Download Drive Desktop: A Guide for Windows and Mac Users
If you use Google Drive to store and share your files online, you might want to download Drive Desktop, a desktop sync client that lets you access your Google Drive files and folders on your computer with Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder.
Drive Desktop is a handy tool that helps you easily manage and share content across all your devices and the cloud. You can open files stored on the cloud directly on your computer, view and organize your files in your computers file system without using storage space, sync folders from your computer to Google Drive or backup to Google Photos, save files and folders for offline use, collaborate on Microsoft Office files in real time, and more.
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In this article, we will explain what Drive Desktop is, what features and benefits it offers, how to download and install it, how to use it effectively, and answer some frequently asked questions about it.
What is Drive Desktop?
Drive Desktop is a desktop sync client that lets you find your Google Drive files and folders on your computer with Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder.
When you install Drive Desktop on your computer, it creates a drive in My Computer or a location in Finder named Google Drive. All of your Google Drive files appear here.
Any new files or folders you create in Google Drive or Drive Desktop sync and appear on all your devices. If you edit, delete, or move a file in one location, the same change happens in the other location. That way, your files are always up to date and accessible from any device.
Drive Desktop also lets you work with your files offline, sync folders from your computer to Google Drive or backup to Google Photos, open and edit Microsoft Office files in real time, and more.
Features of Drive Desktop
Drive Desktop offers a range of features that make it easy and convenient to work with your Google Drive files on your computer. Some of the main features are:
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Open files stored on the cloud directly on your computer. You can open any file stored on Google Drive directly on your computer, without having to download it first. You can also use the native applications on your computer to edit the files, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Any changes you make are automatically saved to Google Drive.
View and organize your files in your computers file system without using storage space. You can view and organize your Google Drive files in Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder, just like any other file on your computer. You can also use the search function to find your files quickly. However, unlike other files on your computer, the Google Drive files do not take up any storage space on your hard drive. They are stored in the cloud and streamed to your computer when you need them.
Sync folders from your computer to Google Drive or backup to Google Photos. You can choose which folders on your computer you want to sync with Google Drive or backup to Google Photos. For example, you can sync your Documents folder or backup your Pictures folder. This way, you can keep a copy of your important files in the cloud and access them from any device. You can also choose how much storage space you want to use for syncing or backing up.
Save files and folders for offline use. You can save any file or folder from Google Drive for offline use on your computer. This means you can access and edit them even when you are not connected to the internet. The changes you make will sync with Google Drive when you go online again.
Collaborate on Microsoft Office files in real time. You can open and edit Microsoft Office files stored on Google Drive directly on your computer, using the Office applications installed on your computer. You can also collaborate with other people who are editing the same file online, using Google Workspace apps such as Docs, Sheets, or Slides. You can see their changes as they happen, chat with them, and leave comments.
Send and save files with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only). You can send and save files from Google Drive using Microsoft Outlook on Windows. You can attach files from Google Drive to your emails, or save attachments from your emails to Google Drive. You can also choose whether to send a link or a copy of the file.
Benefits of Drive Desktop
Drive Desktop offers a number of benefits that make it a useful and powerful tool for managing and sharing content across all your devices and the cloud. Some of the benefits are:
Keep your files up to date and accessible from any device. With Drive Desktop, you can access all of your Google Drive files from any device, whether it is a browser, a mobile device, a tablet, or a computer. You can also keep all of your files in sync across all of these devices, so you always have the latest version of your work.
Work seamlessly across your browser, mobile device, tablet, and computer. With Drive Desktop, you can work with your Google Drive files using the applications and tools that you are familiar with and prefer. You can use the native applications on your computer, such as Microsoft Office, or the web-based apps from Google Workspace, such as Docs, Sheets, or Slides. You can also switch between these applications and devices without losing any of your work or changes.
Manage your local storage and cloud content with different sync options. With Drive Desktop, you can choose how much storage space you want to use for syncing or backing up your files to Google Drive or Google Photos. You can also choose which folders on your computer you want to sync or backup. This way, you can optimize your local storage and cloud content according to your needs and preferences.
