Use Google Drive for desktop

Bulldoze File Stream is now chosen 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 amend user experience. For a list of features, learn more nigh the change to Drive for desktop.

What it means to sync files and how it works

You can use Drive for desktop to keep your files in sync between the cloud and your computer. Syncing is the procedure of downloading files from the deject and uploading files from your computer's difficult drive. Afterward syncing, the files on your computer friction match the files in the cloud. If you edit, delete, or move a file in 1 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 Drive for desktop, you can choose to stream or mirror My Drive files. Your files are plant in different 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 lot can access files stored in Google Drive from your computer.  Any changes you lot make to your files will be synced. All files in shared drives, USBs, and other computers volition be streamed from the cloud to your computer. You tin choose 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 calculator, which takes up hard drive space. All of your files will be accessible at any time, even when yous don't have an net connexion or the Drive for desktop  app running. Files can exist accessed through a binder on your estimator.

When you stream files, your My Drive files are stored in the cloud. Hard drive space is simply used when you open up files and make them available offline. Files that are non available offline can only exist accessed when you're continued to the internet. All files, including those available offline, can be accessed only when the app is running. Files can exist accessed through a mounted drive 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 computer sync to the Computers tab in Google Drive.

Switch from mirroring to streaming

When you switch from mirroring My Drive files to streaming My Drive files, the location of your files on your estimator changes. With streaming, y'all can access files via a virtual drive on your calculator. The folder where you mirrored My Drive files will remain on your calculator simply is no longer syncing, and therefore tin can be removed to avoid losing any changes.

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

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

Options for folders on your figurer

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

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

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

Give MacOS permission

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

Bulldoze for desktop will only ask to access folders or devices yous choose to sync with Google Drive, dorsum up to Google Photos, or both. Drive for desktop volition besides ask for access if y'all choose to use the Existent Fourth dimension Presence feature or a Bluetooth key to sign in.

If you deny admission, but desire to go along syncing a binder or device, go to System Preferences and modify your privacy settings. You might need to restart Bulldoze for desktop for changes to take effect.

Troubleshoot errors

In Drive for desktop, yous might see a "Some errors occurred" banner under "Action." You tin view the list of errors by clicking the link in the banner or by clicking Settings and thenError listing.

Stream with FileProvider

FileProvider is a fashion that Drive for desktop streams files from the cloud to your estimator. FileProvider chooses the location on your computer to stream files. This location can'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 Drive under "Computers" on the left of Bulldoze for web and on the Drive mobile app. If you add, edit, move, or delete items from these folders on spider web or mobile, those changes will also exist made on your computer.

Alter 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 well-nigh files y'all open and make available offline.
  • The cache allows Bulldoze for desktop to open up 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 enshroud directory:

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

Removable devices

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

A removable device can have more than one binder. During migration, you'll need to connect removable devices to proceed syncing or backing 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 than 95% photos and videos, you lot can choose to backup your files to Google Photos only.

  • If you were previously syncing with Drive and backing upwardly to Photos, you tin can save storage past uploading photos and videos to just ane location.
  • If you were previously syncing merely with Drive, you'll still save storage considering only photos and videos volition be uploaded. If syncing with Bulldoze, everything, including thumbnails and metadata, will exist synced.
  • If you were previously syncing with Drive, your files will remain in Drive.

Important: USB devices won't exist migrated.

What happens if y'all stop syncing a folder

If you finish syncing a folder, whatsoever new or edited files won't be synced between your computer and the deject. 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, proceed syncing the folder.

Drive for desktop tabs

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

Folders on your computer that sync with Drive tin be establish in the "Computers" tab. The Computers tab groups folders by computer, then you might notice previously synced computers.

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

Apple tree Photos System Photos Library

You can simply back up your System Photos Library to Google Photos. Other Apple Photo Libraries can be synced with Bulldoze. If you lot 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 Organisation Photograph Library is the only library that tin be used with iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photo Stream. If you have only ane photo library, then information technology'southward the Organization Photo Library. Otherwise, the commencement photo library that you create or open up in Photos will become the System Photograph Library. If you're currently using MacOS Catalina or later on, difficult drive space volition exist temporarily used to download photos and videos from your iCloud and upload them to Google Photos.

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