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Use Google Drive for desktop

To easily manage and share content across all your devices and the cloud, use Google’s desktop sync client: Drive for desktop.

Use Drive for desktop to find your Drive files and folders on your computer with Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder.

If you edit, delete, or move a file on the Cloud, the same change happens on your computer and devices, and vice versa. That way, your files are always up to date and can be accessed from any device.

Learn about Drive for desktop benefits

You can use Drive for desktop to:

• Open files stored on the Cloud directly on your computer.
• Find and organize your files in your computer’s file system without using storage space.
• Sync folders from your computer to Google Drive.
  • When you sync, your files download from the cloud and upload from your computer’s hard drive.
  • After you sync, your computer's files match those in the cloud.
  • Your files stay up to date and accessible, any change you make applies across devices.
• Save files and folders for offline use. This includes files from shared drives.
• Collaborate on Microsoft Office files in real time.
• If you use Outlook on Windows with a work or school account, send and save files with Microsoft Outlook.

Install & set up Drive for desktop

Install & set up Drive for desktop for Windows 

Important: Before you start, check that your operating system is compatible with Drive for desktop.

1. Download Drive for desktop:

   DOWNLOAD FOR WINDOWS

2. Open "GoogleDriveSetup.exe."
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Tip: If you use a work or school account, you might not be able to use Drive for desktop or your organization might have to install it for you. If you have questions, ask your administrator.

On Drive for desktop, at the bottom right, in the system tray, you can find the Drive for desktop menu .

Tip: To ”Show hidden icons,” click the arrow.

To make it easier to find Drive for desktop when it's closed, you can pin it.

• To add Drive to the Start menu: In your Start menu, right click Drive  Pin to Start.
• To add Drive to the taskbar: In your Start menu, right click Drive  Pin to Taskbar.