Work offline with your files when you need to. With Drive Desktop, you can save any file or folder from Google Drive for offline use on your computer. This means you can access and edit them even when you are not connected to the internet. This is especially useful when you are travelling, working remotely, or experiencing network issues.
Enhance your productivity and collaboration with Google Workspace apps. With Drive Desktop, you can leverage the power and functionality of Google Workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and more. You can create, edit, and share files online, collaborate with others in real time, leave comments and feedback, chat with your teammates, and access advanced features and add-ons. You can also work on Microsoft Office files using Google Workspace apps, without having to convert them.
How to Download and Install Drive Desktop?
Downloading and installing Drive Desktop is easy and straightforward. Here are the steps you need to follow for Windows or Mac users:
Download Drive Desktop. Go to the and click on the Download button. You will be asked to agree to the Google Terms of Service. Click on Agree and Download to start the download process.
Install Drive Desktop. Once the download is complete, open the installer file and follow the instructions on the screen. You will be asked to sign in to your Google account. Enter your email address and password and click on Next. You will also be asked to choose a sync option: either Stream files with Google Drive or Mirror files with Google Drive and Google Photos. Choose the option that suits your needs and click on Next. You can change this option later in the Drive Desktop settings.
Access Drive Desktop. After the installation is complete, you will see a Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). Click on it to open Drive Desktop. You will also see a drive in My Computer or a location in Finder named Google Drive. This is where you can find all of your Google Drive files and folders on your computer.
How to Use Drive Desktop?
Drive Desktop is easy to use and offers a lot of functionality and convenience for working with your Google Drive files on your computer. Here are some tips on how to use Drive Desktop effectively:
How to open files on your desktop.
You can open any file stored on Google Drive directly on your computer, without having to download it first. To do this, go to the drive in My Computer or the location in Finder named Google Drive and double-click on the file you want to open. The file will open in the default application for that file type on your computer, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. You can also right-click on the file and choose Open with to select a different application.
How to set up sync options.
You can choose which folders on your computer you want to sync with Google Drive or backup to Google Photos. To do this, click on the Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and select Preferences. Then, go to the Sync tab and choose one of the following options:
Stream files with Google Drive. This option lets you view and organize your Google Drive files in Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder, without using storage space on your hard drive. You can also choose which folders you want to sync for offline use by right-clicking on them and selecting Available offline.
Mirror files with Google Drive and Google Photos. This option lets you sync folders from your computer to Google Drive or backup to Google Photos. You can also choose which folders you want to sync or backup by clicking on Choose folders. You can also select how much storage space you want to use for syncing or backing up by moving the slider under Storage used.
How to customize your Drive Desktop settings.
You can customize your Drive Desktop settings to suit your preferences and needs. To do this, click on the Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and select Preferences. Then, you can adjust the following settings:
General. Here, you can change your account information, language, notifications, and startup options.
Sync. Here, you can change your sync options, such as stream or mirror files, choose folders, and manage storage space.
Google Photos. Here, you can enable or disable backup to Google Photos, choose photo quality, and exclude certain folders.
Network settings. Here, you can configure your proxy settings and bandwidth usage.
About. Here, you can check your Drive Desktop version, update status, and license information.
Help. Here, you can access the Drive Desktop help center, send feedback, report a problem, or quit Drive Desktop.
How to search for your Drive files.
You can search for your Google Drive files in Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder, just like any other file on your computer. You can also use the search function in the Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). To do this, click on the Drive icon and type in the name or keyword of the file you are looking for. You will see a list of matching results from Google Drive. You can also filter the results by file type, owner, date modified, or starred status.
How to work on MS Outlook and Office files.
You can work on Microsoft Outlook and Office files stored on Google Drive directly on your computer, using the Office applications installed on your computer. You can also collaborate with other people who are editing the same file online, using Google Workspace apps such as Docs, Sheets, or Slides. To do this, follow these steps:
Send and save files with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only). You can attach files from Google Drive to your emails, or save attachments from your emails to Google Drive. To do this, open Outlook and compose a new email. Then, click on the Google Drive icon in the ribbon and select Attach files from Google Drive or Save attachments to Google Drive. You can also choose whether to send a link or a copy of the file.
