Use Google Bulldoze for desktop

Drive File Stream is now 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 than nigh the change to Drive for desktop.

What it ways to sync files and how it works

You lot tin use Drive for desktop to keep your files in sync between the deject and your computer. Syncing is the process of downloading files from the deject and uploading files from your computer's difficult drive. Afterwards syncing, the files on your computer match the files in the deject. If you edit, delete, or move a file in one location, the aforementioned change happens in the other location. That way, your files are always upward to date and can be accessed from whatsoever device.

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

What it means to mirror or stream your files

With Drive for desktop, you lot can access files stored in Google Drive from your calculator.  Whatsoever changes you brand to your files will be synced. All files in shared drives, USBs, and other computers will exist streamed from the deject to your computer. You can choose to mirror or stream your My Drive files.

When yous mirror files, all of your My Bulldoze files are stored in the cloud and on your reckoner, which takes upward hard drive space. All of your files will be accessible at whatever time, even when you lot don't take 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. Hard drive infinite is but used when you open up files and make them available offline. Files that are not bachelor offline tin only be accessed when yous're continued to the internet. All files, including those available offline, tin be accessed simply when the app is running. Files can be accessed through a mounted drive on your figurer.

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

Switch from mirroring to streaming

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

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

Of import: In gild to stream files from Google Drive to your calculator, Drive for desktop uses a virtual drive. The size of this virtual drive depends on the space bachelor on your figurer.

Options for folders on your estimator

You can sync a folder with Google Drive or back information technology upwards to Google Photos.

  • If you sync with Google Drive: Everything in the folder volition exist uploaded. All changes will be synced betwixt your calculator and Google Drive. Yous can access all your files from any device at drive.google.com or via the Google Drive app.
  • If you back upwards to Google Photos: Only photos and videos will be uploaded. Changes volition not be synced between your computer 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, we recommend only backing up to Google Photos. If you cull to store your files in both places, photos and videos in the folder get uploaded twice, which uses more of your Google business relationship storage.

Give MacOS permission

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

Drive for desktop volition only enquire 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 y'all choose to use the Real Time Presence feature or a Bluetooth key to sign in.

If you deny access, but want to continue syncing a binder or device, go to Organisation Preferences and change your privacy settings. You might need to restart Bulldoze for desktop for changes to take result.

Troubleshoot errors

In Bulldoze for desktop, you might see a "Some errors occurred" banner under "Activity." Yous tin can view the list of errors by clicking the link in the imprint or past clicking Settings and thenError list.

Stream with FileProvider

FileProvider is a way that Bulldoze for desktop streams files from the cloud to your reckoner. FileProvider chooses the location on your computer to stream files. This location tin't exist inverse.

Sync with the Computers tab in Google Drive

If y'all sync folders on your calculator with Google Drive, those folders will appear in Google Bulldoze under "Computers" on the left of Drive for web and on the Drive mobile app. If you add, edit, motility, or delete items from these folders on spider web or mobile, those changes will also be 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 nearly files you open and brand bachelor offline.
  • The enshroud allows Bulldoze for desktop to open your files faster.
  • If your enshroud directory path is unavailable, you can't employ Drive for desktop.

To change the location of your local enshroud directory:

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

Removable devices

Y'all can fill-in 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 upwardly those folders. These devices should remain connected throughout migration.

Important: USB devices won't exist migrated.

Fill-in folders to Google Photos

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

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

Important: USB devices won't exist migrated.

What happens if you terminate syncing a binder

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

If y'all desire to upload everything, continue syncing the binder.

Drive for desktop tabs

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

Folders on your computer that sync with Bulldoze tin can be institute in the "Computers" tab. The Computers tab groups folders by computer, and then you might discover previously synced computers.

Folders in the "My Bulldoze" tab can stream or mirror to your computer. Yous can admission these folders through the virtual drive on your computer.

Apple tree Photos System Photos Library

You tin can only back up your System Photos Library to Google Photos. Other Apple Photo Libraries can exist synced with Drive. If y'all choose 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 Organisation Photograph Library is the just library that can exist used with iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photograph Stream. If you take merely one photo library, then it'due south the System Photo Library. Otherwise, the first photograph library that yous create or open in Photos will become the System Photo Library. If you're currently using MacOS Catalina or later, hard drive infinite volition be temporarily used to download photos and videos from your iCloud and upload them to Google Photos.

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