Google Drive Adds One-Click Video Editing with AI-Powered Vids

Google has taken another step toward making content creation seamless by rolling out a new AI-powered shortcut for video editing inside Google Drive. The update, powered by Google Vids, was announced last week and is designed to eliminate the hassle of switching between different apps for basic video edits.

This new feature allows users to directly open videos stored in Drive into Google Vids with one click, making the process faster, smoother, and more user-friendly. The integration highlights Google’s broader push to unify its productivity and creative tools under one ecosystem.

How the Google Drive Video Editing Shortcut Works

Launching Videos in Google Vids

With the latest update, when you preview a video in Drive, you’ll notice an “Open” button in the upper-right corner of the window.

• Clicking this button instantly loads the video into Google Vids.

• Once opened, the video file is automatically prepared for editing, with a new Vids file created for edits.

• To export the final product, users must follow the regular process of saving/exporting to a non-Vids editable file.

This shortcut dramatically reduces the number of steps involved in editing, giving professionals, educators, and casual creators an efficient way to polish video content directly from Drive.

Editing Features in Google Vids

Inside the Google Vids interface, users gain access to a variety of AI-powered editing tools:

• Trim clips for shorter edits

• Add music or background audio

• Insert titles, captions, or text overlays

• Apply simple effects to enhance video presentation

This integration is particularly useful for quick turnarounds—whether for marketing teams, classrooms, or personal projects—without the need for third-party software.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

Supported File Types

Google Vids currently supports uploads in the following formats:

• MP4

• Quicktime

• OGG

• WebM

File and Clip Limitations

• Each clip can be up to 35 minutes long

• Maximum file size per clip is 4 GB

Adding Additional Media

You can upload and insert extra images or clips into a video from:

• Google Drive

• Google Photos

• Your Computer

• The Web

Account Requirements

Ensure you are signed in with the Google account that holds the Drive or Photos files you want to edit.

Turning Google Vids On or Off

By default, Google Vids is enabled, but admins have the flexibility to manage its availability.

How to Manage Vids Access

1. Sign in to the Google Admin console.

2. Navigate to Apps → Google Workspace → Drive and Docs.

3. Select Google Vids.

4. Use the toggle to switch the service On or Off for everyone.

5. Click Save to confirm.

Note: If Google Docs is turned OFF in your domain, then Vids will also be inaccessible.

Browser Support for Google Vids

Currently, Google Vids works smoothly with the two most recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

• Other browsers may not support all features according to Google’s support page.

• Users are advised to keep browsers updated for optimal performance.

Availability Across Google Workspace

The new editing feature is available for a wide range of Google Workspace editions, including:

• Business Starter, Standard, Plus

• Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus

• Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus

• Nonprofits

• Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus

It is also available for those who previously purchased add-ons like:

• Gemini Business

• Gemini Enterprise

• Google AI Pro and Ultra

Why This Update Matters

By embedding video editing directly into Drive, Google is not only making workflows faster but also expanding the role of AI in everyday productivity tools. The feature supports a wide range of use cases:

• Educators can quickly create instructional content.

• Businesses can edit marketing videos directly from Drive.

• Students and casual creators can polish projects without downloading external apps.

This move reflects Google’s strategy to compete with Microsoft and Adobe in the productivity and creative tool space by offering lightweight, AI-powered editing within its ecosystem.

Conclusion

The integration of Google Vids with Google Drive marks a significant leap in how users handle video editing. By allowing videos to be edited directly within Drive, Google reduces the friction of switching apps, making content creation faster and more accessible.

With AI-driven tools, cross-platform availability, and robust Workspace integration, this feature is likely to benefit everyone from professionals to educators and students. As Google continues to embed AI across its services, video editing inside Drive may become as common as editing a Doc or a Slide.