When a user uploads files to Google Drive, they expect the future downloads and usage of such files to be easy. While that happens in most cases, some users cannot download files from Google Drive to their computers. Are you facing the same issue? Check out 9 ways to fix the issue of cannot download files from Google Drive on PC.

• Access Google Drive on Mac. As soon as you have completed the process of installing and running the program on your Mac, the first thing you will notice is that the Google Drive icon is included in the Menu bar of your Mac. Using this you get quick access to your Google Drive folder on your Mac as well as your Google Drive on the web.
• Say hello to Insync, your desktop Google Drive! A cross-platform sync client. Insync is a Google Drive syncing client that lets you access your Google Drive through (any) desktop. Insync is supported on Linux, Mac, and Windows. Sync multiple Google Drive accounts. Insync also lets you sync files from multiple Google Drive accounts.
• Firstly, go to Google Drive (and click a gear icon on the right-top, then 'Get Backup and Sync for.). You will download an installer, so execute it. Backup & Sync has.
• If you're using a Chromebook, open Drive and click on the 3 vertical dots at the top right. Then go to More tools Create shortcut. A shortcut icon will then be pinned to your shelf.

Users who face this issue get errors like Access Denied, Failed, Forbidden, etc. In some cases, clicking the download button doesn't do anything. Whatever the problem you face while downloading folders or files from Drive, this post shall help you.

The Google Drive File Stream just cannot co-exist with any sharing software like Chrome Remote Desktop, which is known to cause issues in the operation of the Google Drive File Stream. In that case, uninstalling the Screen Sharing software/Chrome Remote Desktop may solve the problem.

Let’s get started with solutions.

1. Restart Computer

Whether you are trying to download files from a Windows computer or a Mac, restart your PC once before jumping onto the other solutions.

2. Use the Right Method to Download Files

There are several ways to download files from Google Drive. Let’s check them out.

Note: You cannot drag and drop files or folders from Google Drive to your desktop to download them. However, you can do that while uploading files.

Method 1

To download files from drive.google.com, right-click on the file once. Select Download from the menu. Similarly, if you want to download multiple files, select the files first, and then right-click on any one of the selected files. Choose Download from the menu. The files will begin to download.

Method 2

In Google Drive, select the files or folders that you want to download. Click on the three-dot icon at the top. Select Download from the menu.

Method 3

If you are trying to download an individual photo or video, open the file. You will see the Download icon at the top-right corner. Click on it to download the file.

Pro Tip: If method 3 fails to download photos, click on the three-dot icon at the top of the individual photo. Select Open in a new window. When the image opens in a new window, click on the Download icon, as you saw in method 3.

Method 4

If you aren’t signed in to any Google account, you will see the Download button on the right side of the files in list view in Google Drive. Hover your mouse over the image, and the Download button will appear.

If you view files in the grid view, the Download button will be present on the file. Click on that to download the file. Alternatively, you can click on the Download all button present at the top as well.

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3. Resolve Issue With Zip Files

If you download multiple files using the two methods mentioned above, they won’t be downloaded separately, but a Zip file will be created. For many users, Google Drive gets stuck on Preparing Zip file message only. It doesn’t prompt them to download a Zip file.

To fix that, you need to click on the Leave site button when a pop-up appears that asks whether you want to Leave site or Cancel. Clicking the Leave button starts the download process.

We have covered the Google Drive not downloading Zip files issue in detail. Do take a look for other solutions. In case you don’t want Google Drive to Zip your files, check out ways to download multiple files from Google Drive without zipping.

4. Enable Cookies

For many Google Chrome users, the cookies for Google Drive were blocked, and that’s why they were unable to download files. To enable cookies, open drive.google.com in Chrome. Click on the tiny lock icon present on the left side of the address bar. Then, select Cookies from the list.

In the pop-up window that appears, click on the Blocked tab. Check if you find any link related to Google. Click on that and hit the Allow button at the bottom. Finally, click on Done. Restart the page or the browser, and you should be able to download the files again.

5. Switch Google Accounts

When someone sends you a Google Drive link to download files, you need to be signed in with the same account allowed to access those files. Basically, Google Drive file sharing permissions works in two ways. The owner who generates a link for the file or the folder can let anyone with the link access the file. In that case, any Google account can be used to view or download files.

But the owner can also restrict the files to a select few users only based on their email address. So if you aren’t signed with the email that has access to those files, you will get errors like Forbidden, Not available, etc. In such cases, you need to switch your Google account to the right one.

The owner who generates a link for the file or the folder can let anyone with the link access the file

If you are a Google Chrome user, you can sign into multiple Google accounts. However, one of them is used as a default account. That account is also used for the Google Chrome sync feature. Whenever you receive a Google Drive link accessible from a different account, you need to switch to that account.

