All the Features of the New Google Drive for Windows and Mac You Should Know About
Google has just released a new Google Drive desktop app for Windows and Mac to replace backup and sync tools and Drive File Stream tools, which are shutting down on October 1st. Google recommends that all users switch to the Drive desktop app by September to avoid interruptions in syncing. But don’t regret losing those dusty old apps – the new Desktop Drive combines backup and sync and Drive file streaming features in one app, and even adds some extra functionality from the Google Photos browser and app version. …
Here is the official Google rundown:
Note that the new Drive for PC app isn’t the only way to access Google Drive on your computer. The drive can also be installed as a Progressive Web Application (PWA) , which takes up less space and uses fewer system resources than the new application. However, the new desktop app has more features and integrates into your local files, storage devices, and programs in a way that a PWA cannot. In other words, it looks like the best and most complete PC app in Google Drive.
How to install and use the new Disk desktop app
The Google Drive desktop app is now available for Windows and Mac. Download the appropriate installer for your device using the links on the Google Ads Blog , then follow the onscreen instructions to get started.
After you install the app and log into your Google account, your Google Drive will be available as a watched folder on your computer called “My Drive”. All of your files in Google Drive will appear from this folder when you are connected to the Internet, or if they sync with your computer for offline access.
Opening a Google Doc file loads it in your default browser, but you can also open them in Microsoft Office. If other Google users have access to the file, Microsoft Office, as well as other programs like Excel, will even show you if another user is editing the file, as Google Docs does.
Other files open with the default desktop application — for example, images open with the Windows photo viewer. They are transferred to your desktop and not saved to your hard drive, which saves space.
However, you can click and drag files in My Drive to your desktop or elsewhere on your computer to save them locally, or drag and drop files from your PC to a Google Drive folder to upload them to the cloud. … If you’re signed in to multiple devices at the same time, your files will sync across all of them at the same time.
In addition to the dedicated My Drive folder, there is also a Google Drive widget available from the Windows taskbar or Mac menu. The widget displays your recent Drive activity, including recently downloaded files, and other important notifications.
Clicking on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the widget opens a quick settings menu. From here, you can change your local storage folder, go to another Google account, and see other devices you are signed in to. You can also turn off syncing at any time by going to Settings> Pause Syncing. Yes, and if dark mode is enabled in desktop settings, the widget will automatically switch to its dark theme.
[ Ars Technica ]