Google Drive File Stream: What Is It and How to Use It
Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services in the world, with over a billion users. It lets you store, access, and share your files online, as well as collaborate with others using Google Workspace apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
But what if you want to access your Google Drive files directly from your computer, without using a web browser or downloading them to your hard drive? That's where Google Drive File Stream comes in.
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In this article, we'll explain what Google Drive File Stream is, how it works, what are its benefits and drawbacks, how to use it, and what are some alternatives to it.
What Is Google Drive File Stream?
Google Drive File Stream is a desktop application that lets you stream your Google Drive files directly from the cloud to your Mac or PC. It frees up disk space and network bandwidth by only downloading files when you need them.
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With Google Drive File Stream, you can access all your files in Google Drive without having to sync or download them to your computer. You can also choose which files or folders you want to make available offline for faster access or when you don't have an internet connection.
Google Drive File Stream is different from Google Backup and Sync, another desktop app that lets you sync your Google Drive and Google Photos with your computer. Backup and Sync downloads all your files and folders to your computer and keeps them in sync with the cloud. This means that any changes you make on one device will be reflected on the other, but it also takes up more disk space and network bandwidth.
How Does It Work?
How Does It Work?
To use Google Drive File Stream, you need to download and install the app on your Mac or PC. You also need a Google account and an internet connection.
Once you install the app, you'll see a new drive in your computer called Google Drive, where you can access all your files and folders in Google Drive. You can also access your shared drives, if you have a Google Workspace account.
The files and folders in Google Drive are not stored on your computer, but streamed from the cloud when you open them. You can see the status of each file or folder by looking at the icons next to them:
Icon
Status
Available online only. The file or folder is not stored on your computer, but you can stream it from the cloud when you have an internet connection.
Available offline. The file or folder is stored on your computer and synced with the cloud. You can access it even when you don't have an internet connection.
Syncing. The file or folder is being synced between your computer and the cloud.
Error. There is a problem with syncing the file or folder. You can hover over the icon to see more details.
What Are the Benefits?
Google Drive File Stream has several benefits over other cloud storage services or desktop apps. Here are some of them:
It saves disk space and network bandwidth by only downloading files when you need them.
It lets you access all your files and folders in Google Drive, including shared drives, without using a web browser or syncing them to your computer.
It lets you work offline or online, and syncs your changes automatically when you reconnect to the internet.
It integrates with Google Workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, and lets you collaborate with others in real time.
It supports various file types, such as Microsoft Office, PDF, images, videos, and more.
It has built-in security features, such as encryption, virus scanning, and version history.
What Are the Drawbacks?
Google Drive File Stream also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using it. Here are some of them:
It requires an internet connection to stream files from the cloud. If you lose your connection or have a slow or unstable one, you may not be able to access some of your files or folders.
It may not work well with some third-party apps or software that expect files to be stored locally on your computer.
It may cause some compatibility issues with other Google Drive desktop apps, such as Backup and Sync or Drive for desktop (formerly Drive File Stream).
It may not support some features or functions that are available on the web version of Google Drive, such as sharing settings, trash, or comments.
It may have some bugs or glitches that affect its performance or functionality.
How to Use Google Drive File Stream?
How to Install It?
To install Google Drive File Stream on your Mac or PC, follow these steps:
Go to and download the installer for your operating system.
Run the installer and follow the instructions on the screen.
Sign in with your Google account when prompted.
Wait for the installation to complete and for the app to launch.
You should see a new drive in your computer called Google Drive, where you can access all your files and folders in Google Drive.
How to Stream or Mirror Files?
To stream or mirror files from Google Drive File Stream, follow these steps:
Open the Google Drive drive in your computer and navigate to the file or folder that you want to stream or mirror.
Right-click on the file or folder and select Drive File Stream.
Choose one of the following options:
Stream: This option will stream the file or folder from the cloud when you open it. You'll see a cloud icon next to it.
Mirror: This option will download the file or folder to your computer and keep it in sync with the cloud. You'll see a green checkmark icon next to it.
You can also change the default option for all files and folders by clicking on the Drive File Stream icon in your taskbar or menu bar, selecting Preferences, and choosing either Stream files on demand or Mirror files on demand.
How to Sync or Backup Files?
To sync or backup files with Google Drive File Stream, follow these steps:
Open the Google Drive drive in your computer and navigate to the file or folder that you want to sync or backup.
Right-click on the file or folder and select Drive File Stream.
Choose one of the following options:
Sync: This option will sync the file or folder between your computer and the cloud. Any changes you make on one device will be reflected on the other. You'll see a blue sync icon next to it.
Backup: This option will backup the file or folder to the cloud. Any changes you make on your computer will not affect the cloud version. You'll see a gray exclamation mark icon next to it.
You can also change the default option for all files and folders by clicking on the Drive File Stream icon in your taskbar or menu bar, selecting Preferences, and choosing either Sync files on demand or Backup files on demand.
