What you need to know
In a significant upgrade, Google Drive has bid farewell to its outdated file viewer, introducing a sleek and efficient interface that enhances user experience. This transformation is particularly noticeable when accessing PDFs, images, and videos, which now open in a more streamlined workspace.
- The PDF viewing experience has been notably improved, featuring a sidebar that includes a table of contents and page thumbnails, making navigation a breeze.
- Video files have also received a remarkable enhancement with the introduction of a transcript search tool. Users can now easily locate specific spoken keywords within videos, eliminating the need to scrub through lengthy recordings.
- Additionally, Google Drive now offers Gemini-powered audio summaries, allowing users to generate and listen to quick overviews directly from the side panel or access saved summaries in the “Audio overviews” folder.
This overhaul not only improves functionality but also refreshes the overall aesthetic of the platform. The redesigned toolbar and intuitive file menu contribute to a more organized and user-friendly environment, alleviating the previous sense of clutter.
The rollout of this new viewer is currently in progress for users on Google’s Rapid Release track, while those on Scheduled Release domains can expect the update to begin on December 11, 2025. Both personal and Workspace users will benefit from these enhancements, marking a significant step forward in Google Drive’s evolution.
