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About this lesson

How to install and use the offline client for a personal computer. The example will be carried out on a Mac, however, Windows differences will be highlighted.

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Offline Drive Options Solution
Link Offline Drive Options
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Quick reference

Offline Drive options

There are two ways to access your Google Drive files when you aren’t connected to the internet.

When to use

When you need easier access to everything in your Google Drive from your computer, or when you need to access your Google Drive files with an unreliable internet connection.

Instructions

Method 1 - Google Drive client

  • In Google Drive, click the gear button
  • Click Download Drive File Stream (or Download Backup and Sync)
  • In the new tab, click “Download”
  • Open the file to install the Google Drive client to your computer
  • Sign in to your Google account

NOTE: There is now a folder called “Google Drive File Stream” (or Backup and Sync) on your computer which is synced to your online Google Drive. Your computer now has direct access to your Google Drive. Any changes you make to the folder will be reflected in Google Drive and vice versa.

Method 2 - Offline Mode

NOTE: To use this method you must be using Google Chrome as your internet browser. It will not work with other browsers, such as Firefox, or Edge.

  • Click the three dots in the top right corner of Chrome
  • Click “Settings”
  • Click “Sign in to Chrome”
  • Sign in to your Google account
  • Return to Drive
  • Click the gear button
  • Click “Settings”
  • Next to “Offline” click “Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings files to this computer so that you can edit offline”

NOTE: You can now edit files in Google Drive without an internet connection.

Login to download
  • 00:00 Let's get started by downloading
  • 00:04 the Drive File Stream directly to our computer.
  • 00:10 To do so, we wanna select the gear icon and
  • 00:13 here the second option is Download Drive File Stream.
  • 00:17 Now the browser all ready recognizes that I am using a Windows system, but
  • 00:22 as we select this option you will notice that this is available for
  • 00:25 both Windows and Mac computers.
  • 00:28 There's a brief description of the benefits of the Drive File Stream system
  • 00:33 so that you can edit and manage your files on your system.
  • 00:37 On your desktop or laptop, and
  • 00:39 have them sync directly to your Google Drive account.
  • 00:43 So in this case, we're gonna choose Download for Windows, and
  • 00:47 it may take a few moments for the download and installation process to begin.
  • 00:52 Once your download is complete, open up your File Explorer system.
  • 00:57 Here you will see we have a new file location, the Google Drive File Stream.
  • 01:03 And within it we have the exact same folders and
  • 01:06 the exact same files from Google Drive.
  • 01:10 Here you see the ten folders here
  • 01:12 are the exact same ten folders that we have here in Google Drive.
  • 01:17 Now if I wish to edit or manipulate some of the files here on my
  • 01:22 own desktop system, the changes will be saved immediately to my Drive account.
  • 01:28 Not only is this beneficial for backing up your files and documents, but
  • 01:33 this is especially helpful if you want to edit these files with a program
  • 01:37 which only exists on your computer.
  • 01:40 For example, let's say that I'd like to edit this image here with Photoshop.
  • 01:45 Once I have finished and saved my changes, it will be synced directly to my
  • 01:51 Google Drive account and I will be able to find them here in the exact same folder.
  • 01:57 Now let's take a look at a second method for
  • 01:59 syncing between your Google Drive account and your computer.
  • 02:03 Again we're gonna wanna select the gear icon.
  • 02:06 Now it should be noted that this second method is only available to
  • 02:11 Google Chrome browser users.
  • 02:14 This will not be applicable if you are using Firefox or
  • 02:18 if you are using Internet Explorer.
  • 02:20 So this second method requires you to use the Google Chrome browser and
  • 02:24 make sure that you are signed into your browser.
  • 02:27 This time, we're gonna wanna select Settings.
  • 02:30 And under Settings, about the fourth option down,
  • 02:32 we see an area called Offline.
  • 02:36 And this allows us to sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and
  • 02:40 drawing files to this computer, so that you can edit them offline.
  • 02:44 And there is a helpful notification telling us that this is not recommended
  • 02:49 on public or shared computers.
  • 02:51 So be sure to only choose this option on your own personal devices.
  • 02:57 By selecting this check box,
  • 02:59 once again we will have access to our files even when we are offline.
  • 03:05 And that goes for the browser view as well, so that even if I lose my internet
  • 03:10 connection, my changes here will be saved and I will be able to access them.
  • 03:15 On both my computer, and also here on the online version, or
  • 03:20 the browser version, of Google Drive.
  • 03:23 So two methods in which you can make sure that your files are synced in both places,
  • 03:29 and also allowing you to access these files and
  • 03:32 edit them on your own personal device.

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