Google Drive for Desktop: A Guide to Simplify Your Workflow

Ever find Wi-Fi or data burning a hole in your pocket? And sometimes, it can even let you down! But Google Drive for desktop can simplify your work! It allows you to work on files even without an internet connection and automatically syncs any edits between your Google Drive app on PC and the web, once a connection is restored. Read on to learn how to download and use GDrive for desktop!

Why opt for Google Drive PC desktop software

Google Drive for desktop offers robust file storage and synchronization, like Dropbox and Microsoft's OneDrive. So, why opt for a Google Drive desktop download? Well, take a moment to consider some of its advantages:

• It comes with 15GB of free storage, and you can begin using it instantly. It eliminates the need to email or save a file to a USB drive.
• All the edits via your Google Drive desktop app will be synced on your Google Drive web. No more back and forth in uploading and downloading files on your Google Drive account.
• You can utilize Google Drive desktop as the central hub for your office files thanks to its highly customizable sharing options.
• It allows you to set permissions for each person you're sharing files with, and you can collaborate with up to 100 people on any document, media, or file.

How to set up and use Google Drive for desktop

Installing Google Drive for desktop is easy. Search Google Drive download for PC on your favorite browser and once the downloading link has appeared, click Download Drive for desktop, and Google Drive software download for PC will begin automatically.

Launch the Google Drive.exe file and follow the on-screen prompts to install Drive Google for desktop. Once it's installed, you'll see a new Google Drive folder on your computer.



Any files you move into this folder will automatically be uploaded to your Google Drive. The app appears as an icon in your taskbar, and clicking it brings up shortcuts to your Drive folder, both online and offline. Additionally, to upload files to your Google Drive account, you can put them directly in a folder on your Google Drive for desktop, and whenever you edit them, it will automatically update the cloud versions, as well.

1. How to sync Google Drive with a PC

Syncing Google Drive with a PC is simple. Open your Google Drive desktop, click the settings icon, then preferences. Select Mirror files and follow the prompts that appear. Syncing affects both sides in the sense that any edits made to a file in Google Drive will be directly reflected on the same file on your PC in real-time and vice versa.



Below is an illustration of how you can sync and download edited videos from Google Drive to your PC.

How to sync edited videos from Google Drive to your PC

If your media is mostly stored online, you can decide to edit videos with Google Drive. Head to the video you want to edit, right-click, and choose to Open with CapCut Web if you have it installed. Otherwise, choose to Connect more apps and install CapCut web from the Google Marketplace.

Afterward, you'll be redirected to CapCut online video editor, which is an exceptional tool with powerful features for video editing. With it, you can split, trim, cut, crop, apply animations, add captions, perform advanced editing such as keyframe, speed curve, masking, split scene, and use AI-powered technology to remove backgrounds, and retouch characters, all on the same platform. The steps below showcase how to perform the unlikely with CapCut.

Step
1. Upload
2. If you are editing files from the Google Drive web, select the file you wish to edit, right-click it, choose Connect more apps, and search for and install the CapCut Web extension in Google's Marketplace.
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4. Now, select a video you want to edit on your Google Drive again. Right-click and then tap Open With > CapCut-Web. You'll be redirected to the editing panel of the CapCut online video editor.
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6. Also, you can easily drag media from your CapCut cloud space or drag and drop media to the editing panel from your local storage. Alternatively, go to the Project tab, click Upload, and select from this device. On the pop-up window that appears, select files from your Google Drive for desktop app, or other folders in your local storage.
7. Or, you could directly upload your media from your Google Drive or Dropbox account. You can also upload from CapCut cloud space or upload media saved on your smartphone storage by scanning the QR code embedded on the phone icon.
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9. Meanwhile, suppose you want to create a video fast for your social channels or product promo. In that case, you can select from the various video templates CapCut offers or utilize its stock videos and music.
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Step
11. Edit
12. You can now transform your raw video and give it a professional look. CapCut online video editor has essential video editing tools that can help you crop, split, mirror, apply transitions and animations, and adjust the scale of the video. Its advanced tools let you mask scenes, adjust the playback speed, apply keyframes, and split scenes to edit various short clips separately or download the selected clip.
13. That's not all. You can use its smart tools to change and remove background, retouch human characters, use transcript-based editing to edit speech, stabilize the video, and apply slow-mo for emphasis.
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Step
15. Export

Once satisfied with what you've created, click the Export button to download your video in various output resolutions, including 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 4K. Select the output quality. Usually, you can go with the recommended quality, but you can choose high-quality for optimal outcome, or fast exporting for a better balance between output quality and file sizes. Ensure you pick the correct frame rate and set the format as MP4 or MOV for easy playback on your devices or platforms.

Still, without leaving the platform, you can share your video directly as a link to your friends for further suggestions or as a presentation on WhatsApp, Reddit, or Tumblr to showcase your creativity. Keep your online community entertained by directly sharing it on social platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.



Nonetheless, whether your video is edited from the Google Drive web or by uploading from your local storage to the CapCut online video editor, either way, the changes will be manifested on both sides, thanks to Google Drive sync with your PC.

