Accessing Google Drive directly from File Explorer on your Windows computer enhances file management by allowing you to handle your cloud files as if they were stored locally. By integrating Google Drive into File Explorer, you can streamline your workflow and have quicker access to your files. Here's how to set it up.

Adding Google Drive to File Explorer

Step 1: Open your web browser and go to google.com/drive/download. Click on the 'Download Drive for Desktop' button to download the Google Drive installer.

Step 2: After the download completes, navigate to your downloads folder and double-click on the GoogleDriveSetup.exe file to start the installation process.

Step 3: If the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, click 'Yes' to allow the installation to proceed. If you're not logged in as an administrator, you may need to enter administrator credentials.

Step 4: In the installation window, you can choose to add a shortcut to your desktop by checking the 'Add an application shortcut to your Desktop' box. Then, click 'Install' to continue.

Step 5: Once the installation is complete, click on the 'Launch' button to open Google Drive.

Step 6: In the Google Drive window, click 'Sign in' to log into your Google account. This action will open your default browser for authentication.

Step 7: After signing in, you'll be prompted to select folders from your computer to sync with Google Drive. Click 'Add folder' to choose specific folders. Navigate through File Explorer to select the folders you wish to sync, then click 'Next' to proceed.

Note: Files and photos in the selected folders will automatically sync with Google Drive whenever changes are made, ensuring both copies are up to date.

Step 8: If you want to back up photos to Google Photos, you can select a folder on the next screen. This will use storage space from your Google Drive quota. If you prefer not to back up photos, click 'Skip' to continue.

Step 9: Google Drive will display the files and folders that will appear in File Explorer without taking up space on your computer. Review the list and click 'Next' to proceed.

Step 10: Click 'Open Drive' to access Google Drive in File Explorer, or close the window by clicking the 'X' if you prefer to open it later.

To verify, open File Explorer and click on 'This PC' in the left sidebar. You should see 'Google Drive' listed among your drives.

Managing Google Drive Sync Settings

After setting up Google Drive, you can adjust the sync settings to suit your needs, ensuring you have access to important files both online and offline.

Step 1: Locate the 'Google Drive' icon in your system tray on the Taskbar. Right-click on the icon, then click the 'Gear' icon to access settings.

Step 2: Select 'Preferences' from the menu to open Google Drive settings.

Step 3: To sync more folders from your computer, click on 'My laptop' (or 'My computer') in the left sidebar, then click 'Add folder' in the main pane. Select the folders you wish to sync from the File Explorer window that appears.

Step 4: To change how your files are synced, select 'Google Drive' from the left sidebar. Choose between 'Stream files' and 'Mirror files' in the main pane.

  • 'Stream files': Files are stored in the cloud and accessed on demand, saving space on your hard drive. You can make specific files available offline if needed.
  • 'Mirror files': All Google Drive files are stored locally on your computer and in the cloud, allowing offline access to all files but using more local storage space.

Making a File Available Offline When Using the 'Stream files' Method

If you're using the 'Stream files' option and need offline access to certain files or folders, you can make them available offline.

Step 1: Open File Explorer by pressing Windows+E on your keyboard or by clicking the File Explorer icon. Navigate to 'This PC' and double-click on the 'Google Drive' drive.

Step 2: Find the file or folder you want to access offline. Right-click on it and select 'Show more options' if necessary.

Step 3: Hover over 'Offline access' in the context menu, then click on 'Available offline'. Google Drive will download the file or folder to your computer.

Step 4: A green checkmark will appear on the file or folder icon to indicate that it's available offline.

Integrating Google Drive with File Explorer allows you to manage your cloud files more efficiently, providing easy access and synchronization between your online and local files.