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Transition from Google Drive Sync to Drive File Stream on a Mac

Cheryl Wallach
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Tip: If you install Drive File Stream first, Google will prompt a notification to disable Google Drive Sync and replace with Drive File Stream.

 

Install Drive File Stream

Option 1:

  1. Click on this link to open the install
  2. Select Download to Mac. The download will begin
  3. On your computer, open DriveFileStream.dmg on Mac
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions to sign in

Option 2:

  1. Open Google Drive via drive.google.com
  2. Select the gear icon in the top right corner
  3. Choose Install Google Drive’s File Stream
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions to sign in

You can find Drive File Stream Menu in the top right corner of your Mac

 

Find & keep files and folders offline

  1. Click the Drive File Stream Menu .
  2. Click Open Google Drive folder .
  3. Right-click the file or folder you want to save offline.
  4. Click Drive File Stream > Available offline.

 

To Uninstall Google Drive Sync:

Disconnect Google Drive Sync

  1. On your computer, click Backup and Sync
  2. Click More >  Preferences.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Click Disconnect account.
  5. Click Disconnect

This will stop the sync from Google Drive online to locally on the laptop. Once the sync is stopped, you can remove the files from the folder.

Remove Files from Google Drive folder in Finder

  1. Open Finder and click Applications.
  2. Drag the "Backup and Sync" app into the Trash on your dock.
  3. In the top left of your screen, click Finder > Empty Trash.

⭐Note: To avoid syncing issues, it's important to remove the old Google Drive Desktop app once the new one has been installed. In addition, folders in the Quick Access panel may need to be removed/unpinned if they are mapped to a local spot from the old Google Drive app

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