How Do I Get Google Drive to Show up in File Explorer?

We are all aware of the enhancements brought by Windows 10 to Explorer, enabling convenient access to OneDrive by adding OneDrive to File Explorer. However, what if your primary cloud storage is Google Drive? Can you add Google Drive to File Explorer?

Certainly! However, it is more complicated to operate than the process of OneDrive. This article will guide you through the process of adding Google Drive to File Explorer on Windows 10/11 and Mac.

Benefits of Adding Google Drive to File Explorer

Given the frequent use of File Explorer in daily Windows tasks, adding Google Drive to Windows Explorer offers improved organization of online files on your local computer, facilitating better data management.

Moreover, this integration significantly enhances efficiency, as it brings your Google Drive folders and files closer, enabling faster work and increased productivity. Additionally, Google Drive two-way sync feature ensures that both your computer and the cloud remain up-to-date, keeping files synchronized.

How to Add Google Drive to File Explorer on Windows and Mac

Upon running the Google Drive desktop app, Drive for desktop, on your computer, Google Drive automatically becomes accessible through Windows Explorer or Mac Finder. When utilizing Google Drive for desktop, you have two options: Mirror files and Stream files, enabling you to synchronize cloud files locally.

The Mirror files option duplicates the cloud files to your computer via the Google Drive folder, allowing offline editing when necessary. On the other hand, the Stream files option keeps the files in the cloud while enabling offline access to Google Drive files, ensuring no interruption in case of network unavailability.

For how to add Google Drive to File Explorer on Windows 10/11 and Finder on Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open a web browser and visit the Google Drive webpage to download Drive for desktop onto your computer.

Step 2: Install the program and then click on Sign in With Browser to log in using your Google Drive account.

Step 3: Once the sign-in process is complete, Google Drive will be automatically added to File Explorer.

Step 4: If you want to add another Google Drive to File Explorer, simply click on the name of the currently signed-in user. From there, select Add another account and log in with your second Google Drive account to get your second Google Drive added to Explorer.

Notes:✎...

You are allowed to add and manage multiple Google Drive accounts on Drive for desktop, up to four. As many accounts as you add to Drive for desktop, as many Google Cloud Drive disks (folders) will be created on File Explorer/Finder.

You can assign a customized drive number for each Google Drive disk as you like after you add Google Drive to Explorer.

For how to pin Google Drive to Quick Access, just open Google Drive Preferences, tick the checkbox next to Show Google Drive in Quick Access in File Explorer, then click Save.

Why Google Drive Not Showing in File Explorer?

If Google Drive doesn't show up in File Explorer or Finder or Google Drive files missing from File Explorer, it's likely that your account isn't logged in properly. Please try logging into your account again.

If there is no problem with the account login, it is possible that the Google Drive client is not installed or running correctly. In this case, you'll need to redownload and run the correct Google Drive desktop program.

How to Sync Files to Google Drive Without Occupying Local Space

Although streaming files save more local space than mirroring files, many users still find that using Drive for desktop increases the burden on the local hard disk. In addition, Google Drive's two-way synchronization is also prone to file loss due to accidental deletion.

Why not consider utilizing a simpler method for syncing files to Google Drive? CBackup is a free cloud backup and sync service that streamlines the process. It allows you to sync your computer files to Google Drive on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even a specific scheduled basis. And it employs a one-way sync approach, ensuring that files are only synchronized from your local storage to the cloud.

Also, there is a Backup function on CBackup that allows you to use Google Drive as backup software, which gives you the ability to manage unlimited file backup versions and restore backups when the original files lost/corrupted.

How to sync files to Google Drive automatically with CBackup:

Step 1. Download and install CBackup on your device. Create a new account, and then log in.

Step 2. Click Storage > Google Drive > Authorize Now to grant CBackup access to your cloud.

Step 3. Click on Sync and then Sync PC to Public Cloud to begin a new backup task.

Step 4. Select files for sync and pick a Google Drive folder as the sync destination.

Step 5. Set the sync frequency by clicking Settings > enabling Scheduler > choosing a sync frequency. Click Start Backup to initiate the synchronization process.

Notes: CBackup also offers other powerful functions:

Backup/sync files to other public clouds, like Dropbox, OneDrive, and so on.

Offer CBackup Cloud, with 10GB of free storage space, for local file backup.

Support cloud-to-cloud file sync without downloading and uploading, such as transferring Google Drive to OneDrive.

Conclusion

For regular Windows computer users, File Explorer is a commonly used tool. Thus, it is beneficial to add Google Drive to File Explorer. Furthermore, we also provide an alternative method for syncing files to Google Drive with enhanced security measures.