Google Drive Not Syncing on Windows 10? 8 Effective Fixes

Key Takeaways

If Google Drive sync isn't working, you won't be able to upload or access files across your devices. - To resolve the issue, check your internet connection, restart the app, disable antivirus software, restart your computer, or reinstall the Google Drive application. - If the syncing problem persists, consider using a tool like Todo Backup for file backup, as it can protect your data and keep it synchronized in various scenarios.

Google Drive's syncing capabilities are incredibly convenient, making it one of the best tools for keeping changes you make on different devices up to date in real-time. However, if you encounter the issue of Google Drive not syncing on Windows 10, you might lose access to recently uploaded files or be unable to access them on other devices. This problem can stem from various reasons, but our priority is to resolve it promptly. In this article, you'll learn how to fix issues with Google Drive not syncing on your Windows computer.

✏️ Additional Reading: OneDrive Not Syncing on Windows 11 | Dropbox Not Syncing on Windows 11

8 Ways to Fix Google Drive Sync Issues on Windows 10

If you're having issues or Google Drive isn't syncing on Windows 10, you can try a few fixes to get it resyncing. Work through these eight solutions to fix sync problems with Drive.

Quick navigation:

• Solution 1: Reconnect to the network
• Solution 2: Restart/Reinstall Google Drive Desktop
• Solution 3: Restart your computer
• Solution 4: Check available storage space on Google Drive
• Solution 5: Run Google Drive as an administrator
• Solution 6: Disable antivirus software and firewall
• Solution 7: Manually sync files to Google Drive
• Solution 8: Update your Windows system

Fix 1: Reconnect to the Network

If GDrive synchronization pauses in the middle, it might be due to network issues. Hence, ensure your internet connection is functioning properly. If the problem persists, try reconnecting to the network or restarting your router to resolve the Google Drive syncing issue.

Solution 2: Restart or reinstall the Google Drive desktop app

If the app is freezing or behaving unusually, a restart might fix the issue. Try restarting the app to see if syncing resumes. Additionally, you can reinstall the Google Drive desktop app and sign in with your Google account to address this problem.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

Type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.

Step 3: Right-click on the Google Drive icon and select Uninstall.

Step four: Download the desktop version of Google Drive again, log in, and see if it syncs.

Fix 3: Restart Your Computer

Operating systems can have the occasional glitch that affects how they run on a computer. Many of these issues can be resolved with a simple restart, which shuts down the OS and gives it a fresh start.

If this guide helped you fix the problem, share it on your social media to help your friends and followers deal with the same error.

Fix 4: Check your available Google Drive storage space

If your Google Drive storage is full, syncing won't work, since there's no space to store the data. If you're having trouble syncing, check your available Google Drive storage to see if you need to buy more.

If you've used all the storage included with your current plan, you might need to pay for more cloud storage to make room for new content.

Method 5: Run Google Drive As an Administrator

Usually, Google Drive doesn't need to be run with admin privileges. However, if you're having issues with the app, running it as an administrator might fix the problem. To run GDrive with admin privileges, first close all Google Drive tasks.

Step 1. Open the Google Drive app on your computer.

Step 2: Click Run as administrator to open the app with admin rights.

Fix 6: Disable antivirus and firewall

In some cases, antivirus software or a firewall can interfere with Google Drive and cause it to act strangely. If your firewall or antivirus is blocking Google Drive, try disabling them temporarily to see if it allows normal syncing.

On your Windows computer, go to Start > Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.

Step 2: For each network type, under Customize, check Turn off Windows Defender Firewall for both Private and Public settings.

Sync files manually to Google Drive

If Google Drive isn't syncing properly, you can force a sync manually.

Step 1: Open the Google Drive desktop app on your computer.

2. Go to View > Unsynced Files > Retry All to manually sync the file.

For convenience, you can simply drag unsynced files onto the drive to upload them.

Fix 8: Update Windows

An outdated Windows operating system on your computer can also lead to issues like "Google Drive not syncing Windows 10." Therefore, update Windows to fix this problem.

Step 1: Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Step 2: Tap Check for updates to see if any are available for your device.

If necessary, click Download to install the update, and then try syncing Google Drive again.

Did this guide help you successfully resolve your issue? If so, consider sharing it on social media to help friends and followers who might be facing similar problems.

Safely save your data to Google Drive by backing up, not syncing

If you're concerned about Google Drive sync issues, the best safeguard for your data is to make backups. While syncing typically allows you to access the same files across different devices, a backup creates a copy of your files. If files get lost during a sync, they're gone, whereas with a backup, you can easily restore them.

Therefore, the best Windows backup software to backup your files is Todo Backup Free. With this tool, you can backup files to Google Drive, instead of syncing them. Furthermore, by using the scheduling feature, you can frequently back up your files and automate the process, so you can sync them across different devices. Apart from advanced backup options, Todo Backup also offers cloud storage to save your files and encrypt important ones.

With Todo Backup, you can back up files, folders, and even create a system image to the cloud or hard drive. This software creates data backups that allow you to safely protect and store your data on Drive. Download Todo Backup Free tool now and back up your data.

Summarize

You need to fix the "Google Drive not syncing on Windows 10" issue quickly to save and access your files across devices. The eight solutions in the article might resolve the problem and restore Google Drive sync. If you want to protect and synchronize your data, use the Todo Backup Free tool to back up your files and move them to Google Drive. Download the tool now to give it a try.

Frequently Asked Questions about "Google Drive Not Syncing on Windows 10"

Here are some common issues with Google Drive not syncing on Windows 10. Hopefully, you'll find this helpful if you're experiencing similar problems.

How do I force my Google Drive to sync?

To force a sync of Google Drive, click “Sync now” in the Drive menu in the upper-right corner of the screen. This will re-sync everything without unnecessarily re-uploading any files.

Why does Google Drive take so long to sync?

If Google Drive sync is taking a long time, it could be due to various reasons such as weak network signals, limited bandwidth, errors, or insufficient storage space.

What is the difference between Google Drive and Google Drive for desktop? Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows you to upload, store, and share files online. You can access your Google Drive files through a web browser on any device. Google Drive for desktop (previously known as Google Backup and Sync) is an application that enables direct synchronization between your computer and Google Drive. After installing this app, you can choose specific folders or the entire contents of your hard drive to sync with your Google Drive account. This means any changes you make to these files on your computer are automatically updated in the cloud, and vice versa. In short, Google Drive is the online platform, while Google Drive for desktop is a tool that facilitates seamless synchronization between your local computer and Google Drive.

The primary difference between Google Drive's web app and desktop app lies in their functionalities. The desktop application offers more features and customization options, while the website restricts users to specific basic operations.