Home Windows 10 How To Add Google Drive To File explorer

How To Add Google Drive To File explorer

April 15, 2023

If you are an Android smartphone user, then you may want to have the same backup cloud for both your smartphone and computer.

And there is a way of doing that, which is to add google drive to file explorer. In this article, we are going to learn how to do it step-by-step.

What Will I Learn?💁 show

What is Google Drive?

It is a cloud-based storage system built by Google that allows you to back up your files, folder, images, and videos.

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud services that is perfectly integrated with other Google services such as google docs, slides, etc.

Google Drive is by default enabled in android smartphones but can also work on other operating systems.

Some of the main advantages of Google Drive:-

Extra Storage: The most apparent benefit one can get by backing his/her stuff on the cloud is extra storage. Google Drive has a free version with 15GB and a paid version.

Easy Sharing: Since all your files are on the cloud, sharing stuff is easy. You can share your document with others and allow them to edit it.

Worldwide accessibility: Another thing that a physical hard drive can not match is Worldwide accessibility.

You can download your file from anywhere on any device with the help of just three things internet, your google id, and your password.

Add Google Drive to file explorer in Windows 10

The reason why we are going to add google drive to file explorer is to access the cloud documents offline.

Download Google Drive:-

To add google drive to file explorer you first need to download it on your computer. To do that, just be obedient to the following steps:-

Download Google Drive

Step 1: Click on the given google drive link to get redirected to its official page.

Step 2: Now, from the appeared window, click on the Download button placed under the Backup and Sync section.

Step 3: Click on the downloaded file to download the additional files. Agree on the terms and conditions to install it on your computer.

This way, you have downloaded Google Drive on your computer. Now it is time to set it up.

Set Google Drive:-

After installation, you will see a window to set up Google Drive. There you need to click on the “Get Started” button. To start the process.

Now, type your google id and password to Sign in. Now, follow the prescribed steps to set it.

Step 1: After inserting your credentials, you need to set the folders you want to backup by clicking the Choose Folder option.

Otherwise, all of your folders will be sent to the cloud. And then click Next.

Step 2: On the next step, you need to tick the Sync My Drive to this computer in order to retrieve your data for offline usage.

Let’s quickly see the meaning of the three options available to you on this step.

Sync My Drive to this computer- to retrieve your data for offline usage.

Sync everything in My Drive- This is to take a backup of every file and folder available on your computer.

Sync only these folders- This is to choose the files and folder that you want to sync.

After this click Start to end the setup.

If you want to check whether the installation is successful, go to the Windows File Explorer, and from the left panel of the screen under the quick access section, you will see Google Drive as you can see in the screenshot below.

You can also check your Desktop as there will be an icon of google drive along with some other Google services such as google docs, slides, etc.

We are done yet. You can access Google Drive from the quick access but to add google drive to file explorer we need to do one more thing, that is to alter some registry files.

Manage Registry files to add Google Drive to File Explorer:-

We will download registry files for Google Drive, to pin GDrive in the notification panel of the file explorer.

Before doing anything you should create a backup as registry files are very important for your computer any issue in it can damage your computer. To create a restore point, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Go to the start menu or hit Win + S, type “create a restore point”, and hit enter.

Step 2: Now, from the appeared screen go to the System Protection tab and click Create.

Step 3: Name the restore point something you can remember and click Create.

This way a restore point will be created that you can always apply if something goes wrong.

Now let’s edit the registry file to add google drive to file explorer.

Step 1: Download the registry file from here, there are two files for both 64 bit and 32 bit OS, pick the one suitable for your OS.

Step 2: A Security warning will ask you whether you want to download the file or not, click Yes.

Step 3: Click Yes to continue.

Now, you have added google drive to file explorer. If you want to check, launch the file explorer and see the left panel of the window for a folder named “Google Drive” or “G-Drive”.

What if something goes wrong?

This is a very niche topic as this method is tried and tested but still, if you are planning to add Google Drive to file explorer then you must read this. Therefore, if you face any problem then in this section, we are going to fix it.

You can either restore your Operating System with the help of the restore point that we have created earlier, or you can delete the Google Drive registry.

Delete the google drive registry:-

The first thing you should do if something goes wrong is to remove the google drive registry. To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Go to the given link and double click on the gdrive-undo file.

Step 2: A Security warning will ask you whether you want to download the file or not, click Yes.

Step 3: Click Yes to continue.

After this, you need to restart your computer to get things right.

