How to use Google Drive on Mac like a pro: My secret methods revealed

Google Drive is my lifesaver for “I-need-to-share-right-now” scenarios. Writing an article and want to hear the editor’s feedback, or need a folder for branding visuals to share with others? No problem at all. Google Drive allows you to store and sync data across your devices, while its integration with Google Docs for Mac gives your friends or coworkers access to the files or folders you designate for sharing.

There’s an official Google Drive app for Mac, too. The app is free, but you’re here to learn how to manage it professionally. Keep reading, cause I’m ready to share some of my personal insights on using Google Drive on Mac.

Ways to manage Google Drive on Mac	What to do
Need easy access to Google Drive from Mac	Install the Google Drive app from the App Store and sync with Finder.
Don’t want to rely on browser version	Use the desktop app for better speed, offline access, and system integration.
Low disk space on Mac	Use Streaming mode to keep files in the cloud and free up local storage.
Want offline access to all files	Switch to Mirroring mode in Google Drive’s Preferences.
Only need some files offline	Right-click files in Finder > Make available offline.
Need to manage too many cloud accounts	Use CloudMounter to connect Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc., in Finder.
Want flexible backup options	Use Get Backup Pro for versioned, incremental, or clone backups.
Need to share files securely and fast	Use Dropshare for drag-and-drop Google Drive uploads and secure link sharing.
Want a cleaner menu bar experience	Use Bartender to hide and organize icons, including Google Drive.

How to set up and use Google Drive on Mac efficiently

While you can access Google Drive through any browser on any device, you don’t always want to rely on the browser version. It’s much more convenient to use the Google Drive app for Mac, as it’s built for the OS. I’ve seen the difference in faster file syncing, seamless offline access support, and integration with Finder and other parts of the Mac — so I wholeheartedly recommend it.

To start using Google Drive on Mac, you first need a Google Drive account.

How to create a Google Drive account?

If you have an account on any of Google services, like Gmail, YouTube, or Google Play, then you actually already have a Google Drive account.

Simply log in to a Google Drive website or app with your existing credentials. Or create a Google account for free by following these steps:

1. Go to google.com/drive and click Sign In.
2. If you don’t have a Google account, click Create account.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new Google account (this will also serve as your new Gmail email address).

How to install Google Drive for Mac?

Installing the Google Drive app on your Mac desktop only takes a few steps, so let’s quickly go through them together.

1. Go to the official download page google.com/drive/download, or get it from the App Store.
2. Click the Download button.
3. Find GoogleDrive.dmg in your Downloads folder and open it.
4. Install the Google Drive app by going through the steps.
5. Sign in to Google Drive with your Google account.

Once you’ve signed in, the app will automatically sync with your account and be ready for use.

How to sync Google Drive on Mac for the first time?

Your Google Drive app on your Mac desktop syncs with your account automatically, but when you first start using it, you’ll need to go to the menu bar app icon> Then, click the gear icon> Preferences, and select one of the two types of syncing your files:

• Stream files: You can store all of your files on the cloud and only make select items available offline.
• Mirror files: You can save all your files both on the Google Drive and your computer.

You can change your syncing type at any moment in Google Drive preferences.

Understanding Google Drive file syncing options

If you want to dig a little deeper into Google Drive syncing, I’ve got the scoop. There are two primary syncing methods that the platform uses: Streaming and Mirroring.

To make these methods easier to understand, I’ve broken them down in the table below:

Let’s compare!	Streaming	Mirroring
Local storage usage	Minimal, as all files are stored in the cloud	High, as all files are stored locally
Internet reliance	Internet required for unsynced files	Files are all accessible offline
Syncing speed	Quick syncing with an internet connection for individual files	Syncs entire drive for instant access
Access method	Appear in Finder but aren’t stored on your computer	Fully downloaded to Finder
Best for	Saving disk space if you want to rely on the cloud	Offline-first

You'll want to choose one or the other, depending on your available local storage space, how you personally use Google Drive, your internet reliability, and your current needs. For example, those with light storage needs and casual users should go with Streaming to save disk space and grab files whenever needed. In contrast, professionals who work with heavy files like design files and video clips should opt for Mirroring instead.

How do I know which way of syncing to choose in Google Drive on Mac?

It’s actually very easy to make the choice once you know all the pros and cons of each syncing option.

As to the Streaming option:

• The main pro is that much less space is used on your Mac’s hard drive, as most of the files are stored in the cloud. You still have easy access to all the files and can work with them on your Mac.
• The main con of this syncing type is the need for internet access to use the files you haven’t made available online.

Mirror sync is the opposite of that:

• The main pro is that your files are saved on your computer and Google’s cloud storage and are available offline, regardless of the quality of your internet connection.
• The main con is that they take up double the space since they are saved both in the cloud and on your device.

