Drive File Stream will allow users to automatically stream a file they want to view or edit directly from the cloud on-demand, without the need to download the file first. Google does offer affordable paid storage packages starting at $1.99 per month for 100 gigabytes.īackup and Sync is primarily intended for consumer users, while enterprise users needing access to large corporate data sets will eventually get access to Drive File Stream, which is currently in an early adopter program. All files from a computer’s internal hard drive or other devices such as memory cards will remain in the same format and will simply be recreated directly in Drive.īackup and Sync will replace the existing Google Photos desktop uploader and Drive for both Mac and Windows computers.Īs we noted when the Backup and Sync tool was announced, if you are backing up a lot of files you will quickly use up your free 15 gigabytes of Google Drive storage. The new tool allows users to back up all their files and folders from a Mac or personal computer to their Google Drive account.

(Note that you get a free 15 gigabytes of storage from Google, but if you max it out, you need to buy more space if you want to keep storing all your files on the company’s servers.Following a two-week delay, Google Inc.’s new Backup and Sync tool, which launched last month, is now available to download for Mac and Windows users. The program can be set to synchronize copies of locally stored photos and other files on the computer to Google’s cloud servers. The Backup and Sync app for Windows and Mac, introduced in July, is Google’s software for users of its free services. (You can also continue to just upload and download stored files through your Google Account in a web browser.)įor desktop users who backed up files to cloud servers with the Google Drive app, the company has two newer programs to do the job instead. You just get to it through different desktop programs. But while those handy desktop programs for managing your files in the cloud are destined for retirement, Google’s online backup service is not going anywhere soon. 11 and that the software will be shut down for good on March 12.

Google announced this month that it will end support for the Google Drive desktop apps for Windows and Mac computers on Dec. Is it true that Google Drive is being discontinued?Ī.

Google drive for desktop backup