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Google to Roll Out New 'Drive for Desktop' App in the Coming Weeks, Replacing Backup & Sync and Drive File Stream Clients

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Earlier this year, Google announced that it planned to unify its Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync apps into a single Google Drive for desktop app. The company now says the new sync client will roll out "in the coming weeks" and has released additional information about what users can expect from the transition.

google-drive-for-desktop1.jpg

To recap, there are currently two desktop sync solutions for using Google Drive – Drive File Stream, which is for business users, and Backup and Sync, which is designed for personal use. The rollout of Google Drive for desktop will consolidate these two clients into a single app. Indeed, some Drive File Stream users on version 45 or later will already see the name change implemented.

Drive for desktop will perform the same functions as the two older apps – giving users access to their cloud-based files and photos directly on their desktop, and automatic syncing of files to the cloud in the background. From Google's blog post:
We're unifying these sync clients into the new Drive for desktop, bringing people the best and most used features from both Backup and Sync and Drive File Stream, including the ability to:
  • Upload and sync photos and videos to Google Photos and/or Google Drive
  • Sync external storage devices to the cloud, including flash drives and external hard drives
  • Mirror Drive files on your desktop, which stores your files on your local device and enables quicker access to your content.
Click to expand...
google-drive-for-desktop2.jpg

Over the next few weeks, users on macOS and Windows will see prompts asking them to transition to Drive for desktop, which Google recommends doing before September 2021. After that date, users will see in-app alerts notifying them they'll need to transition to continue syncing their files.

More information about the Drive for desktop transition for business users can be found in Google's Workspace Updates blog post.

Article Link: Google to Roll Out New 'Drive for Desktop' App in the Coming Weeks, Replacing Backup & Sync and Drive File Stream Clients
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/07/13/google-rolling-out-drive-for-desktop-app/
Not awesome. I got this update the other day, and the convenient switch account button that used to let those of us who are freelancers and have to work with multiple Google Workspace (or whatever they’re calling it these days) accounts switch between them seems to have disappeared. It was never great to start with, but it had been slowly improving. Now it’s gone backward.
 
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somnolentsurfer said:
Not awesome. I got this update the other day, and the convenient switch account button that used to let those of us who are freelancers and have to work with multiple Google Workspace (or whatever they’re calling it these days) accounts switch between them seems to have disappeared. It was never great to start with, but it had been slowly improving. Now it’s gone backward.
Click to expand...
You can add up to 4 accounts and they'll all sync simultaneously, so there's no need to switch between them. I tried it with my personal and workspace account and it worked fine (it even supports file streaming from personal accounts)
 
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Phil A. said:
You can add up to 4 accounts and they'll all sync simultaneously, so there's no need to switch between them. I tried it with my personal and workspace account and it worked fine (it even supports file streaming from personal accounts)
Click to expand...
Can you? Where? I was surprised, 'cause I had the impression that was kinda the point, but the only option I see is to disconnect the account I'm signed in with. I think I have six in total, but four would be enough for the ones I use on a day to day basis.

Also, the clipart-style illustrations are really ugly.
 
somnolentsurfer said:
Can you? Where? I was surprised, 'cause I had the impression that was kinda the point, but the only option I see is to disconnect the account I'm signed in with. I think I have six in total, but four would be enough for the ones I use on a day to day basis.

Also, the clipart-style illustrations are really ugly.
Click to expand...
When I click my picture at the top right of the preference screen I see this option to add another account

addaccount.png


I tried adding my personal google account to make sure it works (it did) but then disconnected it again as I don't really use it :)
 
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Phil A. said:
When I click my picture at the top right of the preference screen I see this option to add another account
Click to expand...
Huh. I guess I don't have the full update yet then. Assumed I did, as it seems to have moved me over automatically from Backup and Sync. I don't have that profile picture:
Screenshot 2021-07-13 at 09.55.45.png
 
I had the original Google drive. But the transition to Backup and Sync screwed up everything, plus it couldnt do multiple accounts. So I switched to InSync and am not going back to a Google app.
 
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Phil A. said:
What version are you on? Mine is showing as 49.0.8.0 and just updated this morning (my MBA updated yesterday)
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I can't find anywhere in the app that tells me... But System Information says 49.0, updated on the 7th. Interestingly, when I click on What's new in the help menu it lists 'Use more than one account, without having to switch' as one of the features, but I can't see any way to do it.

Edit: found it in the app, it does say version 49.0.8.0 (Intel).
 
Will this act as a stand-alone app then, where files are accessible through the app? I’ve never had a problem with the Back up & Sync and have always had it pinned in finder so it just acts like a folder, it’s never failed me before and I’ve always found it as quick to access what I want as opening a local folder on my Mac.
 
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I hope this allows for easy folder structure reorganization like Backup&Sync, rather than having to copy/move/delete files one-by-one like Filestream (at least on Mac)
 
I've tried it briefly on Windows, and it's pretty cool! Shows Gdrive as a separate drive (like an SSD or HDD) and lists all the files in the explorer as if they were there, even if they aren't downloaded. So you can use them in other software, and it'll automatically download when needed. Surprised how well it works. Sometimes can hang for a few seconds tho.
 
JayParris said:
Will this act as a stand-alone app then, where files are accessible through the app? I’ve never had a problem with the Back up & Sync and have always had it pinned in finder so it just acts like a folder, it’s never failed me before and I’ve always found it as quick to access what I want as opening a local folder on my Mac.
Click to expand...
Idk what they did, but something happened earlier this year where my files just wouldn’t sync properly in like February and March and now it’s flawless. (work PC running Windows 10)

I also just have my necessary folders pinned and it works like a charm. I’m praying this doesn’t change or get messed up again…
 
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matrix07 said:
Is it M1 or Intel?

Edit: oh I just saw that it’s only in beta.
Click to expand...
oh so M1 + Big Sur support is still in beta? Thanks for confirming. I have been using Mountain duck since M1 came out and has been pretty good so far.
 
There's still no way to sync your google photos into your pc, right? I don't know why google removed it in the first place
 
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