No matter what you choose. There are always other ways to sync and store your files. For that, I recommend checking the quick guide on easy ways to sync, share, and transfer files between Macs.

How to use Google Drive on Mac?

One of the best uses would be to link your Google Drive to multiple devices for easy access from all of them. To add your files to your Google Drive, you no longer need to open it in your browser and upload. You can simply drag and drop files onto the My Drive folder on your Mac.

If you are using the Streaming sync for your Google Drive files, you can make some available offline right in the My Drive folder in Finder.

To do so:

1. Right-click on the file for which you want to change the status.
2. Choose Make available offline or reverse the feature the same way.

You can easily spot which files and folders are available offline by the respective labels on each in your My Drive folder in Finder:

Also, remember that Google Drive lets you create and work with others on documents in Google’s own versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in real-time (called Docs, Sheets, and Slides, respectively).

How to use Google Drive menu bar icon

The Google Drive menu bar icon allows you to quickly access your Google Drive activity, notifications, and app preferences.

In Google Drive Preferences, you can add folders to back up, change whether you want your file sync to be stream or mirror (I’ve explained the difference earlier in the post), and find your My Drive folder in Finder.

Troubleshooting common Google Drive issues on Mac

Even with such an easy and smooth setup process, technical issues can still occur. Let me go over the most common issues and how to solve them:

Syncing not working

If files aren’t syncing between your Drive and your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Restart your Google Drive app by clicking the Drive icon in the menu bar and quitting through the gear icon.
3. Reopen Google Drive.
4. Check your available storage and manually pause and resume sync.

Google Drive app not opening

If your Google Drive isn’t launching:

1. Force quit the app by going to the Apple icon in your menu bar or by pressing Option + Command + Esc.
2. Restart your Mac and try opening the app again.
3. Reinstall the app if these methods don’t work by deleting Google Drive from your Applications folder and re-downloading it from the official website.

Files not appearing in Finder

Occasionally, you might find discrepancies where certain files aren’t appearing in Finder. This could be due to a couple of reasons, including:

• You’re using Streaming mode, where files that haven’t been opened won’t be stored locally.
• You need to restart Google Drive.
• Your Finder preferences need updating. Open Finder > Settings > Sidebar and make sure Google Drive is selected under Locations

Why you might need to use Google Drive app on Mac

Google Drive is a convenient tool for saving your files in cloud storage that’s attached to your Google account. These are just a few of the reasons why you might want to use it on your Mac:

• You want the convenience of having access to your full Google Drive in a folder in Finder.
• You like to quickly sync between local and cloud files.
• You need to change the files’ statuses from “available offline” to “online only” frequently.
• You prefer to have direct access to your Google Drive files saved to multiple Google accounts.

More tips for making Google Drive better

As convenient as Google Drive is, people often use more than one service for their personal and professional data storage. Some popular alternatives include Apple’s iCloud, Microsoft’s OneDrive, and Dropbox. Using a combination of cloud-based storage increases your Mac’s disk space to being virtually unlimited, as long as you have an active internet connection. But in truth, managing different cloud accounts can turn into quite a hustle.

Get multiple cloud storage in Finder

Luckily, there are apps like CloudMounter that allow you to use all your storage solutions in one place, connecting them to your Mac as if they were your regular external drives.

This trick lets you deal with cloud data in the same manner as you’d with local data, and even move files between the clouds. Plus, it allows for the encryption of sensitive data on the cloud and doesn’t share your login info with any third parties.

Back up only those files you want

Get Backup Pro is fast, reliable, and offers a mix of four different backup methods: simple copy, clone, incremental, and versioned. With this app, you can back up folders or files that you think are important, cut the size of archives up to 60% by conducting compressed backups, effortlessly migrate data to a new disk with bootable backups via cloning, and schedule Stealth mode backups.

Upload anything anywhere with one drag-and-drop

It goes without saying that cloud storage encourages collaboration and file sharing. If you work with different files online and often need to share links, Dropshare should be your app of choice for fast and secure file exchange.

Dropshare is a platform that works brilliantly with your favorite cloud services and lets you upload files in bulk with its easy drag & drop functionality, as well as securely share files, documents, and photos with password-protected expiring download links, and even set your own keyboard shortcuts to complete routine tasks faster.

How to use Google Drive on Mac: Solved

If you’re still asking yourself how to use Google Drive — 15 GB of free storage space, excellent collaboration features, and the ability to access your files from any of your devices will surely give you lots of ideas on how to make the most of it. With clouds come possibilities, but you‘re the one who really decides what Google Drive is going to be on your Mac.

Best of all, you can get other useful apps — CloudMounter, Get Backup Pro, Bartender, and Dropshare — on a free 7-day trial through Setapp, a platform of more than 250 useful Mac tools that could change the way you work day to day.