How to Easily Access Google Drive in Windows File Explorer

ByJordan Brown

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services in the world, with over 1 billion active users as of 2018 (Lardinois, 2018). Its seamless integration with Google‘s productivity suite and generous free storage tier make it an appealing choice for individuals and businesses alike.

But did you know that you can access all your Google Drive files right from the familiar Windows File Explorer interface? Adding Google Drive to File Explorer brings the convenience of the cloud to your desktop, letting you manage cloud files just like local ones.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk through the process of integrating Google Drive with File Explorer step-by-step. Along the way, we‘ll share expert tips and insights to help you make the most of this powerful duo. Let‘s get started!

Benefits of Accessing Google Drive via File Explorer

So why bother adding Google Drive to File Explorer? There are several compelling benefits:

  1. Convenience – No need to navigate to the Drive website or open a separate app. Your cloud files are readily accessible in the File Explorer interface you already know.
  2. Seamless integration – Adding Drive to File Explorer makes your cloud files feel like a natural extension of your local file system. You can browse, open, edit, move, copy, rename, and delete files just like you would local ones.
  3. Offline access – Make files available offline so you can view and edit them even without an internet connection. Any changes will automatically sync the next time you‘re online.
  4. Collaborate with Office – With the Google Drive desktop app, you can open and edit Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in the Microsoft Office desktop apps. Your changes will automatically sync with Drive.
  5. Backup and sync – The Drive app can automatically backup selected folders on your PC, giving you an extra layer of data protection. Any changes to your backed up or synced folders will instantly sync with Drive.

According to a 2018 survey by Spiceworks, 44% of businesses use Google Drive, second only to Microsoft OneDrive (Tsidulko, 2018). Accessing Drive via File Explorer can make it even easier for these organizations to incorporate the cloud into their workflows.

System Requirements and Considerations

Before diving into the how-to, let‘s cover a few prerequisites and considerations:

  • You‘ll need a PC running Windows 10 version 1709 (Fall Creators Update) or later, or Windows 11
  • A Google account (free or paid) with Drive storage. The free plan includes 15 GB of storage, while paid Google One plans start at $1.99/month for 100 GB. For reference, here are Google One‘s paid storage tiers:
Storage Price (monthly) Price (yearly)
100 GB $1.99 $19.99
200 GB $2.99 $29.99
2 TB $9.99 $99.99
10 TB $49.99 $499.99
  • The computer must be connected to the internet to download and install the Drive desktop app, as well as for initial sync and regular syncing of changes. You can enable offline access for certain files to work on them without an active connection.
  • Make sure you have enough free space on your hard drive to store synced files locally. You can choose which folders are stored locally versus accessed on-demand.
  • The Drive desktop app can be installed on up to 4 computers per Google account.

With that out of the way, let‘s walk through the installation and setup process.

Step 1: Download and Install Google Drive for Desktop

The first step is to download the official Google Drive for Desktop application. This app integrates with File Explorer to bring your cloud files to your desktop. Here‘s how:

  1. Go to https://www.google.com/drive/download/ in your web browser
  2. Click the Download button under "For individuals"
  3. Once the installation file finishes downloading, double-click it to launch
  4. Follow the prompts in the installation wizard to complete the setup
  5. If prompted, restart your computer to finish the installation

Download Google Drive for Desktop

Step 2: Sign in to Your Google Account

After installation, the Google Drive app will automatically launch and prompt you to sign in. Here‘s how:

  1. Click "Sign in with browser"
  2. Your default browser will open a Google sign-in page. Enter your Google email and password, or select an existing account if you‘re already signed in
  3. Click "Allow" on the next page to give the Drive app permission to access your files
  4. Close the browser tab and return to the Drive app
  5. Within a few seconds, your Drive files will begin syncing with your computer. You‘ll see a list of recent files and folders.

Sign in to Google account
If you have multiple Google accounts, you can add up to 4 total accounts in the Drive app. Just click your profile picture in the top right and select "Add another account".

Step 3: Enable Google Drive in File Explorer

Now that you‘re signed in, you can access your Drive files in File Explorer with a few clicks:

  1. Click the Google Drive icon in your taskbar (it may be hidden in the overflow tray)
  2. Click the gear icon and select Preferences
  3. Go to the Google Drive tab
  4. Make sure the switch for "Show Google Drive in Explorer" is toggled on
  5. Click "Open Google Drive Folder" to open your Drive in File Explorer

Google Drive in Windows File Explorer
Your Google Drive will now appear as a separate drive under "This PC" in File Explorer, just like OneDrive or Dropbox if you have those installed. You can browse your files, open them in apps, and move them around just like you would local files.

