Google’s new Drive app replaces backup and sync with Drive File Stream

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  • The new Drive app consisted of a large 238MB download and a painless but surprisingly long (several minutes) installation.

    Jim salter

  • Once the installation is complete, the new Drive user is offered a brief tour of the features.

    Jim salter

  • You can run locally mounted Google Drive folders in two ways: streaming or mirroring. Streaming folders only download files from the cloud if and until you actually open them.

    Jim salter

  • There are additional settings hidden behind a gear icon in Google Drive’s Preferences dialog box itself. Note the drive letter selection, Office presence detection, and photo quality settings.

    Jim salter

  • Under Office settings, drive letter and Photos, we can scroll down to set local directory for cached files, proxy settings and bandwidth limiters.

    Jim salter

Google has released a new Google Drive desktop app that replaces older versions for individuals and businesses. The new Drive app integrates features from Google Photos, Backup & Sync (the old app, mostly consumer), and Drive File Stream (the old version for businesses).

Characteristics

Frankly, there doesn’t seem to be much new to the upgraded app – the update feels more like a cleanup and unification effort than anything else. The main features include:

  • Uploading and syncing photos to Google cloud storage, including automatic compression and resizing, for those who choose “storage saver” over the original image quality
  • Synchronization of external storage devices (USB sticks, USB hard drives and SSDs) with Google Drive
  • (Optional) two-way synchronization of files and folders: automatically upload files to local folders and vice versa
  • Drive folders mounted locally in Stream or Mirror mode: automatically downloading files on demand or automatically removing all files from the cloud
  • In-app support for shared Google drives (new feature, was not present in Backup and sync)
  • Integration with Microsoft Outlook and Google Meet scheduling

Upgrade to the new Drive app

According to Google’s introduction, users of the old Backup and Sync app will start receiving in-app prompts to switch to Desktop Drive, which it recommends users complete by September of this year.

Backup and sync users will support a guided workflow for the transition from the old app to the new one on July 19, and Google Workspace domains (both for quick and scheduled releases) will see notifications in the app. application inviting the transition from August 18. The outdated backup and the Sync app will cease to function entirely on October 1.

Who is it for ?

The answer is simple, but we want to draw a heavy underscore because it’s not typical these days—all Google service users can use the new Drive app. This includes free personal accounts and paid corporate Google Workspace accounts.

In other words, if you are a Google Drive user, it’s time to download the new app, there’s no point in postponing it. If you’re a Google Workspace admin, you have two months to test and deploy the new app before Backup and Sync runs and dies on October 1.

List image by Jim Salter

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