Ultimately, CapCut remains the best option to edit a video from Google Drive. Here's why:

• Vast media resources

CapCut provides for everyone, be it a beginner or a pro. It's equipped with all types of free media resources, such as video templates, filters, effects, stock music, videos, and images. Get to generate a viral Instagram reel, a YouTube intro or outro, or a video promo for your fitness program within minutes.

• Cloud-based collaboration

CapCut offers free cloud storage that can act as a backup, reducing the worry of files getting lost or being affected by viruses, and you can continue with your work from where you left off. Also, suppose a project is more intense than you had anticipated. In that case, you can invite and share your project with team members for suggestions or transfer editing permissions for further help, ensuring the project is submitted on time.

• Share with one click

CapCut's online video editor allows you to share videos directly and instantly with various social media handles, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. That way, your followers remain engaged, and it helps you grow your channel by gaining more followers.

• Comprehensive editing features

CapCut has basic tools that let you crop, split, or resize your videos. However, unlike any regular video editor, you can use its advanced tools to mask, download clips, apply keyframe animation for timely edits, and adjust the speed curve to align with the playback speed you desire. With AI on the rise, CapCut has not been left behind. Its AI-powered tools help you perform transcript-based editing, remove video backgrounds, retouch facial blemishes, etc.

How to sync edited documents from Google Drive to your PC

This process to download from Google Drive to PC is pretty easy. But you have to confirm that you've selected mirror files on your drive syncing options. From there, create a folder on your Google Drive for desktop, which will be reflected on the Google Drive web. Select the edited document you wish to sync on your Google Drive web and move it to the created folder. It will automatically be visible on your PC.

2. How to backup files

Google Drive offers comprehensive online storage, 15GB to be exact, to store and backup your files, similar to services like Dropbox. Plus, you can begin using it instantly. Here's how;

1. Open Google Drive on the desktop and click the Settings icon. Select Preferences and a new window will appear.
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3. By default, the My Computer option will be selected. Click Add folder to upload, store, and sync your preferred files to Google Drive and Google Photos.
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Stream files vs Mirror files

Google Drive app on PC offers you two sync options, namely Stream files and Mirror files. Below are some of their main differences.

Stream files

• Steam files only store your Google Drive files in the cloud.
• One can only access stream files from a virtual drive or folder on your computer.
• You need to choose specific files and folders to be available offline by right-clicking on a file and choosing available offline.

Mirror files

• Mirror files store your Google Drive files in the cloud and on your computer for quick access.
• You can access files from a folder on your G Drive desktop or your online Google Drive, and any changes will be reflected on both sides.
• All files are automatically available offline on your Google Drive desktop software.

3. More Google Drive desktop settings

Google Drive for desktop allows you to customize your preferences for easier usage. Some of the additional settings it offers include:

• Disconnect account: If you want to use a different account, you can easily click disconnect account alongside the account you want to remove or more if you have more than one connected.
• Customize bandwidth settings: Google Drive allows you to customize the bandwidth settings, that is, the Download and Upload rate. You can enter a figure between 1 and 100,000,000 kBs, depending on the strength of your internet connection.
• Real-time Microsoft Office Edits: With your office files synced on Google, you can see in real-time if someone is editing a shared Microsoft file, fostering teamwork and collaboration.
• Google Photo settings: It's not always about the documents as Google Drive PC software offers Google Photo settings, including selecting the Upload size and choosing File types such as screenshots or raw files.
• Choose Google Drive streaming location: Stream files are saved on your Google Drive and computer storage. Thus, you can always choose which virtual drive or a specific folder you want to use to store your files.

4. How to add another Google account

Google Drive application for PCs can support up to four accounts. The process of adding a new account is simple and only requires a few clicks.

1. Open the Gdrive desktop, click the settings button, and select preferences. On the new window, click the Google profile icon of your current account and click Add another account.
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3. You'll be redirected to your browser to complete the sign-in.
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5. Once you successfully sign in, the Google Drive app for PC will automatically load and sync your files.
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Conclusion

As indicated, it’s clear Google Drive for desktop is a powerful offline and cloud-based application. It can transform the way you or your organization communicate, collaborate, and handle the storage of files. However, it isn't the only contender in the cloud storage arena, especially if you want to edit files such as videos online. If you only need storage space without limits, it is worth taking a look at other options, like CapCut online video editor. Try CapCut today to enjoy its exceptional editing tools and stock resources while enjoying unlimited cloud space for your edited videos.

FAQs

1. Is it worth getting Google Drive for the desktop?
2. Yes. Desktop Google Drive download is worth the hassle. It ensures real-time collaboration on documents, safe storage of files with auto-syncing, and offline access to online files stored on Google Drive web. Plus, it serves as extra storage on your PC, where you can store edited videos from the CapCut online video editor.
3. How safe is the Google Drive application for PCs?
4. It depends on your PC's antivirus or malware protection. But usually, Google Drive always syncs files and media for any potential viruses before uploading them, ensuring you're on the safe side. If you opt, you can use CapCut's cloud space, which guarantees your media is always safe.
5. What is the storage limit of Google Drive for PCs?
6. The storage limit for Google Drive for PC desktops is 15GB. But, if you're willing, you can always buy more cloud storage, to a maximum of 2TB. However, if you want to enjoy free unlimited storage for your edited videos, use the CapCut online video editor. It offers automatic cloud space for your media at no extra cost.