How to Set Up Google Drive for Desktop on Windows 11

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• During setup, you may choose Stream Files to segment what is kept in the cloud and what stays offline on your computer.
• Only choose the Mirror Files option if you have an extremely large offline storage.
• Once you have set up Google Drive, you may access your files via the File Explorer.

How to Install Google Drive on Windows 11 Device

Unfortunately, Google Drive isn’t available from the Microsoft Store. You must download the app from the official website.

Step 1: Visit Google Drive on the web.

Step 2: Click Download Drive for desktop and save the .exe file on the computer.

Step 3: Open the File Manager, find the downloaded file, and install Google Drive on your PC.

How to Map Google Drive in Windows 11

After successful Drive installation on your PC, Google Drive will allow you to launch the application. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Click the Launch button.

Step 2: Alternatively, click the up-arrow icon in the Windows 11 taskbar, select Google Drive, right-click the Settings icon, and click Preferences.

Step 3: In the Google Drive Preferences menu, select My Laptop at the top left side, and click Add Folder to safely back up your PC files to Google Drive and Google Photos.

Step 4: Select either Sync with Google Drive or Backup to Google Photos and click Done.

Sync with Google Drive: It will upload all files and folders, including photos and videos. If you edit or remove files, those changes will be automatically synced.

Back up to Google Photos: Google Photos is purely a media backup service. It will skip files and documents from the folder and only upload photos, gifs, and videos to Google Photos.

Alternatively, after step 2, rather than clicking My laptop, click Google Drive and pick either Stream Files or Mirror Files.

Stream Files: It will keep all the My Drive files in the cloud, and you can keep necessary files offline on the PC. Even if your Google Drive has 100GB+ data, it won’t take up any space on the PC.

Mirror Files: If you prefer the old way of using Google Drive on a PC, you must go with Mirror Files. But be careful. Whatever folder you select, Drive will store all the folder content on your computer and in the cloud.

How to Add Google Drive in File Explorer

When you map Google Drive on Windows 11, it is added to your File Explorer by default, so you have no further setup to do. To access the folder, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open the File Manager menu (use Windows + E keys).

Step 2: Click Google Drive on the left pane and My Drive on the right.

Now, you should have all your available files displayed.