How to download and use Google Drive on a Windows PC

Shaant Minhas

google drive app

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If you’ve been using Google Drive for a while, it might finally be the time to get the desktop app on your PC. The app works seamlessly across all major platforms, so you’ll face no problems uploading or accessing your files.

Google Drive is an app that lets you store your files securely. What’s more, you can open and even edit them from any device using Google Drive.

So, let’s look at how you can download the Google Drive app on your Windows PC first.

How to download Google Drive on Windows PC

To access Google Drive straight from your PC, you’ll first have to download and set up the Drive app from Google. Here’s how you can get started with that:

  1. Head to the Drive for the desktop download page, and grab the .exe installer.
  2. Launch the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install the app.

google drive app

When the installation is finished, you’ll have a new folder in My Computer. From here on, all of your files on Drive be stored here.

Setting up Google Drive on your Windows

Now you’ve downloaded the desktop app on your PC, it’s time to set it up for use on your PC. Here’s how you can do that:

First, you’ll need to launch the app on your PC. To get started, head to the desktop and double-click on the app. Next, look for a window called Sign in to Google Drive and select Sign in with browser.

google drive sign in

Now type in your Gmail address and password to log in, and click Next. On the new page, click on Sign in.

Pausing or syncing your drive

By default, the app comes with the sync-in setting enabled; this keeps your online and offline accounts integrated. However, in some cases—when you have lower storage space, for example—you might have to disable the sync setting.

To do that, follow the steps below:

  1. Click on Drive for desktop.
  2. Now select Settings > Pause Syncing.

As soon as you do this, the sync feature for your Drive app will be disabled.

Note: You can always enable it again by clicking on Settings > Resume Syncing.

Downloading and using the Google Drive app on Windows

Google Drive is the go-to app for all things cloud storage in 2021. But, don’t take our word for it; look at the statistics; it’s only behind Amazon and Azure, which sit at the first and second positions, respectively. Google introduces new optimizations for Drive periodically. So make sure you’re keeping tabs on them for getting the most out of the Drive.