Use Google Drive for desktop

Drive File Stream is at present called Google Drive for desktop. Nosotros're unifying our sync clients to bring features from Backup and Sync to Google Drive for desktop and create a meliorate user experience. For a list of features, larn more about the change to Drive for desktop.

What information technology ways to sync files and how it works

Y'all can employ Drive for desktop to go along your files in sync between the cloud and your calculator. Syncing is the procedure of downloading files from the cloud and uploading files from your computer's hard drive. Later syncing, the files on your computer friction match the files in the deject. If you edit, delete, or move a file in one location, the same alter happens in the other location. That mode, your files are always upward to date and can be accessed from whatever device.

In Drive for desktop, you tin choose to stream or mirror My Drive files. Your files are establish in different places on your reckoner based on whether you choose to mirror or stream them.

What information technology means to mirror or stream your files

With Drive for desktop, you can access files stored in Google Drive from your computer.  Any changes you brand to your files volition be synced. All files in shared drives, USBs, and other computers will be streamed from the cloud to your computer. You lot can cull to mirror or stream your My Drive files.

When you lot mirror files, all of your My Drive files are stored in the cloud and on your reckoner, which takes up hard drive space. All of your files will be accessible at any time, even when you don't have an internet connectedness or the Drive for desktop  app running. Files can be accessed through a folder on your computer.

When you stream files, your My Drive files are stored in the deject. Hard drive space is just used when you open files and make them bachelor offline. Files that are not available offline can but be accessed when you lot're continued to the cyberspace. All files, including those available offline, can be accessed only when the app is running. Files can be accessed through a mounted bulldoze on your computer.

Important: These options don't apply to any folders on your computer that you sync with Google Drive. Folders on your computer sync to the Computers tab in Google Drive.

Switch from mirroring to streaming

When y'all switch from mirroring My Drive files to streaming My Drive files, the location of your files on your reckoner changes. With streaming, y'all can access files via a virtual bulldoze on your computer. The folder where y'all mirrored My Bulldoze files volition remain on your computer but is no longer syncing, and therefore can be removed to avert losing any changes.

On Windows, you lot need to quit Bulldoze for desktop before removing the folder from your computer.

Of import: In club to stream files from Google Drive to your computer, Drive for desktop uses a virtual drive. The size of this virtual drive depends on the space available on your computer.

Options for folders on your estimator

Y'all can sync a folder with Google Bulldoze or dorsum it up to Google Photos.

  • If yous sync with Google Drive: Everything in the folder will be uploaded. All changes will be synced between your computer and Google Drive. You tin admission all your files from any device at drive.google.com or via the Google Bulldoze app.
  • If you back up to Google Photos: Only photos and videos will be uploaded. Changes will not be synced betwixt your computer and Google Photos. You tin can view your photos and videos from whatever device at photos.google.com or via the Google Photos app.

Of import: If you are storing photos and videos, we recommend simply bankroll upwardly to Google Photos. If yous cull to shop your files in both places, photos and videos in the folder get uploaded twice, which uses more than of your Google account storage.

Give MacOS permission

MacOS requires applications like Drive for desktop to ask for permission to access certain folders and devices including your Desktop, Documents, and Downloads folders, removable and network volumes, and your Photos library.

Drive for desktop will only ask to access folders or devices you cull to sync with Google Drive, back up to Google Photos, or both. Drive for desktop will also inquire for access if yous cull to utilise the Real Time Presence feature or a Bluetooth key to sign in.

If you deny access, but want to continue syncing a folder or device, go to System Preferences and modify your privacy settings. You might need to restart Drive for desktop for changes to take outcome.

Troubleshoot errors

In Drive for desktop, you lot might come across a "Some errors occurred" banner under "Activity." You can view the list of errors by clicking the link in the banner or by clicking Settings and thenError list.

Stream with FileProvider

FileProvider is a way that Bulldoze for desktop streams files from the cloud to your computer. FileProvider chooses the location on your estimator to stream files. This location can't be changed.

Sync with the Computers tab in Google Drive

If you sync folders on your figurer with Google Bulldoze, those folders will appear in Google Drive under "Computers" on the left of Drive for spider web and on the Drive mobile app. If you add, edit, move, or delete items from these folders on web or mobile, those changes will too be made on your reckoner.

Change the location of your local cache directory

When streaming files from Google Drive to your computer, a local cache directory is created.

  • The directory stores data about files you open and make available offline.
  • The enshroud allows Drive for desktop to open your files faster.
  • If your cache directory path is unavailable, you can't employ Drive for desktop.

To change the location of your local enshroud directory:

  1. Open up Drive for desktop.
  2. Click Settings Settingsand thenPreferences.
  3. Click Settings Settings.
  4. Find "Local cache files directory" and click Change.
  5. Select a new cache location.
  6. Click Modify.

Removable devices

You tin can backup folders stored on removable devices, similar an external difficult bulldoze.

A removable device can have more one binder. During migration, you'll demand to connect removable devices to go along syncing or bankroll up those folders. These devices should remain connected throughout migration.

Important: USB devices won't be migrated.

Backup folders to Google Photos

If your folders comprise more than 95% photos and videos, you can choose to fill-in your files to Google Photos only.

  • If yous were previously syncing with Bulldoze and bankroll upwardly to Photos, you can save storage by uploading photos and videos to only one location.
  • If you were previously syncing only with Drive, you'll still save storage because only photos and videos will exist uploaded. If syncing with Drive, everything, including thumbnails and metadata, will be synced.
  • If yous were previously syncing with Drive, your files will remain in Drive.

Important: USB devices won't exist migrated.

What happens if you cease syncing a folder

If you stop syncing a folder, any new or edited files won't be synced between your reckoner and the deject. This means that if y'all added new files or modified existing files, those changes won't be uploaded to the cloud.

If you want to upload everything, continue syncing the folder.

Bulldoze for desktop tabs

In that location are three main storage locations within Google Drive: My Drive, Shared drives, and Computers. These locations are shown as tabs in Drive.

Folders on your calculator that sync with Drive can be found in the "Computers" tab. The Computers tab groups folders by computer, so you might find previously synced computers.

Folders in the "My Drive" tab can stream or mirror to your computer. You can access these folders through the virtual drive on your estimator.

Apple tree Photos System Photos Library

You can only back up your System Photos Library to Google Photos. Other Apple tree Photograph Libraries tin exist synced with Drive. If you cull to sync an Apple Photos Library with Drive, everything in the library will sync, including thumbnails and other metadata. When moving your account, Drive for desktop might not know the full size of your iCloud.

Your System Photo Library is the only library that tin can exist used with iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photo Stream. If you have only one photo library, then it's the System Photograph Library. Otherwise, the get-go photo library that you create or open in Photos will become the System Photo Library. If you're currently using MacOS Catalina or later, hard bulldoze space will be temporarily used to download photos and videos from your iCloud and upload them to Google Photos.

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