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 better user experience. For a list of features, learn more near the change to Drive for desktop.

What it means to sync files and how it works

Y'all can use Bulldoze for desktop to proceed your files in sync between the deject and your computer. Syncing is the process of downloading files from the cloud and uploading files from your figurer'due south hard drive. After syncing, the files on your calculator match the files in the cloud. If you edit, delete, or move a file in one location, the same change happens in the other location. That way, your files are always up to date and can be accessed from any device.

In Drive for desktop, yous can choose to stream or mirror My Drive files. Your files are establish in unlike places on your computer based on whether you choose to mirror or stream them.

What it means to mirror or stream your files

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

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

When you stream files, your My Drive files are stored in the deject. Hard drive infinite is only used when you open files and brand them available offline. Files that are not bachelor offline can merely be accessed when you're connected to the internet. All files, including those available offline, tin be accessed only when the app is running. Files can be accessed through a mounted bulldoze on your computer.

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

Switch from mirroring to streaming

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

On Windows, y'all need to quit Bulldoze for desktop before removing the binder from your computer.

Important: In social club to stream files from Google Drive to your figurer, Drive for desktop uses a virtual bulldoze. The size of this virtual drive depends on the space bachelor on your computer.

Options for folders on your computer

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

  • If you sync with Google Drive: Everything in the binder will exist uploaded. All changes will exist synced between your computer and Google Bulldoze. You tin can access all your files from whatsoever device at drive.google.com or via the Google Drive app.
  • If you lot back up to Google Photos: Simply photos and videos will be uploaded. Changes will not be synced between your reckoner and Google Photos. You 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 cull to shop your files in both places, photos and videos in the folder go uploaded twice, which uses more of your Google account storage.

Give MacOS permission

MacOS requires applications like Drive for desktop to enquire 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 choose to sync with Google Drive, back up to Google Photos, or both. Bulldoze for desktop will also enquire for admission if you choose to utilize the Real Fourth dimension Presence characteristic or a Bluetooth key to sign in.

If you deny admission, merely desire to keep syncing a folder or device, go to System Preferences and alter your privacy settings. You lot might need to restart Bulldoze for desktop for changes to take effect.

Troubleshoot errors

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

Stream with FileProvider

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

Sync with the Computers tab in Google Drive

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

Modify 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 almost 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 tin can't use Drive for desktop.

To modify the location of your local cache directory:

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

Removable devices

Y'all tin backup folders stored on removable devices, like an external difficult drive.

A removable device can take more than than one binder. During migration, you'll need to connect removable devices to continue syncing or backing upwards those folders. These devices should remain continued throughout migration.

Important: USB devices won't be migrated.

Backup folders to Google Photos

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

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

Of import: USB devices won't exist migrated.

What happens if y'all stop syncing a folder

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

If you desire to upload everything, go along syncing the binder.

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

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

Apple Photos System Photos Library

Y'all tin can just support your System Photos Library to Google Photos. Other Apple tree Photo Libraries tin exist synced with Bulldoze. If yous cull to sync an Apple Photos Library with Drive, everything in the library will sync, including thumbnails and other metadata. When moving your business relationship, Drive for desktop might not know the full size of your iCloud.

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

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