A few things to note:

  • Your Drive files aren‘t stored locally by default. They‘re in the cloud and will be downloaded on-demand when you open them. You can right-click a file and select "Offline access" to make it available without an internet connection.
  • You can choose to stream files rather than sync them by clicking the cloud icon next to your Drive folder in File Explorer. This saves hard drive space while still providing access.
  • Deleted files will go into a Trash folder for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can right-click the Trash folder to empty it and free up space.

Step 4: Customize Sync and Backup Settings

By default, the Google Drive app will sync your entire My Drive to your PC. But you can customize these settings:

  1. Open the Drive Preferences again (click the taskbar icon, then the gear)
  2. Under the Google Drive tab, click the "Change" button next to "Sync with Google Drive"
  3. Choose which folders to sync locally. Uncheck any folders you don‘t want taking up space on your PC
  4. Click Apply to save your changes

Customize Google Drive sync settings
For backup, you can add specific folders from your computer to continuously sync to Google Drive:

  1. In Drive Preferences, select the "My Computer" tab
  2. Click "Add folder" and choose which folders to sync
  3. Click Apply to begin syncing those folders to Drive

Keep in mind, two-way syncing means changes made to backed up folders on either your computer or Drive will sync across both.

Advanced Tips and Best Practices

Now that you‘ve got the basics down, here are some expert tips to optimize your Google Drive File Explorer experience:

  • Pin your most-used Drive folders to Quick Access in File Explorer for even faster access
  • Quickly share a file or folder by right-clicking it in Explorer and selecting "Share". You can control whether recipients can edit or just view.
  • Use the "Move to" and "Copy to" context menu options to move or copy files between Drive and your local PC
  • If you open a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file in Explorer, it will open in the corresponding Microsoft Office app. Just remember to save when done to sync your changes back to Drive.
  • Encrypting your Google Drive files provides an extra layer of security. Enable encryption in the privacy settings and set a strong password.

Google Drive in File Explorer vs Web

Accessing Google Drive via File Explorer is convenient, but there are a few limitations compared to the web interface:

  • Some sharing and collaboration features, like requesting file access, viewing recent file activity, and managing Team Drives are only available on the web
  • There‘s no way to edit Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides files directly in File Explorer. You can only view them or open them in Office apps.
  • File Explorer doesn‘t support Google Drive‘s powerful search capabilities, including searching by file type or owner
  • Revision history can only be accessed in the web interface

So while File Explorer is great for quickly accessing and organizing files, you‘ll still need to hop into Google Drive on the web from time to time for more advanced features.

Comparing Google Drive to Other Cloud Storage Services

Google Drive isn‘t the only cloud storage service that integrates with File Explorer. Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox offer similar functionality through their respective desktop apps. So how does Google Drive stack up? Let‘s compare some key features:

Feature Google Drive Microsoft OneDrive Dropbox
Windows integration Yes (via app) Yes (built-in) Yes (via app)
Free storage 15 GB 5 GB 2 GB
Paid plans 100 GB – 30 TB 100 GB – 6 TB 2 TB – 3 TB
Office collaboration Yes (Docs, Sheets, Slides) Yes (Office 365) Limited (via Office Online)
Productivity suite Google Workspace Microsoft 365 Dropbox Paper

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and what other productivity apps you use. If you‘re already invested in the Google ecosystem with apps like Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Meet, Google Drive will likely offer the best integration. But if you mainly use Microsoft Office apps, OneDrive may be the more seamless choice.

Dropbox, while more limited in features compared to Drive and OneDrive, is known for its fast syncing and LAN sync feature for collaborating over local networks. It also offers some unique features like Dropbox Transfer for sending large files and Dropbox Rewind for point-in-time recovery.

Conclusion

Adding Google Drive to Windows File Explorer can greatly streamline your cloud storage workflow, making your cloud files feel like an integral part of your desktop environment. With the Google Drive for Desktop app, accessing, organizing, and editing your Drive files is as simple as working with locally stored files.
Following the steps in this guide, you can get Google Drive up and running in File Explorer in a matter of minutes. And by implementing a few best practices around syncing, sharing, and security, you can ensure your cloud files stay organized and protected.

While there are other great cloud storage options out there like OneDrive and Dropbox, Google Drive‘s generous storage, powerful collaboration features, and tight integration with Google Workspace make it a compelling choice for many users.

Ultimately, the "best" way to manage your files in the cloud depends on your unique needs and workflows. But adding Google Drive to File Explorer is a surefire way to make the cloud feel a little more down-to-earth.

References

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