How to Work Offline or Online?
To work offline or online with Google Drive File Stream, follow these steps:
To work offline, you need to make sure that the files or folders that you need are available offline. You can do this by right-clicking on them and selecting Drive File Stream > Available offline. You'll see a green checkmark icon next to them.
To work online, you need to have an internet connection. You can access any file or folder in Google Drive by streaming it from the cloud. You can also make some files or folders available online only by right-clicking on them and selecting Drive File Stream > Available online only. You'll see a cloud icon next to them.
You can also change the default option for all files and folders by clicking on the Drive File Stream icon in your taskbar or menu bar, selecting Preferences, and choosing either Available offline or Available online only.
How to Troubleshoot Problems?
If you encounter any problems with Google Drive File Stream, such as errors, crashes, slow performance, missing files, or sync issues, you can try some of these solutions:
Check your internet connection and make sure it is stable and fast enough.
Check your disk space and make sure you have enough free space for streaming or mirroring files.
Check your Google account and make sure you have enough storage space for syncing or backing up files.
Check your Google Drive settings and make sure they are compatible with Google Drive File Stream.
Check your Google Drive File Stream preferences and make sure they are set according to your needs and preferences.
Check your Google Drive File Stream status and make sure there are no errors or sync issues.
Restart your computer and relaunch Google Drive File Stream.
Update your Google Drive File Stream app to the latest version.
Contact Google support or visit their help center for more assistance.
What Are Some Alternatives to Google Drive File Stream?
If you are looking for some alternatives to Google Drive File Stream, you may want to consider some of these options:
Nextcloud
is an open-source cloud storage service that lets you host your own server and access your files from any device. It also offers various features such as collaboration, encryption, backup, security, and more. You can use Nextcloud's desktop app to sync your files with your server, or use its web interface to access them online. Nextcloud is free for personal use, but you need to pay for hosting and maintenance costs.
pCloud
is a cloud storage service that offers up to 10 GB of free space and up to 2 TB of paid plans. It also offers various features such as encryption, backup, security, media streaming, and more. You can use pCloud's desktop app to sync your files with the cloud, or use its web interface or mobile app to access them online. pCloud also has a feature called pCloud Drive, which lets you mount your cloud storage as a virtual drive on your computer, similar to Google Drive File Stream.
Sync.com
is a cloud storage service that offers up to 5 GB of free space and up to 4 TB of paid plans. It also offers various features such as encryption, backup, security, collaboration, and more. You can use Sync.com's desktop app to sync your files with the cloud, or use its web interface or mobile app to access them online. Sync.com also has a feature called Sync Vault, which lets you store files in the cloud only, without syncing them to your computer.
Conclusion
Google Drive File Stream is a useful tool for accessing your Google Drive files directly from your computer, without using a web browser or downloading them to your hard drive. It has many benefits, such as saving disk space and network bandwidth, integrating with Google Workspace apps, and working offline or online. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as requiring an internet connection, causing some compatibility issues, and having some bugs or glitches. Therefore, you should weigh the pros and cons before using it, and consider some alternatives if it doesn't suit your needs or preferences.
We hope this article has helped you understand what Google Drive File Stream is and how to use it. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Google Drive File Stream:
Is Google Drive File Stream free?
Google Drive File Stream is free for personal use, but you need a Google account and an internet connection to use it. You also need to have enough storage space in your Google Drive for streaming or mirroring files. If you have a Google Workspace account, you may need to pay for the subscription fee and the additional storage space.
Is Google Drive File Stream safe?
Google Drive File Stream is safe as long as you use a secure password and a two-factor authentication for your Google account. It also encrypts your files in transit and at rest, scans them for viruses, and keeps a version history of them. However, you should be careful about sharing your files or folders with others, as they may be able to access or modify them without your permission.
How do I uninstall Google Drive File Stream?
To uninstall Google Drive File Stream from your Mac or PC, follow these steps:
Click on the Drive File Stream icon in your taskbar or menu bar and select Quit.
Go to the Control Panel (Windows) or the Applications folder (Mac) and find the Google Drive File Stream app.
Right-click on the app and select Uninstall (Windows) or Move to Trash (Mac).
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstallation process.
How do I update Google Drive File Stream?
To update Google Drive File Stream to the latest version, follow these steps:
Click on the Drive File Stream icon in your taskbar or menu bar and select About.
If there is an update available, you'll see a message saying "An update is ready to install". Click on Install update.
If there is no update available, you'll see a message saying "Drive File Stream is up to date". Click on OK.
How do I contact Google support for Google Drive File Stream?
To contact Google support for Google Drive File Stream, follow these steps:
Click on the Drive File Stream icon in your taskbar or menu bar and select Help & feedback.
You'll see a window with some help articles and a feedback form. You can browse the articles for some solutions, or fill out the form with your issue and submit it.
You can also visit for more help resources and contact options.
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