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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.
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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.
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.
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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:
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 sett