Open and edit Microsoft Office files in real time. You can open and edit Microsoft Office files stored on Google Drive directly on your computer, using the Office applications installed on your computer. To do this, go to the drive in My Computer or the location in Finder named Google Drive and double-click on the file you want to open. The file will open in the default Office application for that file type on your computer. You can also see who else is editing the file online and chat with them in real time. Any changes you make are automatically saved to Google Drive.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what Drive Desktop is, what features and benefits it offers, how to download and install it, how to use it effectively, and answered some frequently asked questions about it. We hope that this article has helped you understand how Drive Desktop can help you easily manage and share content across all your devices and the cloud.
If you are interested in trying out Drive Desktop, you can download it from . You will need a Google account and a Windows or Mac computer to use it. You will also need a Google Workspace subscription if you want to collaborate on Microsoft Office files in real time.
If you have any questions or feedback about Drive Desktop, you can contact Google Drive support for more information and tips.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Drive Desktop and their answers:
What are the system requirements and browsers for Drive Desktop?
To use Drive Desktop, you need a Windows 7 or later or Mac OS X 10.12 or later computer with at least 2 GB of RAM and 1 GB of free disk space. You also need a Google account and a Google Workspace subscription if you want to collaborate on Microsoft Office files in real time. You can use any browser that supports Google Drive, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
How can I switch from Backup and Sync to Drive Desktop?
If you are currently using Backup and Sync, a previous version of Drive Desktop, you can switch to Drive Desktop easily. To do this, follow these steps:
Download Drive Desktop. Go to the and click on the Download button. You will be asked to agree to the Google Terms of Service. Click on Agree and Download to start the download process.
Install Drive Desktop. Once the download is complete, open the installer file and follow the instructions on the screen. You will be asked to sign in to your Google account. Enter your email address and password and click on Next. You will also be asked to choose a sync option: either Stream files with Google Drive or Mirror files with Google Drive and Google Photos. Choose the option that suits your needs and click on Next.
Uninstall Backup and Sync. After the installation is complete, you will see a message that says "Backup and Sync is now Drive Desktop". Click on Uninstall Backup and Sync to remove the old version from your computer. You will also see a message that says "Your files are still safe in Google Drive". Click on OK to confirm.
How can I sign in to multiple Google accounts with Drive Desktop?
You can sign in to multiple Google accounts with Drive Desktop and access all of your Google Drive files from one place. To do this, follow these steps:
Add another account. Click on the Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and select Add another account. You will be asked to sign in to your Google account. Enter your email address and password and click on Next.
Choose a sync option. You will be asked to choose a sync option for the new account: either Stream files with Google Drive or Mirror files with Google Drive and Google Photos. Choose the option that suits your needs and click on Next.
Access multiple accounts. After adding another account, you will see a drop-down menu next to the Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). You can use this menu to switch between your accounts and access their Google Drive files.
How can I manage my Google storage with Drive Desktop?
You can manage your Google storage with Drive Desktop by choosing how much storage space you want to use for syncing or backing up your files to Google Drive or Google Photos. To do this, follow these steps:
Open preferences. Click on the Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and select Preferences.
Select sync tab. Go to the Sync tab and move the slider under Storage used to adjust how much storage space you want to use for syncing or backing up.
Check storage status. You can also check how much storage space you have left in your Google account by clicking on the Storage status link under Storage used. You will see a breakdown of how much space is used by Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. You can also buy more storage if you need it.
How can I contact Google Drive support if I have any issues with Drive Desktop?
If you have any issues with Drive Desktop, you can contact Google Drive support for help. To do this, follow these steps:
Open help center. Click on the Drive icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and select Help Center. You will be directed to the , where you can find articles, videos, and tips on how to use Drive Desktop.
Contact support team. If you cannot find a solution to your issue in the help center, you can contact the support team directly by clicking on the Contact us button at the bottom of the page. You will be asked to fill out a form with your name, email address, issue description, and screenshots if available. You will also be asked to choose a category and a subcategory for your issue. After submitting the form, you will receive an email confirmation and a support agent will get back to you as soon as possible.
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