Use Google Bulldoze for desktop

Drive File Stream is now chosen Google Drive for desktop. We're unifying our sync clients to bring features from Backup and Sync to Google Drive for desktop and create a ameliorate user experience. For a list of features, learn more near the modify to Drive for desktop.

What it ways to sync files and how it works

Y'all can employ Bulldoze for desktop to keep your files in sync between the deject and your estimator. Syncing is the procedure of downloading files from the cloud and uploading files from your estimator's hard drive. After syncing, the files on your computer match the files in the deject. If you lot edit, delete, or move a file in 1 location, the aforementioned change happens in the other location. That way, your files are e'er up to date and can be accessed from any device.

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

What information technology ways to mirror or stream your files

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

When y'all mirror files, all of your My Bulldoze files are stored in the cloud and on your computer, which takes up difficult drive space. All of your files will be accessible at any time, fifty-fifty when you don't accept an internet connection or the Bulldoze for desktop  app running. Files can exist accessed through a folder on your computer.

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

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

Switch from mirroring to streaming

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

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

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

Options for folders on your computer

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

  • If you sync with Google Drive: Everything in the folder will be uploaded. All changes will exist synced betwixt your computer and Google Drive. You tin access all your files from whatever device at drive.google.com or via the Google Drive app.
  • If yous back up to Google Photos: Merely photos and videos will be uploaded. Changes will non be synced between your computer and Google Photos. You lot can view your photos and videos from any device at photos.google.com or via the Google Photos app.

Of import: If you lot are storing photos and videos, we recommend only backing up to Google Photos. If you choose to store your files in both places, photos and videos in the binder get uploaded twice, which uses more than of your Google account storage.

Give MacOS permission

MacOS requires applications similar 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.

Bulldoze for desktop volition only ask to access folders or devices yous cull to sync with Google Bulldoze, back upwardly to Google Photos, or both. Bulldoze for desktop will also ask for access if you choose to use the Real Fourth dimension Presence feature or a Bluetooth key to sign in.

If you lot deny access, merely want to continue syncing a binder or device, go to Organization Preferences and change your privacy settings. You lot might need to restart Drive for desktop for changes to take upshot.

Troubleshoot errors

In Drive for desktop, you might see a "Some errors occurred" banner nether "Activeness." You lot tin view the list of errors by clicking the link in the banner or by clicking Settings and thenFault listing.

Stream with FileProvider

FileProvider is a mode that Bulldoze for desktop streams files from the deject to your figurer. FileProvider chooses the location on your calculator to stream files. This location tin can't be inverse.

Sync with the Computers tab in Google Drive

If yous sync folders on your reckoner with Google Drive, those folders will appear in Google Drive under "Computers" on the left of Drive for web and on the Drive mobile app. If y'all add, edit, motility, or delete items from these folders on web or mobile, those changes will also be made on your computer.

Modify the location of your local cache directory

When streaming files from Google Bulldoze to your figurer, a local cache directory is created.

  • The directory stores data about files yous open and make available offline.
  • The cache allows Bulldoze for desktop to open your files faster.
  • If your cache directory path is unavailable, y'all can't use Drive for desktop.

To alter the location of your local cache directory:

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

Removable devices

You can backup folders stored on removable devices, like an external hard drive.

A removable device tin can accept more than one folder. During migration, you'll demand to connect removable devices to go on syncing or backing up those folders. These devices should remain connected throughout migration.

Of import: USB devices won't be migrated.

Backup folders to Google Photos

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

  • If you were previously syncing with Bulldoze and backing up to Photos, you can salve storage by uploading photos and videos to only one location.
  • If you were previously syncing only with Drive, you'll withal save storage because only photos and videos will be uploaded. If syncing with Drive, everything, including thumbnails and metadata, will be synced.
  • If y'all were previously syncing with Drive, your files will remain in Bulldoze.

Important: USB devices won't be migrated.

What happens if you stop syncing a folder

If you lot stop syncing a folder, any new or edited files won't exist synced betwixt 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 cloud.

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

Bulldoze for desktop tabs

There are three principal storage locations within Google Bulldoze: My Drive, Shared drives, and Computers. These locations are shown every bit tabs in Drive.

Folders on your computer that sync with Drive can exist establish in the "Computers" tab. The Computers tab groups folders past computer, and then you might find previously synced computers.

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

Apple Photos System Photos Library

Yous can simply support your System Photos Library to Google Photos. Other Apple Photo Libraries tin be synced with Bulldoze. 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 non know the full size of your iCloud.

Your Arrangement Photograph Library is the only library that can be used with iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photo Stream. If you lot have but one photo library, so it's the Organisation Photo Library. Otherwise, the first photograph library that yous create or open in Photos will go the Arrangement Photo Library. If you're currently using MacOS Catalina or subsequently, hard drive infinite will be temporarily used to download photos and videos from your iCloud and upload them to Google Photos.

Was this helpful?

How can nosotros improve information technology?

Need assistance with Drive for Desktop?

Chat with one of our agents now!