When not working on a Chromebook, Google Workspace users might have a need to access and sync files from Drive to their desktop. Written by Julie Dockx, Head of Digital Workplace at Devoteam G Cloud Syncing to your desktop In this article, we will explain why, how and when you need to act (or not). Google’s solutions for this, Google Drive for Desktop & Backup and Sync, will be updated still in 2021.

Under 'My Drive syncing options,' select Stream files or Mirror files.If you are using Google Workspace (previously G Suite) as your collaboration tool, which is great, you might have come across the need to sync files to your desktop for different reasons.

Configure My Drive for streaming or mirroring You can stream or mirror My Drive, depending on your preferences.

Additionally, files from shared drives, other computers, and backed-up USB devices can only be streamed. While you can choose whether to mirror or stream your My Drive files, other folders on your device can only be mirrored.

Note: Recent versions of macOS may have a slightly different streaming behavior.

You can access files through a mounted drive on your computer. All files, including those available offline, can be accessed only when the app is running.

Files that are not available offline can only be accessed when you’re connected to the internet. Hard drive space is only used when you open files or make them available offline. With streaming, your files are stored in the cloud. You can access files through a folder on your computer. You can access your files at any time, even when you don’t have an internet connection or the Drive for desktop app running.

With mirroring, your files are stored in the cloud and on your computer, which takes up hard drive space. In both cases, any changes you make to your files on one device will be reflected everywhere. Mirroring and streaming are two ways to sync your files.

Download google drive app for computer