Drive File Stream is an entirely new Enterprise-oriented application. It makes your entire Google Drive available on your computer while using none of your disk space. As long as you are connected to the Internet, you’ll be able to open and edit your Google Drive files right from your desktop. This file points to an invalid online Google document: The original file is no longer in Google Drive. Remove from the folder on your computer and restart Backup and Sync. Some files can't be synced: Manually sync files.
We replaced Google Drive with Google File Stream in November 2017 shortly after it was released, and noticed that it is indefinitely syncing files. See screenshot below.
- Uncheck this box if you deploy Drive File Stream as the administrator. Turn Backup and Sync on or off: Choose Allow users to download, install, and use the Backup and Sync application to allow.
- These files and folders will not sync to Google Drive folder on your computer unless you add them to 'My Drive' or individual folders which you have synced. Following are the steps to Sync Files and Folders of Shared With Me in Google Drive: Make sure you are connected to the internet. Click 'Google Drive' icon on your computer.
- Is Google Drive Sync is presently installed on your system? If yes then, go to the step 2. If no then, skip the step 2 and follow the step 3. Firstly, Uninstall Google Drive Sync; Open the Google Drive and choose 'Download Drive File Stream for Windows' from Settings menu as shown below. Select the 'Download for Windows' blue button.
Even though we were not losing any local hard drive space due to the syncing we did notice that Google File Stream was slowing down our computer, as you can see in the activity monitor screenshot below, Google File Stream was eating away 9.3% of our CPU. This number would vary from time to time and could be as low as 2% of CPU.
After a month of continuous syncing, we decided to call the Google Drive support team to get some answers about why the syncing is taking so long, and we finally got the answers we were looking for, so we want to share them with you!
Why is Google File Stream Syncing Forever?
We have 800GB of files on our Google Drive, so we only wanted to sync 2GB of these files with Google File Stream on one of our Mac’s, and for the rest of the files (798GB) we selected the “Online Only” option. This is done by right-clicking on each folder/file – going down to Drive File Stream – and selecting Online Only. See image below.
We asked Google Drive support why it was taking over a month of 24/7 syncing to sync 2GB of files?
They told us that this is normal because Google File Stream will always and forever be syncing files that are on Google Drive over and over even if they have not been updated since the last time they were synced. We asked why is this? They told us that this is because Google File Stream is continually looking to see if any of the files on Google Drive have been updated, and is syncing them regardless if they were updated since the last sync or not.
The Google Drive support person told us that the Google File Stream was created from the idea their customer had where they wanted to have access to their Google Drive files without taking up space on their computer.
We asked how long does it take to sync 800GB of files from Google Drive to Google File Stream, and they told us about 2 hours. Google File Stream does not actually download any files to your computer in order to sync them, it is simply mirroring files so they show up in Google File Stream for easy accessibility through the desktop app.
If you have any Google File Stream or Google Backup and Sync questions/issues, the Google Drive support team can be reached at
+1-646-257-4500
Do you actually want to know What is Google Drive File Stream? If yes then you are in right place.
But before we begin Let’s see some impressive facts about Google Drive.
According to Wikipedia, Google Drive has more than 800 million active users and over 2trillion files are stored on it.
And these are increasing rapidly day by day.
It also has the largest number of active users as compared to other cloud storage services like Dropbox and OneDrive.
Although Google Drive is the best cloud storage service provider to date but everything needs some change and so they have developed an advanced version of Backup and Sync known as “Drive File Stream“.
In this post, I will show you some new features of this advanced product and answers to many other questions like What is Drive File Stream app? How to install it? and How does it works?
So let’s Get started.
What is Google Drive File Stream?
Drive File Stream is basically a kind of Sync tool for desktop or we can say it is a replacement or alternative for the Backup and Sync app.
This tool is mainly developed for G Suite users which means all the new features & functionalities of G Suite are integrated with this new program.
In simple words, we can say that it is a sync tool designed for enterprises or business users.
Update: Earlier the Drive File Stream was only limited to the G Suite account users. But now Google is importing some of its features to the normal Google Drive accounts also.
