Link to Google Shared Drive file

Douglas Howell 5 Reputation points
2026-03-02T00:37:48.4533333+00:00

How do I insert a link in a Word document to a file on my organization's Google Shared drive? The MS Word "Add a Place" function doesn't show the shared drive and I am not sure how to add it manually.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For education | Windows

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  1. Huy-K 13,985 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-03-02T01:26:23.85+00:00

    Dear @Douglas Howell,

    Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

    I apologize for any inconvenience you may encounter when using our services/ products. Based on your description, kindly try these following steps:

    Get the share link from Google Shared Drive (in browser)

    • In Google Drive, locate the file in the Shared drive.
    • Share the file (or confirm it is already shared) and copy the link.
    • Make sure the people who will read your Word document also have permission to open that Drive file (Google Drive sharing controls whether others can view/edit/open).

    Insert that link into Word

    • In Word > Insert > Links > Insert Link (or press Ctrl + K).
    • In the Insert Hyperlink dialog, keep "Existing File or Web Page" selected, then paste the Google Drive URL into the Address box.

    User's image

    • (Optional) Change Text to display to something friendly (for example: “Project spec (Google Drive)”) > OK.

    Note: The Link drop-down gallery in Word is designed around Microsoft cloud storage; Microsoft explicitly states only files stored in OneDrive/SharePoint show up in that link gallery. So it is expected that your organization’s Google Shared Drive will not show there.

    Here is a reference: Add links to recent files into your document, workbook or presentation - Microsoft Support

    I sincerely hope you understand that the initial steps I suggested may not have completely fixed the issue, as there may still be underlying causes that have not yet been identified. I am here to work closely with you, troubleshoot effectively, and explore every possible solution to ensure the best possible outcome.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-03-02T00:37:59.1133333+00:00

    Use a normal hyperlink in Word that points to the Google Shared Drive file’s URL or network path instead of “Add a Place.” “Add a Place” only supports certain cloud services and cannot be extended manually.

    To insert the link in desktop Word:

    1. Get the share link or path for the file on the Google Shared drive (for example, from Google Drive’s “Get link” option, or a mapped network path if IT has mapped the shared drive as a drive letter).
    2. In Word, place the cursor where the link should appear.
    3. Press Ctrl+K to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog.
    4. In Address, paste the Google Shared drive URL or path.
    5. In Text to display, type the friendly text that should appear in the document.
    6. Select OK.

    Alternatively, in Word for the web:

    1. Place the cursor where the link should appear.
    2. Go to Insert > Link.
    3. In Display text, type the link text.
    4. In Enter Link, paste the Google Shared drive URL.
    5. Select Insert.

    This creates a standard hyperlink; users with access to the Google Shared drive will be able to open the file from the link.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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