Why can't I access my Google Drive account?

There could be various reasons behind the error "Google Drive can't load, disconnect the account and sign in again", including network connectivity issues, temporary glitches on Google's servers, device settings complications, or potential security concerns with your account. While addressing these issues might seem intricate, the following guide will assist you in resolving these issues step by step.

How to fix "Google Drive can't load account" error in 7 ways

Until now, you have already known the general reasons why won't Google Drive load. Irrespective of the cause of the error, you can effectively resolve the issue by reading and following the 7 provided ways.

Way 1. Check internet connection

If you can't load Google Drive for your account, begin by checking your internet connection. A stable internet connection can easily solve "you are not signed in to Google Drive". Here is the guide to check your internet connection and fix the error:

1. Look at the network icon in the taskbar. If you see a red 'X' or a yellow triangle on the taskbar, there might be an issue.

2. Right-click the network icon and select Open Network & Internet settings.

3. Under the Status tab, check if it says No Internet access.

4. If there's an issue, scroll down to find Network troubleshooter and follow the instructions. It will attempt to identify and resolve the problem.

Way 2. Disconnect and reconnect your account

If you are experiencing difficulties with your "Google Drive for desktop can't load account," it's possible that there are some errors within your Google Drive desktop application. A simple way to resolve this issue is to disconnect and then reconnect your Google Drive account.

1. Open the Google Drive app on your device. Click the Preferences under the Settings icon.

2. Click Settings at the top right corner and hit Disconnect account > Disconnect.

3. After disconnecting, click Sign in with browser with your Google account. You might need to reauthorize access to your Google Drive. Once reconnected, make sure your data is syncing properly, and check if the issue you were facing has been resolved.

Way 3. Change existing drive letter and restart Google Drive

In the case of having multiple Google Drive accounts sharing the same drive letter, this situation can result in confusion and potential conflicts. To resolve such conflicts, consider changing the drive letter and subsequently restarting Google Drive. This process can help solve issues, like, Google Drive can't load account.

1. Open the Google Drive application and sign in. Then click the gear icon and select Preferences.

2.  Hit the gear icon on the right top side and then go to the Drive letter under the Google Drive streaming location tab.

3. Click the triangle icon and select a drive letter instead of the existing drive letter.

4. After changing the drive letter, hit Save >  Restart now to restart Google Drive.

Way 4. Update Windows

If your Windows operating system is outdated, you may encounter the Google Drive error - you can't load account. It's important to note that Google Drive for Desktop necessitates Windows 10 and above. To address the issue of Google Drive can't load account, updating your Windows operating system is crucial and may help resolve the problem.

1. Click on the Start menu, then select the gear-shaped icon for Settings.

2. In the Settings window, locate and click on Update & Security. Click on the Windows Update tab on the left-hand side, and then click the Check for updates button.

3. If updates are available, Windows will begin to download them automatically. After the updates have finished downloading and installing, you will need to restart your computer to complete the update process.

Way 5. Reinstall Google Drive for desktop

Reinstalling Google Drive for Desktop can effectively resolve certain simple issues, for example, Google Drive can't load account. Below are the detailed steps for reinstalling Google Drive for Desktop:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features and find Google Drive, click and select Uninstall to remove Google Drive from your computer first.

2. Then, go to the official Google Drive website and download the latest installation file for your operating system. Then install and launch the Google Drive app, finally sign in again.

Way 6. Turn off the Windows Firewall

Disabling the Windows Firewall might resolve the issue if it was blocking the Google Drive app. To resolve the issue of Google Drive not signing in, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Search menu, then type Control Panel and click on the relevant search result.

2. Select System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall > hit Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off on the left pane.

3. Click Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) under Private network settings and Public network settings. Then you can open your Google Drive and try again.

Way 7. Clear Cache for Google Drive Client

Clearing the cache can help resolve various issues related to the Google Drive web, such as syncing errors or performance issues. Here are the detailed steps to clear the cache for the Google Drive client on Windows:

1. Close Drive for desktop by accessing the system tray icon, clicking the gear icon, and selecting Quit.

2. Open File Explorer and navigate to your C: drive. Then, open the User folder.

3. Go to the top of the File Explorer, click View, and checkmark Hidden items. Then, open the hidden folder named AppData.

4. Open Local, followed by Google. You should find a folder named DriveFS. Right-click on it and click Delete. Finally, restart the Drive for desktop app and sign in as usual.

Further reading: Use Google Drive free alternative to upload files easily

If all the solutions above fail to resolve your Google Drive loading issue, why not consider accessing Google Drive through an alternative method? You can use CBackup to access Google Drive without the need to download its desktop application.

This approach could help in avoiding potential Google Drive system errors, like, "Google Drive stopped working." CBackup comes equipped with the following key features:

Offers Sync and Backup features that can help your upload data from computer to public clouds like Google Drive, OneDrive, and so on.   

Based on OAuth authorization system, ensure the privacy and security of your Google Drive account information and files.

Provides various useful backup and sync settings, including scheduled backup, file filter, and email notifications.   

Offers cloud-to-cloud sync and backup feature for free, allowing you to transfer files between different cloud drive effortlessly with just one login.

Here's a guide on using CBackup for syncing files to Google Drive:

1. Download and install the CBackup desktop app on your computer. Sign up for an account and log in to the desktop app.

2. Access the Storage tab, choose Google Drive, and click Authorize Now to grant CBackup access to your Google Drive.

3. Navigate to the Sync tab and select Sync PC to Public Cloud.

4. Select the files on your PC as the sync source and choose the target folder in your Google Drive account.

5. (Optional) Configure the sync task further by clicking on the Settings button. You can enable the Scheduler feature to automate the sync task with a specified frequency.

6. Finally, click the Start Sync button to initiate the upload of your documents to Google Drive when Google Drive can't load account.

The bottom line

If you have exhausted the solutions for the "Google Drive can't load account" issue, considering the use of CBackup could be your next best step. This tool offers the convenience of syncing local folders/files to Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, among others. Its multi-cloud management capabilities from a single interface make it an excellent solution for your cloud storage needs.

Also, you can use this tool to combine different cloud drives, like merging OneDrive and Google Drive,  to increase storage space for free when your cloud storage space is running out.