Now, go to the file explorer and check the left panel, the Google Drive folder won’t be there.

Restore the previous version:-

In the previous section, we have created a restore point and in this step, we are going to use it to fix the problem.

To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Go to the start menu or hit Win + S, type “create a restore point”, and hit enter.

Step 2: Now, from the appeared screen go to the System Protection tab and click on the System Restore button.

Step 3: Now, from the appeared screen, you will see all the restore points that you have created, select the latest one, and click Next.

This will restore your Operating System to the state when the registry was working fine. If you want to see the changes that will happen because of the registry then click on the Scan for affected program button.

How to change Google Drive Settings?

In this section, we are going to see some of the general setting twitches that you can do if needed.

Pause or Resume Google Drive Sync:-

Google Drive automatically backs up the folders that you have selected while setting it up. But if you want to pause it in between then you can do that with the help of the following procedure:-

Step 1: Click on the “backup and sync from Google” option from the taskbar and then click on three dots placed beside your profile.

Step 2: Now from the appeared list you need to click Pause.

This way you will be able to pause the backup system for a bit.

Now if you want to resume the backup process then redo the first step and then click on Resume from the appeared list.

To upload your photos and videos to Google Photos:-

One of the best features of Google Drive is its ability to upload photos and videos on Google Photo. Because of this, you will have all your images in a single place, so that, you can share them easily. In this section, we are going to allow your photos to be backed up on the cloud.

To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Click on the “backup and sync from Google” option from the taskbar and then click on three dots placed beside your profile.

Step 2: Now from the appeared list you need to click on Preferences.

Step 3: You will be redirected to Preferences-Backup & Restore Windows, there you need to click on the “Upload newly added photos and videos to Google Photos” from the Google Photos section.

This way, all the photos you will add to your computer will automatically get uploaded to the cloud.

📗FAQ

How do I add a Google Drive shortcut to File Explorer?

To add a Google Drive shortcut to File Explorer, you can follow these steps:

Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where you want to create the shortcut.
Right-click and select “New” -> “Shortcut”.
In the “Create Shortcut” dialog box, type “explorer.exe” followed by the URL of your Google Drive, and then click “Next”.
Give your shortcut a name and click “Finish”. You should now see your Google Drive shortcut in File Explorer.

Why is my Google Drive not showing on my File Explorer?

If your Google Drive is not showing on File Explorer, there could be several reasons. The most common issue is that the Google Drive app is not installed or running on your computer.

You can download and install the app from the Google Drive website. Another possible reason is that your Google Drive is not properly synced to your computer.

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and that your Google Drive settings are configured to sync files to your computer.

How do I add Google Drive to my folders?

To add Google Drive to your folders, you can simply drag and drop the Google Drive folder into the desired location within File Explorer.

Alternatively, you can right-click on the folder and select “Copy”, navigate to the desired location in File Explorer, right-click and select “Paste”. This will create a copy of the Google Drive folder in the new location.

Can I sync Google Drive to File Explorer?

Yes, you can sync Google Drive to File Explorer by installing and configuring the Google Drive app on your computer.

The app allows you to choose which folders you want to sync to your computer, and any changes made to files in those folders will be automatically updated on Google Drive.

How do I create a Google Drive shortcut?

To create a Google Drive shortcut, right-click on your Google Drive folder and select “Send to” -> “Desktop (create shortcut)”. This will create a shortcut on your desktop that you can use to quickly access your Google Drive.

Can you add Google Drive to Windows?

Yes, you can add Google Drive to Windows by installing the Google Drive app on your computer. The app integrates Google Drive into Windows Explorer and allows you to easily access and manage your files.

Why can’t I find my folder in File Explorer?

If you can’t find your folder in File Explorer, it may be hidden or located in a different directory. To show hidden files and folders, go to the “View” tab in File Explorer and check the “Hidden items” checkbox.

If the folder is located in a different directory, try using the search bar in File Explorer to locate it.

How do I open Google Drive in Explorer?

To open Google Drive in Explorer, simply open File Explorer and navigate to the “Quick Access” menu. From there, select “Google Drive” to open your Google Drive folder.

Can you organize Google Drive into folders?

Yes, you can organize Google Drive into folders. Simply right-click and select “New Folder” within your Google Drive folder to create a new folder. You can then drag and drop files into the new folder or use the “Move” command to move existing files.

Where is my Google Drive?

