If files aren’t syncing correctly between your computer and Google Drive via the Google Drive for desktop application, here are common troubleshooting steps you can take.
- Check Your Internet Connection: This is the most common cause. Ensure your computer has a stable and active internet connection. Try opening a web page to confirm.
- Verify Drive for Desktop is Running:
- Mac: Look for the Google Drive icon (cloud-shaped triangle) in the macOS menu bar at the top right of your screen.
- Windows: Look for the Google Drive icon in the system tray (usually bottom right, may need to click the arrow to show hidden icons).
- If the icon is missing, the application may have quit or crashed. Try launching “Google Drive” from your Applications folder (Mac) or Start Menu (Windows).
- Pause and Resume Syncing:
- Click the Google Drive for desktop icon in your menu bar/system tray.
- Click the Gear icon (Settings).
- Select
Pause syncing. Wait for about 30 seconds. - Click the Drive icon again, then the Gear icon, and select
Resume syncing.
- Check for Error Messages or Status:
- Click the Google Drive for desktop icon. It often displays a status (e.g., “Up to date,” “Syncing X files”) or any specific error messages.
- If there’s an error message, clicking on it might provide more details or direct you to a file causing the issue. Common issues include file naming conflicts, invalid characters in file names, or insufficient permissions.
- Restart Google Drive for Desktop:
- Click the Google Drive for desktop icon.
- Click the Gear icon (Settings).
- Select
Quit. - Wait a few moments, then relaunch the Google Drive application.
- Restart Your Computer: A simple restart can often resolve temporary glitches affecting applications and system services.
- Check Available Computer Storage: Ensure your computer’s hard drive isn’t full. If your local disk is out of space, Drive for desktop may not be able to download new files or save changes for offline access.
- Check Google Workspace Account Storage: While less common for individual sync issues unless the entire organisation’s pool is full, ensure your Google Workspace account has available storage. Your administrator can check the overall organisational storage.
- Conflicting Software:
- Antivirus software, firewalls, or other backup/sync utilities can sometimes interfere with Google Drive’s operations.
- Try temporarily disabling such software (with caution, and remember to re-enable it) to see if it resolves the sync issue. If it does, you may need to add an exception for Google Drive in that software’s settings.
- Sign Out and Sign Back In to Drive for Desktop:
- Click the Google Drive for desktop icon > Gear icon (Settings) > Preferences.
- In the Preferences window, click the Gear icon again in the top right.
- Select
Disconnect account(or similar wording). Confirm. - After the account is disconnected, sign back in with your Google Workspace credentials. This can refresh the connection and sync state.
- Check for Application Updates: Ensure you are running the latest version of Google Drive for desktop. Outdated versions can sometimes have bugs or compatibility issues.
- Click the Google Drive icon > Gear icon (Settings) > About. This often shows the version and may have an update option.
- Alternatively, download the latest installer from Google’s official Drive download page and run it to update.
- Reinstall Google Drive for Desktop (Use as a Last Resort):
- If none of the above steps work, uninstalling and then reinstalling Google Drive for desktop might be necessary.
- Before uninstalling, ensure you understand if your files are set to “Stream” or “Mirror” to avoid accidental local data loss if files haven’t synced to the cloud. Files already in the cloud are safe.
- After reinstalling, you’ll need to sign in and set up your preferences again.
If problems persist, there might be a more specific issue with a particular file, your network configuration, or your Google Workspace account settings, and you may need to consult your IT administrator.
