This remains true even when dragging the item in or out of the Drive for desktop file stream location. In many settings, you can’t stream files and you need to fully download files before you can examine them. QuickLook previews only work for downloaded files (files without a finexo cloud icon).

Learn about Google Workspace storage

To find out how much storage you have and how to manage it, log into your Google Account and reload this article. To request file recovery, log into your Google Account and reload this article. Learn about streaming and mirroring options with Drive for desktop. If you sync an Apple Photos library with Drive, everything syncs. QuickLook previews work for all files, assuming you have an internet connection. More storage across Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos for you and your family.

Learn what takes up your storage, what doesn’t, and what happens when it’s full

Dragging items in and out of a Google Drive folder will move them. Files other than Gmail, Drive, and Photos can still use up your Google storage space. For example, backups of your WhatsApp messages and media. To find files that other people shared with you, go to Shared with me. If you only have one photo library, then it’s the System Photo Library.

After syncing, the files on your computer match the files in the cloud. If you edit, delete, or move a file in one location, the same change happens in the other location. That way, your files are always up to date and can be accessed from any device. Google One storage is shared among Drive, Gmail, Photos and family accounts, where applicable. The amount of storage for each user depends on your Google Workspace edition. Your Google storage is shared across Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive.

• To upload or create files or folders, you can use the “New” button.
• If you do not enable Google Drive, you will not be able to stream your files using File Provider.
• If you only have one photo library, then it’s the system photo library.
• Any new files or folders you create in Drive or Drive for desktop sync and appear on all your devices.
• To search all files, use the Drive for desktop search tool or the Drive website.

On your computer, you can upload from drive.google.com or your desktop. You can share files or folders for others to access, edit, or comment on. When you download photos and videos from your iCloud and upload them to Google Photos, it temporarily uses your hard drive space.

• To find files that other people shared with you, go to Shared with me.
• You can upload, open, share, and edit files with Google Drive.
• Files other than Gmail, Drive, and Photos can still use up your Google storage space.
• Bring your best ideas to life with Google Workspace with Gemini.
• Your Google storage is shared across Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive.

Sync to Google Drive and Google Photos

You can upload and share your files from any device, create new files, keep them organized, edit easily, and share them with others. If you edit, delete or move a file on the cloud, the same change happens on your computer and devices, and vice versa. In this way, your files are always up to date and can be accessed from any device. When you download photos and videos from your iCloud and upload them to Google Photos, it temporarily uses your Hard drive space. Downloaded and locally created files are not accessible when Drive for desktop isn’t running. Downloaded and locally created files are accessible when Drive for desktop isn’t running.

Install & set up Drive for desktop for Windows

To quickly find your important files or folders, you can add them to the “Starred” section. Your system photo library is the only library that works with iCloud photos, shared albums and My Photo Stream. To find your files in Drive, search in Drive for desktop. You can sync files from your computer to Google Drive and backup to Google Photos. If you edit, delete or move a file on the Cloud, the same change happens on your computer and devices, and vice versa.

Learn how to use Google Drive

Google One members can share their plan features with up to 5 family members. For more information about storage for Google Workspace for Education storage, go to Understand storage availability and usage. For customers with 5 or more End Users, more storage may be available at Google’s discretion upon reasonable request.

Get tips & real-life use cases for using gen AI at work. When you first open Drive for desktop, you receive a notification “Google Drive would like to start syncing.” Click OK. For this same video with audio descriptions, go to Get started with Drive for Desktop.

Spotlight search will only search a subset of your files including any downloaded files. To search all files, use the Drive for desktop search tool or the Drive website. If you only have one photo library, then it’s the system photo library. Otherwise, the first photo library that you create or open in photos is your system photo library. You can sync files from your computer to Google Drive and back up to Google Photos. Mirroring and streaming are two ways to sync your files.

However, other items like WhatsApp backups or Drive for Desktop syncing can also take up space. You can work on Office files with real-time presence when you use Drive for desktop. For Windows users with a work or school account, you can also send and save files with Microsoft Outlook. Learn how to use Microsoft Office files with Drive for desktop. You can save files and folders for offline use with Drive for desktop. Learn how to use files offline with Drive for desktop.

Use File Provider to stream Drive files

When you install Drive for desktop on your computer, it creates a drive in My Computer or a location in Finder named Google Drive. Any new files or folders you create in Drive or Drive for desktop sync and appear on all your devices. You can use Drive for desktop to keep your files in sync between the cloud and your computer. Syncing is the process of downloading files from the cloud and uploading files from your computer’s hard drive.

Delete your file

Photos and videos backed up in Storage saver quality or Express quality before June 1, 2021 don’t use space. If you upload a file with the same name, Google Drive will upload the file as a revision of the file already in Google Drive. When you first open Drive for desktop, you receive the notification that ‘Google Drive would like to start syncing’. For this same video with audio descriptions, go to Get started with Drive for desktop. Bring your best ideas to life with Google Workspace with Gemini.

Everyone gets 15 GB of cloud storage at no charge with their Google Account. The rest of the paid Google One storage is shared between family members. You can upload, open, share, and edit files with Google Drive. When you upload a file to Google Drive, it will take up space in your Drive, even if you upload to a folder owned by someone else.