With a newer application, you can expect little developer bugs and a lot of confusion! If you’re having problems backing up your files on Drive for Desktop, we’re here to help. So, keep reading this article to learn more about the problems and fixes for the same.
What is Drive for Desktop?
Drive for Desktop is an application that lets you access your content from the desktop itself. It replaced Google’s earlier Backup and Sync application. The main motive behind the transition is to integrate these utilities with other features from the web version of Google Drive. Along with the features, Drive for Desktop lets users directly access their content from the cloud saving network bandwidth. The transition was confusing for most users as they were unfamiliar with the interface. Before Backup & Sync got discontinued in October, Google rolled out an automatic update from Backup & Sync to the file stream version of Drive for Desktop.
Why is My Drive for Desktop Not Working?
How to Fix Drive for Desktop Not Working?
There are simple solutions to fix backup issues on Drive for Desktop. Here are the relevant solutions for all the causes we’ve listed above. You can navigate through your issue and find the solution most applicable to you.
Outdated Drive for Desktop Application: If you do not update your application periodically, you may not be able to enjoy its regular functions. This may be why your folders might not be backing up. Weak Internet Connection: If you have a bad network connection, you might not be able to upload your folder to the application. This causes your backup process to fail. Incompatible File Size: The files you upload to your Drive for Desktop application needs to be specific file sizes. For photos, your files must be less than 200MB. For videos, keep your files under the size of 10GB. Any files smaller than 256 x 256 pixels won’t back up under Google Photos as well. Interference of Third-party application: Some third-party applications like anti-virus software may interfere with the driver files. This causes problems in the backup process of your folders. Firewall: If you have Firewall enabled for Drive for Desktop, it may restrict the application from accessing the information on your device. To backup your folders, it must need access to your device storage. This is a possible reason for your backup issue on Drive for Desktop.
Check Your Connection
If you’re experiencing a slow internet connection, restart your router. Wait for about thirty seconds before turning your router back on. If this does not fix the issue, contact your internet service provider and upgrade to a better plan.
Restart Drive for Desktop
Consider restarting the application if you’re having trouble using the Drive for Desktop features. When you restart the application, it flushes out the RAM which might be cluttered with temporary, redundant tasks. To restart Drive for Desktop, you’ll need to firstly Quit the application and then restart it. Follow these instructions to restart Drive for Desktop: On Windows On Mac
Add More Storage
Google Drive provides users with only 15GB worth of free space. To expand your storage space, delete files/folders that you no longer use. If you wish to expand the space, you can purchase more space. Follow these instructions to purchase more storage on your Google Drive:
Disable Firewall for Drive for Desktop
Turn off the firewall for Drive for Desktop to give the application free access to your device storage. Through settings, you can disable firewalls for trusted applications. This maintains your device’s integrity and protects it from security breaches. Disable firewall for Drive for Desktop on Windows following these instructions: If you want to disable the firewall through Mac, follow these steps:
Pause Syncing
If you cannot access your synchronized files from your desktop, you may be dealing with issues in your file synchronization. You can approach this issue by selecting pausing and resuming syncing on your device. Follow these instructions to test this solution on your device:
Lifting Bandwidth Limitations
Drive for Desktop has the option set a limit to your upload, download, and bandwidth. This means you can only download and upload files a certain number of times. Enabling this feature also saves the bandwidth of your network. However, this feature may be why you’re facing issues in using Drive for Desktop. Follow these instructions to change the bandwidth limitation on Drive for Desktop:
Clear Drive Cache
Your application stores cache memory for you to quickly access its files the next time you use it. However, when cache builds up, it takes up the space required for the application to run smoothly. Clear Drive cache from its settings to run your application efficiently:
Change Drive Proxy Settings
You can try configuring your proxy settings on Drive for Desktop. Change Proxy Settings from Auto-detect to Direct connection to see if it helps Drive for Desktop work again. Follow these instructions to change the proxy settings on your Drive for Desktop:
Reinstall Drive for Desktop
Re-install Drive for Desktop to resume the backup process on your device. When you reinstall your application, you begin with a clean slate. This limits the interference of bugs and lets you perform your actions smoothly. Follow these instructions to install Drive for Desktop:
