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Google Drive

ApplicationGoogle LLC

Dem still dey call am drive for desktop, google drive for desktop, backup and sync

Google LLCProductivity

Google Windows sync client, wey dem now dey call Drive for desktop. Di process na GoogleDriveFS.exe. E no be OneDrive and e no be di retired Backup and Sync app.

Wetin you need know

Drive for desktop na GoogleDriveFS.exe. OneDrive na Microsoft.

Google current Windows client replace Backup and Sync and Drive File Stream names. OneDrive.exe no go sync Google account. Two clients on top one Documents tree go double di disk space.

Wetin e be?
Cloud sync
Still current?
Yes, see Current status
Official download?
Use di vendor link inside dis article
Feex tok say
If GoogleDriveFS.exe dey chop disk, I go check first sync or mirror of huge Drive, no be OneDrive.exe. Those na different clouds.

Wetin be Google Drive?

Google Drive for desktop na Google Windows sync app. GoogleDriveFS.exe na di current worker. E no be OneDrive, e no be Dropbox, and e no be di old Backup and Sync.exe.

If you never use am before

If you want G: style Drive letter or mirrored Google Drive folder for Windows, dis na Drive for desktop, no be OneDrive. Download am from google.com/drive/download. Backup and Sync na Google older consumer client. Google don retire dat name. OneDrive.exe na Microsoft and different folder.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Stream or mirror Drive files

Virtual drive or mirrored folder for di Google account. OneDrive no dey mount dis letter.

Shared drives (Workspace)

Work Google accounts fit show shared drives. Dat one na Workspace, no be Microsoft tenant.

Photos and desktop folders if you enable dem

Optional folder backup inside dis client. E still be Google Drive, no be Known Folder Move.

Na who e dey for?

  • People wey dia files already dey inside Google account
  • Workspace users wey need Shared drives inside Explorer
  • Anybody wey no suppose stack dis on top di same Documents tree with OneDrive

Current status

Dem dey actively develop am as Drive for desktop. Backup and Sync don retire. Dis article na about di current Windows client.

How old e be?

Google Drive launch for 2012. Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync later merge become Drive for desktop. Guide wey still dey talk say "install Backup and Sync" don stale. OneDrive na different 2007-era Microsoft client.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

Drive for desktop
Backup and Sync (retired)
Drive File Stream (merged)

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, according to di vendor
RAM E reach for Windows plus dis app. Heavy projects go want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand
Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
GoogleDriveFS.exe Drive for desktop (File Stream)

Startup components

Drive for desktop usually dey start with Windows from im own setting. Dat one na Google tray, no be OneDrive.

File locations

Common Google Drive locations
Typical install C:\Program Files\Google\Drive File Stream\GoogleDriveFS.exe

File formats

anything wey you store inside Google Drive

Common wahala dem

Leftover Backup and Sync

Google don move users go Drive for desktop. Old Backup and Sync shortcut don stale. Install di current client.

OneDrive and Drive both dey control Documents

Pick one root. Known Folder Move plus Google folder backup na how files dey take fight.

How to get unstuck

Confirm say na GoogleDriveFS.exe, no be OneDrive.exe

Open file location. Google\Drive File Stream na dis client. Microsoft\OneDrive na di sibling wey people dey mistake am for.

Pause sync inside Drive tray before you debug Explorer

Placeholders dey wake di client. To kill di process when e dey write fit leave half-hydrated file.

Install from google.com/drive/download

Search ad for "Google Drive sync" na wrong file. Backup and Sync installers don retire.

Alternatives

OneDrive, Dropbox, and drive.google.com inside browser dey overlap. Di website dey skip di tray. E no go give you Drive letter.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download www.google.com/drive/download/ Official installer or vendor page
Help support.google.com/drive Vendor support
Official site www.google.com/drive/download/ Start here, no be random exe host
Drive for web drive.google.com/ Files without di Windows client

Related hardware

SSD dey make first mirror and streaming no too pain. Spinning disk plus two clouds na di worst case.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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