Fix: Google Drive for Desktop Not Working

Unsupported files size or type: If the files you are trying to upload exceeds the maximum allowed file size limit, you won’t be able to upload them. If Google Drive does not support the file type, you can’t back it up on Drive.
Firewall blocking: By default, the Firewall is enabled on your computer. If it is blocking the internet connection for Drive for Desktop, you must give it access to use private or public networks.
Slow internet speed: If the internet connection is too slow, you might not be able to upload or sync folders to Drive for Desktop.

Google Drive for Desktop Not Working, How to Fix?

A couple of nifty workarounds will help you fix the issues with the Drive for Desktop application. After applying a fix, make sure to check if the problem is fixed. If yes, don’t apply other fixes. Otherwise, keep trying the remaining solutions and see which one spells out success for you.

Fix 1: Close the App and Restart Your Computer

This solution might work well for you if you cannot open the Drive for Desktop application. This is also helpful in removing temporary system glitches or minor software bugs. As soon as you close the app, all the running processes of Drive for Desktop will be terminated, and the app will get a fresh restart.

For Windows:

Tap on the Show hidden buttons icon (^) at the bottom.
Select the Google Drive icon.
Tap on the Settings icon and click on Quit.
Restart your computer.
In the search bar, type Google Drive and press the Enter button to launch the application.

For Mac:

Select the Google Drive icon from the menu bar.
Tap on the settings icon and select Quit.
Restart your Mac.
Open Drive for Desktop and check if the problem is fixed.

Fix 2: Pause and Resume Synchronization

If you cannot backup files or access synchronized files on the computer, the Drive for Desktop application may be dealing with syncing issues. To fix this problem, you must first pause syncing on Drive for Desktop, restart the device, and then resume syncing.

Here’s how you should apply this solution in a step-by-step manner:

On the system tray, tap on the Show hidden icons button (^). This will open up all hidden icons.
Click on the Google Drive icon. If you don’t see the icon, type Google Drive in the search bar and hit Enter.
Tap on the gear icon and select Pause syncing.
Reboot your computer.
Launch Google Drive.
Tap on the gear icon and select Resume syncing.

Fix 3: Disable Firewall for Drive for Desktop

Turning off the firewall for Drive for Desktop can solve the problem as it will allow the app to access device storage. A firewall can also filter information coming to your device from the internet.

Follow these steps to disable the firewall for Drive for Desktop on Windows:

In the search box, type Settings and press the Enter button.
In the Settings app, go to Privacy & security -> Windows security.
Tap on Firewall & network protection.
Scroll down and find Allow an app through the firewall. Tap on it.
Tap on Change settings and click on Allow another app.
Click Browse and select the GoogleDriveSetup.exe file. You can download it from this page.
Click Add.
Check both the boxes next to Google Drive Installer.
Click OK.

If you are a Mac user, follow these steps:

From the Apple Menu, go to System preferences -> Security & privacy.
Go to the Firewall tab.
Click on the lock icon at the bottom.
Select Firewall options.
Click the + icon and select the GoogleDrive.dmg file.
Tap on Add and click OK.

Fix 4: Remove Bandwidth Limitations

Drive for Desktop offers you to set bandwidth limitations. It is a helpful feature as it saves your internet data, but it can be problematic for those who upload big files. If the uploading speed limit is set to very low, you might not able to upload large files. We recommend you either increase the upload and download rate limits or remove all bandwidth limitations.

Follow these instructions to remove or change bandwidth limitations:

Tap on the Google Drive icon from the Show hidden icons menu.
Click the gear icon and select Preferences.
On the Preferences window, tap on the gear icon.
Scroll down until you see the Bandwith settings option.
Uncheck both the boxes to remove bandwidth limitations for downloading and uploading. Or, you can click on the box to set manual the download and upload speed limit.

Fix 5: Clear Device Cache

Like any other application, Drive for Desktop stores cache data to quickly access some features. Over time, the total cache memory stored by the application grows, which might reduce the smoothness you were getting before. You should clear the cache once in a while so that the application can generate fresh cache files.

Here’s how to clear cached data for the Google Drive app:

Tap on the Google Drive icon from the Show hidden icons menu.
Tap on the gear icon and select Preferences.
Again, tap the gear icon and find the Local cached files directory option.
Note down the location and close Google Drive.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the location.
Clear all cached files.

This was how you could fix issues with Drive for Desktop application when it is not working, not backing up, or not syncing. I hope that you were able to fix the problem on your computer. In the comments below, let us know which method did the trick for you.