© tommaso79/Getty Images To sync files automatically, add the Google Drive app to your desktop. tommaso79/Getty Images

  • You can add Google Drive to your desktop on a PC in addition to using it on a web browser.
  • Adding the Google Drive app to your desktop will enable you to sync your documents and files from your computer to Google Drive.

Open your browser and go to your google drive, open login with the account that has the file you wish to download. Locate the file that you wish to download and select it. Right click the file and click on “get shareable link”(refer the image below). Download Google Drive on your Mac. Note: The App Store only offers Google Drive for iPhone and iPad users. Once you have created and logged into your Google Account, you can start the process to download Google Drive onto your Mac. Navigate to google.com/drive and click on the “Go to drive” button indicated by the red box.

Google Drive is popular for its free programs, ease of access, and compatibility with Gmail and other Google products.

You can download Google Drive to your PC desktop as well, enabling your computer to sync your files with Google Drive automatically.

Here's how to add Google Drive to your desktop using a PC.

Download google drive macbook

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to add Google Drive to your PC desktop

1. If you are logged in to your Google account on an internet browser, you must log out temporarily to install Google on your desktop.

Mojave

2. Once you have logged out, go to drive.google.com and scroll down to the bottom of the webpage. Under the 'Downloads' column, click on 'Drive for Mac/PC.'

Google© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider In 'Downloads,' select 'Drive for Mac/PC.' Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

3. A new tab will open. Next to the 'For Individuals' banner, click on 'Download.'

© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider In 'For Individuals,' select 'Download.' Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

4. A pop-up window will appear. Click the 'Agree and Download' button.

© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider Select 'Agree and Download.' Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

5. A program called 'installbackupandsync.exe' will begin downloading in your internet browser.

© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider 'Backup and Sync' will download. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

6. Click on the program, and it should begin installing once it has finished downloading.

© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider It will then install. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

7. Once the installation is complete, click 'Close' to exit the pop-up window.

8. Google Drive should now appear on your desktop. Look for a window called 'Welcome to Backup and Sync' and click on the 'Get Started' button.

© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider Click 'Get Started.' Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

9. Type in your Gmail address, click 'Next,' and then type in your Gmail password. Click 'Next' when you are finished.

10. Set your laptop's preferences for upload quality and file size. When you are finished, click 'Next.'

© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider To sync files automatically, add the Google Drive app to your desktop. tommaso79/Getty Images

11. Set your Google Drive syncing preferences. You can sync the entirety of your computer to Google Drive, or select specific folders to sync. Once you are finished, click 'Start.'

© Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider Choose which folders you'd like to sync. Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

After Google Drive is downloaded to your desktop, you will also see shortcuts to Drive programs such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

You can mount a ‘Google Drive’ onto you Mac, it’s a neat cloud based storage solution from Google. The Google Drive sits on your desktop. It looks like a regular hard drive and the contents of the folder are automatically available to anyone else who has access to the same Google Drive.

Google Drive is similar but different to dropbox. When you move a file into dropbox the file is moved into dropbox, like you would expect if you were moving a file into a different folder. (The file is not copied, it is moved.) But when you drag a file into your Google Drive it doesn’t move the file, it creates a copy of the file. It’s more like copying the file to a thumb drive.

Because of this difference in the way they behave, Dropbox feels like it’s a folder on your computer like any other folder, it just happens to be shared with others. But Google Drive has a different feel. It feels like a foreign hard drive that is out there in the cloud and you happen to have access to it from your computer. Each have their advantage, and I use both.

Another big point of difference is that Google Drive requires an active internet connection. Last week our internet was down, and I went to access a file in my Google Drive, and I could see it, but not access it without a web connection. Dropbox syncs the 2 folders completely, so they are available offline as well.

Download Google Drive Mac

We use Google Drive to share documents across our organisation. I use dropbox to share files that I am working on across my own personal computers. I find it really useful to have this distinction in my head. Files that I want to share with other people – Google Drive. Files that I want to share with myself – Dropbox. Of course, you could use these tools any way you want but that’s the way I have found myself using them.

Here’s how to get Google Drive going.

Setting up Google Drive

  1. Download the Google ‘Drive File Stream’ App from here:

https://www.google.com/drive/download/

(It’s on the right under Business).

Download Google Drive Folder To Mac

2. Install the app and enter your Google G-suite username and password.

(To use Google Drive you must be part of an organisation. Google Drive syncing is through some software called G-suite.) This is free to non-profit organisations but if you are a commercial organisation you will need to subscribe to it.

Download Google Drive Application To Mac

The Google Drive will now appear on your desktop something like this:

If you click on it it will open up like a normal hard drive and you will see something like this:

My Drive

In your Google Drive will be a folder called “My Drive”

My Drive has your own documents in it. It’s similar to dropbox. You can keep this folder private or you can choose to share it with other members of your organisation, or you can use it to share documents publicly on the Internet.

Download Google Drive Mac

You will notice another folder called ‘Team Drives’

Team Drives

The ‘Team Drives’ folder only has folders that your organisation shares with you. Your administrator will give you access to the folders that they want you to access. You can be given full access to edit files and add new files or you can be given read-only access.

Google Drive App Mac

If you are not part of an organisation that uses G Suite, there is another solution from Google called ‘Backup and Sync’ which is for personal use. I have written an article on the differences between ‘Backup and Sync’ and ‘G Suite’ here.