This means that using this tool you will be able to easily manage your Personal as well as Business data present in your Google Drive. As we all know that there are tons of Business data on everyone’s google drive.
But when your team grows larger and larger it becomes harder to manage those kinds of things on a regular basis. But using Google Drive File Stream tool you can easily get rid of these types of problems.
And the best part is that there are no major changes in the interface but you have to install something new on your computer.
Let’s see how.
How to install it and How does it Work?
1. Verify or Check the Operating System
In this step, we will check that Drive File Stream will support your Operating system or not. This tool is supported by the given OS.
- Windows: Windows Server 2012, Windows 7 and all upper versions.
- Mac: High Sierra (10.13), El Capitan (10.11) and all upper versions.
And Yes It is supported by all popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.
2. Download & Install Google Drive File Stream
In this 2nd step, First Download the tool .exe file from the given link.
- Download for Windows:GoogleDriveFSSetup.exe.
- Download for Mac:GoogleDriveFileStream.dmg.
Recommended: Before installing this new tool, Uninstall the Backup and Sync application.
Once the file is downloaded, open it by simply clicking on it.
Now a dialog box will appear with an install button. Click on that and the installer will start installing it.
After installation is done, log in using your G Suite account credentials and click on Next.
Once your account is validated, you will see a message ” Google Drive File Stream successfully installed”. So click on close.
3. Setting up File Drive Stream App
Now Drive File Stream app will start up with a welcome screen “Stream Google Drive files right to your computer”. So to continue click on Next.
At the fourth step, you will see a message to “Open Google Drive folder”. So click on that icon.
Now Open your Windows File Explorer or “This PC” and you will see a new Drive created there. And in that drive, you will see two new drives one is My Drive and another one is Team Drives.
And all your Google Drive files getting synchronized in these two drives.
Note:- Basically My Drive is for your own use whereas the Team Drives is for the business team purpose.
Now you can customize the settings for all the files, which should be Available Offline and which should remain Online only.
This is one feature which I really like. But that’s not all, let’s see some more features and its limitations in depth.
Key Features of Drive File Stream
- Available Offline: Using this feature you can easily use your Google Drive files without having the internet. I know I have already shown you this feature above. But still, this is really awesome.
- Save disk space: This feature really helps in saving disk space. As file stream only creates mirror image files and directly downloads them from the cloud when actually needed.
- Auto Sync Offline Changes: If you make any changes to the offline available files, it automatically syncs those changes next time whenever you are connected to the internet.
- Integration with Other apps: It integrates with Microsoft Outlook, Google Meets scheduling & Microsoft Office in Real-time.
Now let’s see some of its limitations.
Limitations of Drive File Stream
- Google Photos: Earlier this feature was available in Google Drive. But in the file drive stream, there is no integration with Google Photos & Videos to Upload / Sync.
- Google Drive files are available to all: All the files present in the google drive is available to all who are using this PC. There is no option to exclude some files or folder, as in the drive file stream the full drive is synchronized.
- Can’t use with Personal account: You cannot use this application or tool using your personal Google account “[email protected]”.
- No option to Sync folders like Documents or Desktop: Earlier in Google drive there was an option to sync other Computer folder & files but in this app, it is only limited to the drive present in This PC.
And now Let’s see the comparison with an infographic and check which tool works more better.
Google File Stream Sync Issues
Google Drive File Stream Vs Backup and Sync
Everyone knows much about the Backup and Sync tool but very few people know about this new tool & its features. But before you fully analyze the infographic, I will tell you the major difference between them.
Backup and Sync: It stores and syncs the Google Drive files locally on your computer.
Drive File Stream: As its name suggests, it streams all your files and folder directly from the could when needed.
Also Read: How to Create Google Drive Direct Download Links.
Google Drive File Stream Sync
Conclusion
I hope after reading this detailed post I have cleared all your doubts about this new G Suite tool. And got your all answers to the question Like What is this new sync tool, How does it work and How to install Google drive file stream (Windows/Mac).
Feel free to comment below and also tell us if you want me to create such an article on different cloud storage services like DropBox, OneDrive, etc.
Google Drive Sync
If you liked this post, Don’t forget to share this with your friends on your favorite social media platform.