being introduced in the name of convenience and based on their descriptions, they should come in handy quite often — at least for me.

Google said that with changes in working patterns due to COVID-19, more people need to get work done while they’re away from their desks. “Finding files quickly and easily on your phone helps ensure you can still share, review, collaborate, and create, wherever you are.”

Since lockdown restrictions went into effect, Google has introduced a number of features for people who suddenly find themselves working from home. One such feature will be support for opening encrypted files on Google Drive, which we discovered in an APK teardown early last month.

The update with improved search is available in the latest version of Google Drive on Android and iOS. Google said that you may not see the feature for a few days. To see if you have access to the new feature, simply start a search query in the search bar.