Google Drive Desktop Mac

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 Desktop Mac Computers
Google Drive Desktop Mac
Google Drive Shortcut On Desktop Mac
Google Drive Mac Desktop Icon

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.

Google Drive is a centralized location of where you can put your data and provide public links to selected data or folders. Syncthing is decentralized, where you can have a copies of your data and folders on multiple computers (making it somewhat like backup software). As soon as you finish installing Google Drive for your Mac/PC or mobile app, your device can sync with Google Drive on the web so that you can view your files from any device. This sync will only take place with 'My Drive', the section of Google Drive on the web that contains files and folders you've uploaded and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

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.

If you're using a Chromebook, open Drive and click on the 3 vertical dots at the top right. Then go to More tools Create shortcut. A shortcut icon will then be pinned to your shelf.
Firstly, go to Google Drive (and click a gear icon on the right-top, then 'Get Backup and Sync for.). You will download an installer, so execute it. Backup & Sync has.

Here’s how to get Google Drive going.

Setting up Google Drive

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

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

(It’s on the right under Business).

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.

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.

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.

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.

When a user uploads files to Google Drive, they expect the future downloads and usage of such files to be easy. While that happens in most cases, some users cannot download files from Google Drive to their computers. Are you facing the same issue? Check out 9 ways to fix the issue of cannot download files from Google Drive on PC.

Users who face this issue get errors like Access Denied, Failed, Forbidden, etc. In some cases, clicking the download button doesn't do anything. Whatever the problem you face while downloading folders or files from Drive, this post shall help you.

Let’s get started with solutions.

1. Restart Computer

Whether you are trying to download files from a Windows computer or a Mac, restart your PC once before jumping onto the other solutions.

2. Use the Right Method to Download Files

There are several ways to download files from Google Drive. Let’s check them out.

Note: You cannot drag and drop files or folders from Google Drive to your desktop to download them. However, you can do that while uploading files.

Method 1

To download files from drive.google.com, right-click on the file once. Select Download from the menu. Similarly, if you want to download multiple files, select the files first, and then right-click on any one of the selected files. Choose Download from the menu. The files will begin to download.

Method 2

In Google Drive, select the files or folders that you want to download. Click on the three-dot icon at the top. Select Download from the menu.

Method 3

If you are trying to download an individual photo or video, open the file. You will see the Download icon at the top-right corner. Click on it to download the file.

Pro Tip: If method 3 fails to download photos, click on the three-dot icon at the top of the individual photo. Select Open in a new window. When the image opens in a new window, click on the Download icon, as you saw in method 3.

Method 4

If you aren’t signed in to any Google account, you will see the Download button on the right side of the files in list view in Google Drive. Hover your mouse over the image, and the Download button will appear.

If you view files in the grid view, the Download button will be present on the file. Click on that to download the file. Alternatively, you can click on the Download all button present at the top as well.

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3. Resolve Issue With Zip Files

If you download multiple files using the two methods mentioned above, they won’t be downloaded separately, but a Zip file will be created. For many users, Google Drive gets stuck on Preparing Zip file message only. It doesn’t prompt them to download a Zip file.

To fix that, you need to click on the Leave site button when a pop-up appears that asks whether you want to Leave site or Cancel. Clicking the Leave button starts the download process.

We have covered the Google Drive not downloading Zip files issue in detail. Do take a look for other solutions. In case you don’t want Google Drive to Zip your files, check out ways to download multiple files from Google Drive without zipping.

4. Enable Cookies

For many Google Chrome users, the cookies for Google Drive were blocked, and that’s why they were unable to download files. To enable cookies, open drive.google.com in Chrome. Click on the tiny lock icon present on the left side of the address bar. Then, select Cookies from the list.

In the pop-up window that appears, click on the Blocked tab. Check if you find any link related to Google. Click on that and hit the Allow button at the bottom. Finally, click on Done. Restart the page or the browser, and you should be able to download the files again.

5. Switch Google Accounts

When someone sends you a Google Drive link to download files, you need to be signed in with the same account allowed to access those files. Basically, Google Drive file sharing permissions works in two ways. The owner who generates a link for the file or the folder can let anyone with the link access the file. In that case, any Google account can be used to view or download files.

But the owner can also restrict the files to a select few users only based on their email address. So if you aren’t signed with the email that has access to those files, you will get errors like Forbidden, Not available, etc. In such cases, you need to switch your Google account to the right one.

The owner who generates a link for the file or the folder can let anyone with the link access the file

If you are a Google Chrome user, you can sign into multiple Google accounts. However, one of them is used as a default account. That account is also used for the Google Chrome sync feature. Whenever you receive a Google Drive link accessible from a different account, you need to switch to that account.

To do so, open drive.google.com. You will be signed in with the default account. Click on the profile picture at the top-right corner of the Drive screen. Your Google accounts will show up. Click on the one that you want to switch to. A new window will open where you are logged in with your second Google account.

If you close the window and open the Google Drive website again, you will be logged in with the default account. Repeat the steps to switch the Google account in Drive.

6. Remove All Google Accounts

If switching accounts doesn’t let you download files from Google Drive, you should remove all Google accounts from Chrome or change your default account in Chrome. Then try to download files with only one account registered in Chrome.

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7. Check Ad blockers and Antivirus

Do you use ad blocker extensions on your browser? Disable any ad blocker or recently downloaded third-party extensions. That should fix the issue.

Similarly, if you are using an antivirus on your computer, disable it temporarily. See if you can download files from Google Drive.

8. Switch Browser

Sometimes, the issue is with a particular browser only. First, update the browser. If that doesn’t fix it, try downloading the file using any other browser.

9. Workaround: Open in Incognito Mode

While this is not a proper fix, use this method as a workaround if nothing else lets you download Google Drive files. Basically, when someone sends a Google Drive link to you, copy it and paste it in your browser's incognito mode. That way you should be able to download files provided the sharing permissions are set to ‘Anyone with the link can view the file.’

To open incognito mode in Chrome, click on the three-dot icon at the top-right corner. Select the New Incognito window. Paste the link in the new window that opens. You can also use Chrome’s guest mode for this purpose.

The same workaround can be used to download your own Google Drive files or folders as well. Right-click on the file that you want to download. Select Share from the menu.

Under the Get link section, click on Change to anyone with the link if it isn’t selected. Then copy the link and paste it in the incognito window and download the files.

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Try More Solutions

If nothing works, you should download the Google Drive Backup and sync app. It is available for both Windows and Mac. Use it to download files from your Google Drive account to the computer. Check our guide on how to use Google Drive Backup and sync app.

Next up:Have you ever been curious as to what counts in Google Drive storage and what doesn't? Find out the answer from our guide using the next link.

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextGoogle Drive Storage Guide: What Counts and What Doesn'tAlso See