The Two Ways to Sync a Folder on Mac
Google Drive on Mac works in two different ways, and which one you use depends on what you need. Google Drive for desktop (the newer tool) syncs folders in one direction only — from your Mac to Google Drive — and keeps a copy on your computer. Google Drive streaming (part of the same app) stores files only in the cloud and shows them in Finder without taking up disk space. Most people choose the first option if they want a backup; the second if they are running low on storage.
Both methods use the same app, but the setup is different. You pick which folders sync and how during installation, and you can change your choice later. Neither method costs money beyond a Google account.
Key Takeaways
- read Google Drive for desktop from Google's website, not the App Store, to get the full sync features.
- During setup, you choose whether to sync specific folders or stream files without storing them locally.
- Synced folders appear in a Google Drive folder on your Mac and upload automatically when you save changes.
- You can add or remove folders from sync at any time by opening Google Drive settings and editing your sync preferences.
- Syncing takes longer the first time if your folder is large, but updates after that happen in the background.
Installing Google Drive for Desktop on Your Mac
Go to google.com/drive/read and click the button to read Google Drive for Mac. Do not read from the App Store — the App Store version does not include the full sync feature. Once the installer finishes, open it and follow the prompts to sign in with your Google account.
When you reach the setup screen, you will see two options: "Stream files" or "Mirror local folder". Choose "Mirror local folder" if you want a copy of your folder saved on your Mac. Choose "Stream files" if you want files to appear in Finder but only read when you open them. You can change this later, so pick whichever feels right now and adjust if needed.
After setup finishes, Google Drive will create a folder called "Google Drive" in your home directory. This is where synced folders will live.
Selecting Which Folders to Sync
Once Google Drive is installed and running, click the Google Drive icon in your menu bar (top right of your screen). A small window will open. Click the three-dot menu icon and select "Preferences".
In the Preferences window, click the "Sync" tab. You will see a list of folders on your Mac. Check the box next to any folder you want to sync to Google Drive. Uncheck any folder you do not want synced. Google Drive will start syncing checked folders when ready — this may take a while if the folders are large.
You can sync your entire Documents folder, your Desktop, a project folder, or any other folder on your Mac. You are not limited to one folder — check as many as you need.
What Happens During and After Sync
When you first turn on sync for a folder, Google Drive uploads every file in it to your Google Drive account. Depending on the folder size, this can take minutes or hours. You can keep using your Mac while this happens — the sync runs in the background. A progress indicator in the Google Drive menu bar shows how much has uploaded.
Once the first sync finishes, any changes you make to files in that folder upload automatically. If you edit a document, save a photo, or create a new file in a synced folder, Google Drive detects the change within seconds and uploads it. You do not have to do anything manually.
Files in synced folders also read automatically if you make changes on another device. If you edit a file on your phone using Google Drive, that change appears on your Mac within seconds.
Stopping Sync or Removing Folders
To stop syncing a specific folder, open Google Drive Preferences again, click the Sync tab, and uncheck the folder. Google Drive will stop uploading changes, but the folder stays on your Mac — it just stops syncing.
To remove a synced folder entirely from your Mac, uncheck it in Preferences, then delete the folder from your computer manually. The files stay in your Google Drive account online; deleting the local folder does not delete them from the cloud.
To pause all syncing temporarily, click the Google Drive menu bar icon, click the three-dot menu, and select "Pause sync". Click it again to resume. This is useful if you are on a slow internet connection or need to free up bandwidth.
Troubleshooting Common Sync Problems
If a folder is not syncing, first check that it is checked in Preferences and that Google Drive is running (look for the icon in your menu bar). Restart Google Drive by clicking the menu icon, selecting "Quit Google Drive", and then opening it again from Applications.
If sync is very slow, check your internet connection. Large folders take longer to sync the first time. You can also check how much of your Google Drive storage you have used by clicking the menu icon and looking at the storage bar — if you are out of space, Google Drive will pause sync until you delete files or buy more storage.
If a file shows a red error icon in Finder, it usually means Google Drive could not upload it. This happens if the file name contains characters Google Drive does not allow, or if the file is locked. Rename the file or unlock it, and sync will try again automatically.
Syncing vs. Streaming: Which Should You Choose
Choose syncing (Mirror local folder) if you want a full copy of your files on your Mac and want to work on them offline. This uses disk space but means you can open files without internet. Choose streaming if you are short on storage space and do not mind files downloading when you open them. Streaming files appear in Finder but only take up space when you actually use them.
You can switch between the two at any time. Open Preferences, click Sync, and change your choice. If you switch from syncing to streaming, the files stay on your Mac until you manually delete them — Google Drive does not remove them automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does syncing a folder delete it from my Mac?
No. Syncing creates a copy in your Google Drive account while keeping the original on your Mac. The folder stays where it is. If you want to delete the local copy after confirming it synced, you can do that manually, but Google Drive does not remove it automatically.
Can I sync a folder that is already in Google Drive?
No. Google Drive will not sync a folder that already exists in your Google Drive account online. If you want to sync a local folder, it must be a folder on your Mac that is not already connected to Google Drive through another method.
What happens if I edit a file on my Mac and on my phone at the same time?
Google Drive will create a conflicting copy. Both versions stay in your Google Drive account, and you can choose which one to keep. Open Google Drive on the web, find the file, and look for a note about the conflict. You can then delete the version you do not want.
Do I need to pay for syncing?
No. Syncing is free with any Google account. You get 15 GB of free storage in Google Drive. If your synced folders exceed that, you can buy more storage, but syncing itself costs nothing.
Can I sync a folder to multiple Google accounts?
No. Google Drive for desktop syncs to only one Google account at a time. If you want to sync to a different account, sign out, sign in with the other account, and set up sync again. Your previous synced folders will no longer sync.