You should download the new Google Drive for Desktop

Google Drive is readily accessible via its website and mobile apps, but its desktop application offers seamless file syncing between your Google Drive and your Windows or macOS computer. After a four-year hiatus since its last update, Google is replacing its existing desktop tools (Backup & Sync and Drive File Stream) with a unified platform: Drive for Desktop.

Web and mobile access to Google Drive—including Docs, Sheets, and Slides—remains unchanged. However, for efficient local data storage, cloud syncing, and large file uploads, the Drive for Desktop application is essential.

Drive for Desktop Functionality:

Drive for Desktop transforms Google Drive into a robust file syncing service, similar to Dropbox or OneDrive. Files are simultaneously accessible on your hard drive and online, with customizable local storage options. Syncing files locally offers key advantages: offline access to files (crucial for large media files) and streamlined, automated uploading. New files added to designated local folders are automatically uploaded to the cloud in the background. The application supports uploads from external drives and manages multiple Google accounts concurrently. Using Drive for Desktop on multiple computers ensures consistent file synchronization across devices.

Google will soon prompt users of Backup and Sync and Drive File Stream to migrate to Drive for Desktop. While continued use of the older platforms is temporarily possible, access will be discontinued at the beginning of October 2021.

Installing and Using Drive for Desktop:

Uninstall Backup and Sync or Drive File Stream before installing Drive for Desktop. (Windows: Settings > Apps > Apps & features; macOS: drag the app icon to the Trash or delete from Finder).

Currently, a dedicated landing page for Drive for Desktop is unavailable, but the download is accessible via the Google blog.

After signing in to your Google account, an introductory slideshow and wizard will guide you to your Google Drive folder (File Explorer on Windows, Finder on macOS). Files added to this folder are automatically uploaded.

Initially, files are cloud-only (indicated by a blue cloud icon). Accessing cloud-only files streams them temporarily, minimizing local storage but potentially increasing loading times for large files.

For frequent editing of large files, enabling offline access (right-click/Cmd click > Offline access) ensures local availability and seamless cloud syncing upon reconnection. The right-click menu also provides access to version history and sharing options.

Settings (Drive icon in the notification area/menu bar > cog icon > Preferences) allow for startup configuration and Google Drive folder relocation.

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