To do so, open drive.google.com. You will be signed in with the default account. Click on the profile picture at the top-right corner of the Drive screen. Your Google accounts will show up. Click on the one that you want to switch to. Pwa pre ban serial numbers. A new window will open where you are logged in with your second Google account.

If you close the window and open the Google Drive website again, you will be logged in with the default account. Repeat the steps to switch the Google account in Drive.

6. Remove All Google Accounts

If switching accounts doesn’t let you download files from Google Drive, you should remove all Google accounts from Chrome or change your default account in Chrome. Then try to download files with only one account registered in Chrome.

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7. Check Ad blockers and Antivirus

Do you use ad blocker extensions on your browser? Disable any ad blocker or recently downloaded third-party extensions. That should fix the issue.

Similarly, if you are using an antivirus on your computer, disable it temporarily. See if you can download files from Google Drive.

8. Switch Browser

Sometimes, the issue is with a particular browser only. First, update the browser. If that doesn’t fix it, try downloading the file using any other browser.

9. Workaround: Open in Incognito Mode

While this is not a proper fix, use this method as a workaround if nothing else lets you download Google Drive files. Basically, when someone sends a Google Drive link to you, copy it and paste it in your browser's incognito mode. That way you should be able to download files provided the sharing permissions are set to ‘Anyone with the link can view the file.’

To open incognito mode in Chrome, click on the three-dot icon at the top-right corner. Select the New Incognito window. Paste the link in the new window that opens. You can also use Chrome’s guest mode for this purpose.

The same workaround can be used to download your own Google Drive files or folders as well. Right-click on the file that you want to download. Select Share from the menu.

Under the Get link section, click on Change to anyone with the link if it isn’t selected. Then copy the link and paste it in the incognito window and download the files.

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Try More Solutions

If nothing works, you should download the Google Drive Backup and sync app. It is available for both Windows and Mac. Use it to download files from your Google Drive account to the computer. Check our guide on how to use Google Drive Backup and sync app.

Next up:Have you ever been curious as to what counts in Google Drive storage and what doesn't? Find out the answer from our guide using the next link.

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextGoogle Drive Storage Guide: What Counts and What Doesn'tAlso See#google drive #google

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Google has an embedded timer which you can access by typing 'Timer' on the address bar.

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Are you looking for storing your documents, photos, videos, etc on Google Drive and then accessing them easily from your Mac?

Well, it’s a piece of cake!

Once you have downloaded and installed the Google Drive application on your Mac, you can access it like you access any other folder.

It is that simple.

Just with a click you can access your Google Drive storage and view or make changes to it accordingly by adding Google Drive to Mac finder.

Google Drive is a great service that allows users to save their data online and then access it from any device with a username and a password.

It is also easy to sync your devices for easy access. And moreover, this service offers 15 GB of data completely free. Which is enough for many users.

But in case you need more space you always have the option to upgrade to a paid plan.

Drive File Stream

Sound’s great, right!

If you are still unsure about how this service works, don’t panic.

Go ahead and check out my guide on “What is Google Drive and how it works“. Reading this article will make it easy for you to have a basic understanding of Google Drive. And how you can check your Google Drive storage.

So don’t miss this piece of information!

Moving ahead let me brief you about the contents of this article.

In this article, I will be sharing a complete step by step guide on how to add Google Drive to Mac Finder. I will share all the details starting with how to download and install the application on your Mac.

But before that, it is also important to know about some of the basic features of Google drive.

So in this article, we will start with that!

How to Add Google Drive to Finder?

First, let’s start with some basics!

Google Drive is a service that offers cloud storage.

Now this service has two plans.

• Personal. In this plan, you get 15 GB of cloud storage for free at first. But you always have an option to upgrade to paid Google One plans which offer additional storage from 100 GB up to 30 TB.
• Business. The business plan is best-suited to fro Enterprises in which the company pays only for the space used by the users. So the billing is different depending upon use.

Google Drive

How to access Google Drive?

There are two simple ways to access Google Drive.

• The first way is to through the web. Navigate to drive.google.com and enter the username and password for your Google account.
• The second one is through the Google Drive application on your device. Based on which device you are using, download, and install the Goole Drive application. And then access your drive storage. Google Drive available to download for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Features of Google Drive.

Google Drive is not just cloud storage but instead has many additional features that make it easy and useful.

• You can save documents, files, photos, videos, presentations, etc on Google Drive.
• The best part is that you can access your data no matter where you are and which device you are using. Until and unless you have the username and password of your account.
• It is easy to collaborate with friends and colleagues on Google Drive by giving them access to your files.
• Google Drive includes access to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Forms, Google Drawing, etc. This makes collaborating easy.

