You can now have multiple accounts which is incredibly useful. The gear icon popup menu in the Google Drive Desktop Client. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Instead, you'll find a listing in the left sidebar called Computers. ZDNet's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.

You can keep using the old platforms, but that wont last longat the start of October 2021, youll need to update to the newer application to access your files. Since then, I've been diligent about backing up Google Drive. The screen that appears enables you to have the program start up at the same time as the operating system, and you can choose to move the location of the Google Drive folder on the local hard drive if you want to. At the time of writing, Google hasnt put up a proper landing page for the new Drive for Desktop software, but you can download both Windows and macOS versions from the Google blog. The new Drive for Desktop software can upload files from external drives as well, and its smart enough to manage multiple Google accounts at once. The Google Drive Desktop Client popup window gives you access to the Settings window. Previously, you were only able to have one on each Google Account, now you sync data from multiple accounts which allows you to have data from every account you need, be that personal or business. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. By Google has specifically said that simplifying this process will aid IT teams and administrators, to manage deployments while reducing user confusion around which app to use.

These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Tech Tip Thursday: Emailing A Daily Agenda From Google Calendar, Tech Tip Thursday: Coordinating Google Calendar Meetings With UTC, Tech Tip Thursday: How To Auto-Forward An Email In Gmail, Tech Tip Thursday: New Shortcuts On Google Workspace. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". First off, there is no Google Drive Desktop Client for Linux. This will be incredibly beneficial for IT teams which may need to get a lot of data onto Google Drive. If you leave Google Drive working like this, youll minimize the amount of local hard drive space your files take up. The Google Drive Desktop Client icon as seen on macOS Monterey. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The same right-click (or Cmd+click) menu offers plenty of other options as well: You can revert back to a previous version of a file for example, or get a link to share it with someone else. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Google Drive File Stream syncs files to your computer, mounting them as a copy of your drive onto your computer. Support for users with Macs housing M1 chips will be coming for Google Drive for Desktop in April 2021. Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. Once those added folders have synced with Google Drive, you might be surprised that they won't be found in the root directory of Drive. The only difference for the Drive File Stream tool users will be a change in name from its most recent update in January to Google Drive for Desktop. You might be familiar with Google Drive from its web interface or its mobile apps. The only things you'll need are a Google Drive account and the Google Drive Desktop app installed on your machine (which can be either Windows or macOS -- I'll be demonstrating with macOS). Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Anything you add to this Google Drive folder will automatically be uploaded to the cloud. Youre now able to back up your data from Google Photos as well through USB which is something you havent been able to do with Google File Stream previously. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I'm a Google Drive power user. It appears that it is going to be the major tool which has Backup and Sync integrated into it. Depending on how many files (and the size of those files), the initial sync could take some time. Neither ZDNet nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. When using the software, your documents will be simultaneously on your hard drive and available on the web, though you can choose which files and folders are stored locally and which arent. On Windows, open the main Settings pane and choose Apps, Apps & features, the program to remove, and Uninstall. After four years since its last update, that desktop software setup is changing again, and the current tools (Backup & Sync for free account holders, and Drive File Stream for enterprise customers), will be replaced by a new, single platform called Drive for Desktop. However, there are certain folders on my MacBook Pro (such as Documents) that I do want to keep in sync with Google Drive. To finesse the user experience, Google is unifying these tools into the Google Drive for Desktop Sync tool great news for anyone who regularly uses both. The biggest caveat is that larger files may take a while to properly load as Drive for Desktop will have to download them each time you access them. With version 47.0, Mac users with Apple M1 will find support through additional bug fixes and performance improvements. He doesn't get much spare time, but when he does he spends it watching obscure movies and taking long walks in the countryside. Why? But desktop software is available as well, allowing you to seamlessly sync files stored in your Google Drive with the file system on your Windows or macOS computer. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. As a longstanding member of the Google Cloud Partner Program, Damson Cloud specialises in bringing people and ideas together through new ways of working. That way you can work on them more easily, and any edits you make to them will also be synced back to the cloud once youre back online again. Google has assured users that it wont directly impact your stored files. If you are a Drive File Stream user, this update wont affect you particularly. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Second, my MacBook Pro M1 is limited in storage space, so syncing the entire contents of my Google Drive account wouldn't exactly be prudent. Using the desktop software also makes the uploading process much easier, as its a more automated process. The Google Drive Desktop Client should already be running on your system. During my decade with Drive, I have had one instance where I lost nearly all of my work (thanks to a third-party sync tool that went awry). I use the service daily for the majority of my writing needs. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. While the prospect of simplifying the syncing process is exciting, it isnt available to the general public as of yet. Pop!_OS might have a complicated name but it makes using Linux so easy, Linux 101: How to create a zip file in Linux, How to create a custom Focus in macOS Monterey to avoid unnecessary distractions. This is great news for users as it means Google is offering additional support to the limited software available for M1 chip users. ZDNet independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. Its unclear yet whether Backup and Sync users will have to do a full reinstall or not to be able to use the software. There are a few reasons to sync files locally rather than just accessing Google Drive through your web browser every time. 'ZDNet Recommends': What exactly does it mean? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Also: Why is Google Photos stealing all my online storage? Useful for housing large amounts of data, the Data and Sync tool can be used to ensure you always have a backup of data in your cloud that you dont need on your desktop. These same options are accessible through the Google Drive web interface as well, as theyve always been, but you might find it easier to get at them from your Windows or macOS computer. Click that icon and then click the gear icon in the popup window (Figure 2). You should then see another popup menu (Figure 3). The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Google has decided to simplify its sync tools by creating Google Drive for Desktop. As soon as something new moves into the local folders Google Drive is keeping an eye on, the files will be uploaded to the cloud in the background.