Your Google Drive can be accessed through your web browser or by installing the Google Drive app on your computer. Once installed, your Google Drive folder will be located in your user directory, typically found in the “C:\Users\YourUserName” directory.

Can I sync Google Drive with local folder?

Yes, you can sync Google Drive with a local folder by installing and configuring the Google Drive app on your computer.

The app allows you to choose which folders you want to sync to your computer, and any changes made to files in those folders will be automatically updated on Google Drive.

You can also choose to upload local files to Google Drive, which will be available to access from any device with internet access.

How do I get Google Drive icon on my taskbar?

To get the Google Drive icon on your taskbar, you can follow these steps:

Open the Google Drive app on your computer.
Right-click the Google Drive icon in the taskbar and select “Pin to taskbar”.
The Google Drive icon should now appear in your taskbar, allowing you to quickly access your files and folders.

How do I create a shortcut to a Drive in Windows 10?

To create a shortcut to a Drive in Windows 10, you can right-click on the Drive in File Explorer and select “Create shortcut”. You can then drag and drop the shortcut to your desktop or another location within File Explorer.

How do I add Google Drive to this PC?

To add Google Drive to “This PC” in File Explorer, you can follow these steps:

Open File Explorer and right-click on “This PC”.
Select “Add a network location”.
In the “Add Network Location” wizard, select “Choose a custom network location” and click “Next”.
Enter the URL of your Google Drive and click “Next”.
Give your Google Drive a name and click “Finish”. Your Google Drive should now appear under “This PC” in File Explorer.

How do I show all folders in File Explorer?

To show all folders in File Explorer, go to the “View” tab and select “Options” -> “Change folder and search options”. In the “Folder Options” dialog box, select the “View” tab and check the “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” checkbox. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.

Why are some folders hidden in File Explorer?

Some folders are hidden in File Explorer for security and system-related reasons. These folders are typically hidden by default to prevent accidental deletion or modification of system files.

Where is folder options in File Explorer?

To access Folder Options in File Explorer, you can go to the “View” tab and select “Options” -> “Change folder and search options”. This will open the Folder Options dialog box, where you can customize your File Explorer settings.

How to install Google Drive in Windows 10?

To install Google Drive in Windows 10, go to the Google Drive website and download the app for Windows. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install the app on your computer.

Why can’t I open Google Drive for desktop?

If you’re unable to open Google Drive for desktop, try restarting your computer or reinstalling the app. You may also want to check that you have the latest version of the app installed and that your internet connection is stable.

What is the difference between Google Drive and folders?

Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store and access your files and folders from anywhere with an internet connection. Folders are a way to organize your files within Google Drive or on your local computer.

How do I manually organize Google Drive?

To manually organize Google Drive, you can create folders and subfolders, drag and drop files into specific folders, and use the “Move” command to move files from one folder to another. You can also use color-coding and labeling to help organize your files.

Where can I see all my Google Drive files?

You can see all of your Google Drive files by logging in to your Google Drive account in your web browser. From there, you can navigate through your files and folders, search for specific files, and access your files from any device with an internet connection.

You can also install the Google Drive app on your computer to access your files and folders from your desktop.

What is the difference between Google Drive and Google Drive for desktop?

Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to store and access your files and folders from anywhere with an internet connection.

Google Drive for desktop is a desktop application that integrates your Google Drive files and folders into Windows Explorer, allowing you to access and manage your files from your desktop.

Why can’t I sync a folder with Google Drive?

If you’re unable to sync a folder with Google Drive, there may be several reasons. Check that you have a stable internet connection and that your Google Drive settings are configured to sync files to your computer.

You may also want to check that the file path and file name don’t contain any unsupported characters.

How do I move files from Google Drive to local storage?

To move files from Google Drive to local storage, you can follow these steps:

Open Google Drive in your web browser and select the files you want to download.
Right-click and select “Download”.
The files will be downloaded to your default download location.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where you want to save the files.
Drag and drop the downloaded files from your folder to the desired location within File Explorer.

Alternatively, you can also use the Google Drive app on your computer to sync your files to your local storage.

Simply select the files you want to sync to your computer and choose the location where you want to sync them. Any changes made to the files will be automatically updated on Google Drive.

Wrap-up:-

In this article, we aim to add google drive to file explorer. Google Drive is one of the most famous cloud-based services introduced by Google.

It works pretty well with android smartphones but can also be used on Windows 10 PCs.

Hopefully, because of this article, you can integrate the google cloud service with your computer.