In other words, you can sync all folders and files directly from your computer to Google Drive, and even if there is any damage to your computer, these files will remain safe. Also, if you need to log in to the same account on another device, you can easily sync Google Drive files with that computer. Compared to direct downloads and uploads, synchronization is a more convenient way and is usually implemented by a cloud service desktop application. In this article, we’ll show you step-by-step how to sync Google Drive with folders on your computer.
How to sync computer folders with Google Drive:
1. Installing Google Drive
Download the Google Drive desktop application by clicking here. The Google Drive app is available for download from the Google Drive page for Mac and Windows.
2. Install the Google Drive app
After downloading the app and installing it.
3. Log in
Look for the Google Drive icon in the notification area and log in to your Google account in the window that will open.
4. Go to Google Drive preferences
In the upper right corner of the Google Drive status window, click on the Settings gear and then on “preferences”. A new window called Google Drive Preferences will open.
5. Select Google Drive
In the preferences window, choose the Google Drive option in the left-hand column. You should see My Drive Sync Options in the main window. From the sync options, choose Mirror files.
6. Restart your computer
You will now be returned to the Google Drive preferences window after clicking Confirm. To proceed, click Save and a new prompt should open asking you to restart your computer. Choose Restart Now.
Why doesn’t Google Drive sync with my computer?
It is possible that you may encounter problems along the way with this tool. Problems such as files not syncing between your computer and Google Drive, with the application crashing, or even freezing completely. In this case, the solution is to restart the application, disconnect and reconnect your account, restart your computer or, as a last resort, reinstall Google Drive. For more details, you can visit the Google Drive troubleshooting page and find the corresponding solution for each error message. If the problem still cannot be resolved, you might want to try the alternative.
Free alternative to sync computer folders with Google Drive
As it is a free solution for data protection and recovery in case something happens with Google Drive, AOMEI Backupper Standard is the best option. It integrates the synchronization of files, authorizing this process between Google Drive and the computer or vice versa. With this tool, you can create multiple back-ups and synchronization jobs at the same time to build a flexible data protection strategy. In addition to Google Drive, you are also allowed to manage more storage locations such as OneDrive, Dropbox, external hard drive, USB drive, NAS, local computer, etc. To sync this process, just sync folders to cloud drive manually or with a schedule. In advanced editions, you can also sync changed files in real-time. For backup, you can configure a scheduled backup to save different copies of files/partitions/system / hard disk. It will perform an incremental backup by default to save only changed files and thus save your space. Download the free Standard edition to try: You can download the program by clicking here.
How to Sync Google Drive with Computer Folders:
- First open the software, click Sync in the left pane and choose Basic Sync. This mode is available in all editions, with handle files will be synchronized from the source directory to the destination directory. You can upgrade to the Pro version and enjoy the following sync modes:
Real-time Sync: Sync changed files from source directory to destination directory in real-time without needing a schedule. Mirror Sync: Always keep files in the destination directory exactly the same as the source. Any changes made by mistake to the destination directory will be erased on the next sync. Bidirectional synchronization: Any changes made to the source directory or the destination directory will be synchronized with the other side.
- Click Add Folder to select the folders you want to sync. You can repeat this process to add multiple folders. In the paid edition, you can click the funnel icon next to the source folder to include or exclude specific file formats.
- To sync your computer with Google Drive, it’s simple: click the triangle next to the destination selection box. Then choose to Select a cloud drive from the drop-down menu, select Google Drive in the window that appears and click OK.
- Set up a daily/weekly/monthly schedule and click Start sync to start syncing. In the paid edition, you can also choose event triggers and USB plug-ins. That way, you can sync Google Drive with your computer folders automatically. However, if you want to do it another way, you can sync Google Drive to your computer by selecting the source directory as the Google Drive folder on your computer. If you want to back up your computer to Google Drive, just switch to the Backup tab, choose File Backup / Partition Backup / Disk Backup / System Backup as you wish.
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