Google Drive Introduces In-Browser Video Editing Paid Users

Google has quietly rolled out Google Vids, an in-browser video editor integrated directly into Google Drive’s preview window—but it’s only available for paid Workspace and AI subscribers.

When previewing compatible clips—MP4, QuickTime, OGG, or WebM up to 35 minutes or 4 GB—a new “Open” button appears in the top-right corner. Clicking it launches your video into Google Vids, where you can:

• Trim and crop footage quickly
• Insert text overlays for captions or titles
• Add background music and sound effects
• Apply simple transitions and formatting

Exports generate a fresh file, keeping your original clip intact. This integration allows teams to edit videos directly in Drive without downloads or third-party apps, streamlining workflows for quick polish and collaboration.

Who Gets Access

Google Vids is automatically enabled for:

• Workspace Business and Enterprise customers
• Nonprofits using Workspace
• Gemini Education/Premium and Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers
• Legacy purchasers of the discontinued Gemini Business/Enterprise add-ons

Personal free Google accounts and lower-tier Workspace plans do not have access. Admins can block Vids even for supported organizations, but it’s enabled by default for eligible paid subscribers.

What This Means for Users

For teams already invested in Workspace’s AI-infused tiers, Google Vids provides a powerful, integrated solution for quick edits, reducing reliance on external software. Non-paying users, however, will still need third-party editors or Drive extensions to perform basic trimming or overlays.

This rollout highlights Google’s trend of gating advanced productivity tools behind paid tiers, leveraging AI and cloud integration to enhance collaboration for business, education, and nonprofit teams.

For teams looking to simplify video workflows while keeping files in Drive, Google Vids is a welcome upgrade—provided you’re on the right subscription.