How to Organize Files Using Workspaces on the Google Drive Priority Page

When you use Google Drive for an extended period, the sheer volume of files in “My Drive” can become impossible to navigate. While creating folders helps, navigating three or four folders deep just to find a document you need to edit every morning is tedious. To solve this, Google introduced the Priority page and its powerful “Workspaces” feature, allowing you to curate highly specific, easily accessible lists of only the files you are actively working on.

How to Access the Priority Page

The Priority page is designed to be a focused, distraction-free dashboard.

1. Open Google Drive in your web browser.
2. Look at the navigation sidebar on the far left side of the screen.
3. Click on Priority (it is usually located right below the main “My Drive” option).

The top half of the Priority page displays AI-driven suggestions—files Google thinks you might need based on your recent activity or upcoming calendar meetings. The bottom half is where you can build your custom Workspaces.

How to Create a Workspace

A Workspace is essentially a virtual folder. When you add a file to a Workspace, it does not actually move the file from its original location; it simply creates a highly visible shortcut to it.

1. On the Priority page, scroll down to the Workspaces section and click the Create Workspace button.
2. A dialog box will appear. Type a descriptive name for your workspace (e.g., “Q3 Marketing Campaign” or “Weekly Tax Reports”) and click Create.
3. Google Drive will immediately scan your account and suggest files it thinks belong in this new workspace. You can click these suggestions to instantly add them.
4. To add files manually, click the Choose other files option. A sidebar will slide out, allowing you to browse your entire Drive or search for specific documents. Check the box next to any file you want to add, and click Insert.
5. Once you have added all your necessary files, click Done.

Managing Your Workspaces

You can create multiple Workspaces for different projects or clients. Whenever you need to work on the “Q3 Marketing Campaign,” simply navigate to the Priority page, and every document, spreadsheet, and image you need for that specific project will be waiting for you in one tidy cluster.

Because Workspaces are just shortcuts, you can safely remove a file from a Workspace without deleting the original file. To do this, open the Workspace, right-click the file you want to remove, and select Remove from Workspace.

When a project is finally completed, you can hide the entire Workspace from your dashboard. Click the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner of the Workspace box and select Hide Workspace. This cleans up your Priority page while leaving the actual files safely stored in their original folders.