Prior to the August 2024 update, toggling between grid and list view in Google Drive was as simple as pressing the “V” key. This single-key shortcut offered a quick and efficient way to visualize your files and folders in different formats. However, with the recent update, Google has replaced the “V” shortcut with a new key combination: “Alt + V then L.”
Understanding the Change: From “V” to “Alt + V then L”
While this change may initially seem disruptive, it’s important to understand the reasoning behind it. Google is constantly striving to improve the accessibility and usability of its products. The new shortcut aligns with their broader efforts to create a more consistent and intuitive keyboard navigation experience across all Google Workspace applications.
Mastering the New Shortcut: Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s break down the new “Alt + V then L” shortcut into simple steps:
- Press and hold the “Alt” key on your keyboard.
- While holding “Alt,” press the “V” key. This will open a menu with various view options.
- Release both “Alt” and “V.”
- Press the “L” key. This will toggle between grid view and list view.
Remember, practice makes perfect. It may take a few attempts to get used to the new key combination, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll find it just as efficient as the old “V” shortcut.
Practical Applications: Organizing Your Digital Classroom
The ability to seamlessly switch between grid and list view in Google Drive offers numerous benefits for teachers. Here are a few practical examples of how you can leverage this feature to organize your digital classroom:
- Visualizing Lesson Plans: Use grid view to create a visually appealing and organized collection of lesson plans. Add eye-catching thumbnails or color-coded labels to differentiate subjects or grade levels. Switch to list view to quickly scan through lesson titles and access key details.
- Managing Student Work: Create separate folders for each student or project. Use grid view to display student work in a gallery-like format, allowing for easy comparison and feedback. Switch to list view to sort student submissions by name, date, or other criteria.
- Collaborating with Colleagues: Share folders with fellow teachers and use grid view to showcase collaborative projects or resources. Switch to list view to facilitate discussions and track progress on shared documents.
- Creating a Student-Centered Learning Environment: Empower students to take ownership of their learning by providing them with access to relevant folders in your Google Drive. Encourage them to use grid view to explore and organize resources in a way that resonates with their individual learning styles.
Original Blog Post
Press V: Switch Between Grid View and List View
In Google Drive press the V key. This will toggle you between grid view and list view easily.
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List view shows the title of the documents in a concise list. (Tip: click Q Q quickly to adjust the comfort level of the spacing). Grid view shows a large square preview of the document.
Most of the time I have my Google Drive in list view. I want to quickly scroll through a lot of documents. List view allows me to see more items at a time. However, sometimes I am not sure what I named the file and need the preview of the document to locate easily.
Pressing V will toggle between the list view and the grid view. If you need to preview the document press P. Note these are NOT using other keys like Control. It is just V to toggle the VIEW and P to toggle the PREVIEW.
