Use Google Drive for desktop

Drive File Stream is now called Google Drive for desktop. We're unifying our sync clients to bring features from Backup and Sync to Google Bulldoze for desktop and create a better user feel. For a list of features, learn more most the change to Bulldoze for desktop.

What it means to sync files and how it works

You lot tin utilise Drive for desktop to go along your files in sync between the cloud and your figurer. Syncing is the process of downloading files from the cloud and uploading files from your computer's difficult bulldoze. Later on syncing, the files on your computer match the files in the deject. If you lot edit, delete, or motion a file in ane location, the same modify happens in the other location. That way, your files are always up to date and can be accessed from any device.

In Bulldoze for desktop, yous can choose to stream or mirror My Bulldoze files. Your files are constitute in different places on your calculator based on whether you choose to mirror or stream them.

What it means to mirror or stream your files

With Drive for desktop, you can admission files stored in Google Bulldoze from your computer.  Any changes y'all make to your files will exist synced. All files in shared drives, USBs, and other computers volition be streamed from the cloud to your calculator. You tin choose to mirror or stream your My Drive files.

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

When y'all stream files, your My Drive files are stored in the cloud. Difficult drive space is just used when you open files and brand them bachelor offline. Files that are non available offline tin can only be accessed when yous're connected to the internet. All files, including those available offline, can be accessed only when the app is running. Files can be accessed through a mounted drive on your computer.

Of import: These options don't apply to any folders on your computer that y'all sync with Google Bulldoze. Folders on your reckoner sync to the Computers tab in Google Drive.

Switch from mirroring to streaming

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

On Windows, you need to quit Drive for desktop before removing the binder from your figurer.

Important: In order to stream files from Google Drive to your figurer, Drive for desktop uses a virtual drive. The size of this virtual drive depends on the space available on your figurer.

Options for folders on your computer

You lot can sync a folder with Google Drive or back it up to Google Photos.

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

Important: If you are storing photos and videos, we recommend only backing up to Google Photos. If you lot choose to shop your files in both places, photos and videos in the folder get uploaded twice, which uses more of your Google business relationship storage.

Requite MacOS permission

MacOS requires applications like Bulldoze 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 but ask to access folders or devices you cull to sync with Google Drive, back up to Google Photos, or both. Drive for desktop will too ask for access if you choose to use the Existent Time Presence feature or a Bluetooth key to sign in.

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

Troubleshoot errors

In Drive for desktop, y'all might see a "Some errors occurred" imprint under "Activity." You can view the list of errors by clicking the link in the banner or by clicking Settings and thenMistake list.

Stream with FileProvider

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

Sync with the Computers tab in Google Drive

If y'all sync folders on your computer with Google Drive, those folders will announced in Google Drive under "Computers" on the left of Drive for web and on the Bulldoze mobile app. If you add together, edit, motility, or delete items from these folders on web or mobile, those changes volition also be fabricated on your computer.

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 cache allows Drive for desktop to open your files faster.
  • If your cache directory path is unavailable, you can't use Drive for desktop.

To change the location of your local enshroud directory:

  1. Open Bulldoze for desktop.
  2. Click Settings Settingsand thenPreferences.
  3. Click Settings Settings.
  4. Observe "Local cache files directory" and click Change.
  5. Select a new cache location.
  6. Click Alter.

Removable devices

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

A removable device can have more than one folder. During migration, yous'll demand to connect removable devices to continue syncing or backing up those folders. These devices should remain connected throughout migration.

Important: USB devices won't exist migrated.

Backup folders to Google Photos

If your folders contain more than 95% photos and videos, you can choose to backup your files to Google Photos just.

  • If you were previously syncing with Drive and bankroll up to Photos, you can salvage storage past uploading photos and videos to only 1 location.
  • If you lot were previously syncing only with Drive, you lot'll still save storage because only photos and videos will be uploaded. If syncing with Drive, everything, including thumbnails and metadata, will exist synced.
  • If you were previously syncing with Drive, your files will remain in Drive.

Of import: USB devices won't be migrated.

What happens if you cease syncing a folder

If you stop syncing a binder, whatsoever new or edited files won't exist synced between your computer and the deject. This means that if you added new files or modified existing files, those changes won't exist uploaded to the deject.

If yous want to upload everything, continue syncing the binder.

Bulldoze for desktop tabs

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

Folders on your estimator that sync with Drive can be institute in the "Computers" tab. The Computers tab groups folders by computer, then you might observe previously synced computers.

Folders in the "My Drive" tab tin stream or mirror to your computer. You tin admission these folders through the virtual bulldoze on your figurer.

Apple Photos Arrangement Photos Library

You lot can only back upward your System Photos Library to Google Photos. Other Apple Photo Libraries can be synced with Drive. If you choose 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 Arrangement Photograph Library is the merely library that can be used with iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photo Stream. If you have only one photo library, then it'south the System Photograph Library. Otherwise, the first photo library that you create or open in Photos will become the Arrangement Photo Library. If you're currently using MacOS Catalina or later, difficult drive space will be temporarily used to download photos and videos from your iCloud and upload them to Google Photos.

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