On top of this, I prefer to access those files from the web browser when working on my laptop. First, it means that if your computer is offline or has a slow internet connection, you can still watch those HD videos youve got stored in your Google Drive folder. We champion change management and digital transformation using some of the internets most trusted solutions, including Google Workspace, Happeo and Jamboard. If you have a second computer, then you have double the efficiencyGoogle Drive will keep all or some of your files and folders synced between your devices, and once youve installed and set up the software, everything just works. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. You can find a few more options on the Settings pane. You'll be taken back to the Google Drive Desktop Client Preferences window, where you'll see the new folder listed. You can sign up for the Beta if you want to trial this syncing software.

Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. A new update to how Google Drive functions are coming to Beta soon. To permanently save a folder or file to your disk, so you can access it even while offline, right-click (or Cmd+click on a Mac) on it and choose Offline access and Available offline. In the new window (Figure 4), click Add folder. Over the next few weeks, Google will start sending prompts in the Backup and Sync and Drive File Stream tools to encourage users to start switching over. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you open files with the cloud symbol, they will be temporarily streamed to your computer (just like a movie or music track) so you can view and edit it. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. Once added, the client will automatically upload the files and sub-directories within the newly-added folder. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You too can configure the Google Drive Desktop app to sync specific folders to Drive and I'm going to show you how. They will simply have to plug their USB into an external drive and backup the data. What I do not do is sync the entire contents of Google Drive to my desktop. Realising that users were having issues running the separate tools, they have managed to essentially combine these into one to ensure simplicity. Jack Wallen shows you how to add folders to the Google Drive desktop app for remote syncing to your Google Drive account. [Related: Become a Google Drive power user with these 20 tips and tricks]. If youre running Backup and Sync or Drive File Stream, get rid of these programs first. Locating the folder to be added to the sync. That primary backup also picks up specific folders from other machines I have synced to Drive, which is taken care of via the Google Drive Desktop app. From there, you will receive a notification if you have received access to trial it out. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. On macOS, drag the app icon down to the Trash icon on the dock or from Applications in Finder. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.