Google Drive for Desktop: How to Install and Use it on Windows
How to Download Google Drive on Windows
Google Drive is a cloud storage service that lets you store, access, edit, and share your files from any device. It also integrates with other Google apps, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, Photos, and Gmail. In this article, we will show you how to download Google Drive on Windows and how to use it for your personal or business needs.
how to download google drive on windows
What is Google Drive and Why You Need It
Google Drive is more than just a place to store your files. It is also a powerful tool that can help you work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively. Here are some of the features and benefits of using Google Drive:
Google Drive Features and Benefits
You can access your files from any device with an internet connection, whether it is a computer, smartphone, tablet, or even a smartwatch.
You can edit and create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, drawings, and more with Google's built-in apps, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drawings, and Keep.
You can share your files with anyone you want, and control their access level. You can also collaborate with others in real-time, chat, comment, and suggest changes.
You can use Google's powerful search engine to find your files quickly and easily. You can also use image recognition technology to search for objects or text in your images.
You can view any type of file in Google Drive, even if you don't have the software installed on your device. You can also send large files to others without any hassle.
You can backup your important files and photos to Google Drive, and enjoy 15 GB of free storage space. You can also upgrade to a Google One plan for more storage and extra benefits.
You can customize your Google Drive settings to suit your preferences. You can choose which folders to sync or backup, how much bandwidth to use, what notifications to receive, and more.
Google Drive Pricing and Plans
Google Drive offers different plans for different needs. Here is a table that compares the plans and their features:
PlanStoragePriceFeatures
Free15 GB$0All the basic features of Google Drive
Basic100 GB$1.99/month or $19.99/yearAll the basic features plus access to Google experts, sharing with up to 5 family members, more photo editing features, and extra member benefits
Standard200 GB$2.99/month or $29.99/yearAll the features of Basic plus more storage space
Premium2 TB$9.99/month or $99.99/yearAll the features of Standard plus more storage space
Business Standard (for teams)2 TB per user$12/user/month or $144/user/yearAll the features of Premium plus shared drives for teams, meeting recordings saved to Drive, group-based security policy controls, centralized administration, customer support, and more
How to Download and Install Google Drive for Desktop
If you want to use Google Drive on your Windows computer, you need to download and install Google Drive for Desktop. This is a free app that lets you sync and backup your files to the cloud, and access them from any device. Here are the steps to download and install Google Drive for Desktop:
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Step 1: Go to the Google Drive Download Page
Open your web browser and go to . This is the official page where you can download Google Drive for Desktop. You will see a button that says "Download" under the section "For individuals". Click on it to start the download process.
Step 2: Choose Your Operating System and Download the App
A pop-up window will appear, asking you to choose your operating system. Select "Windows" and click on "Agree and Download". The app will start downloading to your computer. You can see the progress of the download in your browser's download manager.
Step 3: Run the Installer and Sign in to Your Google Account
Once the download is complete, locate the file in your computer's downloads folder. It should be named "googledrivesync.exe". Double-click on it to run the installer. A window will open, asking you to sign in to your Google account. Enter your email address and password, and click on "Next". If you don't have a Google account, you can create one by clicking on "Create account".
Step 4: Choose Your Sync Settings and Folders
After signing in, you will see a window that lets you choose your sync settings and folders. You can choose to sync everything in your Google Drive, or only specific folders. You can also choose where to store your synced files on your computer. By default, they will be stored in a folder named "Google Drive" in your user folder. You can change this by clicking on "Change" and selecting a different location. You can also choose how much bandwidth to use for syncing, and whether to launch Google Drive for Desktop at startup. When you are done, click on "Start". The app will start syncing your files to the cloud.
How to Use Google Drive for Desktop
Now that you have installed Google Drive for Desktop, you can use it to access, edit, and share your files from your computer. Here are some of the things you can do with Google Drive for Desktop:
How to Access Your Files and Folders
You can access your files and folders from two places: the Google Drive folder on your computer, or the Google Drive icon in the system tray. The Google Drive folder is where all your synced files are stored locally. You can open it by clicking on it in File Explorer, or by using the shortcut "Windows key + E". You can browse, open, rename, delete, or move your files and folders as you normally would. The Google Drive icon is where you can see the status of your sync, pause or resume it, manage your settings, or open Google Drive on the web. You can access it by clicking on it in the system tray, which is located at the bottom right corner of your screen.
How to Edit and Share Your Files
You can edit and share your files using either Google's web apps or your preferred software. If you want to use Google's web apps, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc., you can right-click on any file in your Google Drive folder and select "Open with". You will see a list of available apps that you can use to edit your file online. Alternatively, you can double-click on any file in your Google Drive folder and it will open in your default browser. If you want to use your preferred software, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., you can open any file in your Google Drive folder as you normally would with any other file on your computer. However, note that some features may not be compatible with Google Drive's format. To share your files with others, you can right-click on any file or folder in your Google Drive folder and select "Share". You will see a window that lets you enter the email addresses of the people you want to share with, and choose their access level (view, comment, or edit). You can also copy a link to share with anyone who has access to it.