Here in this article, we are specifically talking about adding Google Drive to Mac Finder.

So let’s get started with it!

1. Download “Backup & Sync” from the web

The very first step on adding Google Drive to Mac finder is to download Google Drive on your Mac.

It is important to download “Backup & Sync” from Google Drive.

This gives you access to Google Drive from your Mac.

• Navigate to Google Drive from your web browser.
• Next, you will find a “Download” option under “For Individuals – Backup & Sync“. Click on “Download“.

• A small window will pop up requiring you to agree to the “Google Drive Terms of Service”. Click on “Agree and Download“.

• A file name with “InstallBackupAndSync.dmg” will appear in the downloads.

2. Install Backup and Sync on your Mac

• Once your file has been downloaded go-ahead to the “Downloads” in “Finder” and double click on the file name “InstallBackupAndSync.dmg“.

• After a few seconds, a new window will appear.
• Simply drag and drop the “Backup And Sync From Google” file over the “Applications” folder on the window.

• It will take a few seconds to copy the contents of the file automatically to the applications folder.
• When completed close the window.

3. Launch “Backup and Sync from Google”

It is important to launch and set up Google Drive before having complete access to its features.

• Go to “Finder” and then click on “Applications” from the left menu on the window.
• Scroll down to find a file named “Backup and Sync from Google“.
• Double click on it to run the program.

• A small window will appear seeking permission to open the application. Click on “Open“.

• “Welcome to Backup and Sync” window will open. Click on the “Get Started” option on the window.

4. Set Up your Google Drive Account

• There are three basic steps to set up Google Drive account.
• First, enter your Email ID and Password of the existing Google account to log in.

• If you do not have one create a new Google Account easily first.
• Then, go ahead and click on “Got It” on the window asking for choosing folders for continuous backup.
• Step two is to check the boxes next to the folders you want to synchronize and create a backup of. Adding to this you can also change the Quality of photos and videos uploads. You can either choose “High Quality” or “Original Quality” of photos and videos to be uploaded to drive.
• After selecting the folders click on the “Next” option on the bottom-right corner of the window. These changes are not permanent. You can uncheck or add your choices anytime in the future.

• The third step to sync files from My Drive to a folder on the computer. Therefore click on “Got It” to allow this action.

• The next part of the third step is to “Sync My Drive to this computer“. Now you have two options here. You can choose to “Sync everything in My Drive” as the name goes it will sync all the data on your drive. Or you can choose to “Sync only these folders” which means you can select specific folders to sync only.
• Click on “Start” to complete this step.

5. Access Google Drive on Mac

As soon as you have completed the process of installing and running the program on your Mac, the first thing you will notice is that the Google Drive icon is included in the Menu bar of your Mac.

Using this you get quick access to your Google Drive folder on your Mac as well as your Google Drive on the web.

This shortcut shows some of the most recent information related to your Google Drive account such as the files, pictures, videos or documents you added to your account.

And it also gives an update on the syncing of the items to your online account.

Now let us check out how it works.

• Navigate to the Google Drive icon on the menu bar and click on it. A drop-down menu will appear immediately.
• You will find the amount of storage used and how much is left here. And it also includes the number of recent uploads and sync status of the uploads.
• On the top right side fo the drop-down menu you will find a menu displayed by three vertical dots. Go ahead and click on it.
• Another additional menu will appear. Scroll down and click on the “Preferences” option.
• This will open a new preferences window on the screen.
• On the left side of the window, you will find three main items, My Mac, Google Drive, and Settings.
• Clicking on each you can change your preferences related to each item.
• This gives you complete control over your Google Drive account.

6. Access Google Drive from Finder

• You can also easily access Google Drive from Finder.
• Simply click on your Finder on desktop.
• Now on the left side of the items, you will find Google Drive on the top.
• Click on it and you can access Google Drive folder from there.

That is all of it!

Note

I know there are small steps that seem a lot at first setting up the Google Drive account, but once it is set up, it is super simple to work with.

You can always add files, folders, photos, documents, videos, etc to the Google Drive folder. It can always be accessed by opening the Finder and then clicking on “Google Drive” from the sidebar.

It is important to note here that when you copy or move anything to your Google Drive folder on your Mac, it can be accessed from the web using the same username and password.

If you are looking at getting the most out of your Google Drive account, I would suggest you download and install Google Drive application on all your devices.

This will make it very easy for you to access all your data and edit, add, change, collaborate, etc, easily from anywhere.

As already discussed Google Drive applications are available for iOS and Android devices as well.

So try to make the most use out of it!

Conclusion

I hope you found this article useful on “How to Add Google Drive to Mac Finder“.

If you have any queries related to the topic you can write to us from the comment section below.

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