2024 Guide | How to Enable Offline Sync for Google Drive/Google Docs

Working on the go becomes effortless with Google Drive. But have you ever found yourself in situations where your WiFi isn't working or has a weak connection? Such issues are quite common in everyday life, making it difficult to work offline. Fortunately, being able to work on Google Docs and Drive files without an internet connection comes in handy. This is where Offline Sync comes into play. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide on enabling offline sync for Google Drive or Google Docs, we've got you covered!

Google Workspace applications such as Docs, Slides, and Sheets are ideal for collaborating without the need for subscription plans. However, they do require continuous internet connectivity. As a result, you cannot use them when you don't have an internet connection.

What does "Offline Sync" mean for Google Drive?

Offline Sync for Google Drive is ideal in such a scenario. Not only does it enable you to access your files even without an internet connection, but it also saves any alterations you make while offline. For instance, imagine you're someone who prefers to work with undivided attention and远离社交活动. You thoroughly research your projects and then disconnect from the internet to eliminate distractions and maintain focus. In this situation, you can still open and edit files using the Offline Sync feature. This function saves your modifications locally on your computer. Once you reconnect to the internet, all the changes you made are seamlessly synchronized with your Google Drive files.

Otherwise, the online synchronization process can consume significant amounts of internet data and necessitate a more stable network connection. Furthermore, it becomes challenging when traveling to places with consistent network issues. Hence, traditional syncing can become troublesome and often turn into a hassle. In such cases, Google Drive's Offline Sync feature proves to be immensely helpful. This way, you can save your modifications without the worry of losing them in the event of an internet outage.

Before proceeding, it's essential to learn how to do it properly. The following section will guide you through the process.

How to Enable Offline Sync for Google Drive on Windows & Mac

To use Google Drive's offline sync feature on Windows or Mac, you must first download the Google Docs Workspace extension. The process is straightforward. An internet connection is required to configure the offline sync. If you attempt to work offline without setting up sync, you'll encounter an error message.

You can also save all your recent files, including those you’re currently working on, with Google Drive Backup and Sync.

How to Enable Offline Sync for Google Drive on a Windows PC 1. Open Google Drive on your Windows computer: Launch the Google Drive application or access it through your web browser by visiting drive.google.com. 2. Sign in: If you're not already signed in, enter your Google account credentials (email and password) to access your Google Drive. 3. Access Settings: Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner to open the menu, then choose "Settings" or "Preferences" from the options. 4. Go to the "General" tab: In the Settings window, locate and click on the "General" tab if it's not already selected. 5. Find Offline Settings: Scroll down until you see the section labeled "Offline" or "Sync." 6. Enable Offline Sync: Check or toggle the box next to "Enable offline access" or "Sync files offline" to activate the feature. 7. Select Folders for Offline Access: If you want to sync specific folders instead of your entire Google Drive, click on "Choose folders" or "Select folders to sync." A new window will open, allowing you to pick which folders to make available offline. 8. Confirm Selections: After selecting the desired folders, click "Done" or "OK" to confirm your choices. 9. Wait for Syncing: The selected files and folders will now start syncing to your local computer for offline access. This process may take some time depending on the size of your files and internet speed. 10. Verify Offline Access: Once the sync is complete, disconnect your internet connection and open Google Drive. You should now be able to view and work on the synced files without an internet connection. Remember that changes made to files while offline will be updated on Google Drive once you reconnect to the internet.

To configure offline sync, you need to ensure that Chrome is set as your default browser. If you have Microsoft Edge or Mozilla set as default, switch to Chrome to set up the Offline Sync.

Follow the steps outlined below to enable offline sync for Google Drive on a Windows PC: 1. Open the Google Drive desktop application on your Windows computer. 2. Click on the "Three horizontal lines" (Menu) icon located in the top left corner of the app. 3. From the dropdown menu, select "Settings" or "Preferences," which usually appears as a gear icon. 4. In the Settings window, navigate to the "Offline" tab. 5. Check the box next to "Enable offline Google Drive" to activate the feature. 6. If you want specific folders or files to be available offline, click on "Choose folders to make available offline." 7. A new window will open, allowing you to select the desired folders or files. Place a checkmark next to each one and then click "OK." 8. Wait for Google Drive to sync all the selected content for offline access. This may take some time depending on the size of your files. 9. Once the syncing process is complete, you can access these files and folders even without an internet connection. Now, Google Drive is set up for offline sync on your Windows PC.

Step 1. Go to Google Chrome.

Step 2. Visit the Chrome Webstore to search for the Google Docs Offline extension and click on the "Add to Chrome" button.

Step 3. If you haven't signed in, you'll be prompted to sign in with your Google Account.

Step 4. Go to www.Drive.google.com

Step 5. Open Google Drive, and click on the "Gear" icon beside the Search Drive box to open Settings.

Step 6. Go to General.

Step 7. Click on "Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings files to this computer" to enable the offline editing option.

Step 8. Now, tap the "Done" button in the top-right corner of the Settings page.

It will save your offline changes if that's what you want. However, if you need to download your previous GDrive files to your computer, you'll have to download the Backup and Sync tool for Google Drive and set it up.

Save Google Drive Files to Windows

Follow the steps outlined below to accomplish this:

Step 1. Go to the Google Drive Download Center and download Backup and Sync.

Step 2. Install and launch the software, then log in using your credentials.

Step 3. Open Google Drive Preferences, and switch to Google Drive.

Step 4. Choose the Mirror Files option to sync everything on your PC.

It will save all your Drive files to your computer. Alternatively, you can save specific files by clicking on the "Sync only these folders" option. You will then be prompted to select the particular files you wish to sync.

You can even save your Computer's files to your Drive. To do this, navigate to 'My Laptop' from the left panel. Then, depending on your preferences, click the checkboxes for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures.

How to Enable Offline Sync for Google Drive on a Mac?

When using a Mac, it's more likely that you'll be using Safari. However, to set up offline synchronization with Google Drive, you should designate Chrome as your default browser through your Mac's settings. The crucial step involves downloading and installing Chrome.

Follow the steps outlined below to set Chrome as your default browser on a Mac:

Step 1. Click on the Apple icon located in the top-left corner of your home screen.

Step 2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Select "General" from the pop-up that appears.

Step 4. Click on the Default Web Browser option and select Google Chrome from the list.

However, it might occur that even after installing Chrome, it doesn't appear in the Default Web Browser list. To resolve this, restart your Mac and designate Chrome as the Default Browser. Following that, you'll be all set to enable offline sync.

Follow the steps below to enable offline sync on Google Drive for Mac:

Step 1. Open Google Chrome and navigate to the Chrome Web Store

Step 2. Search for Google Docs Offline and click on the Add to Chrome button.

Step 3. Go to Google Drive and open its Settings

Step 4. Navigate to General from the left pane

Step 5. Click on the "Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings" checkbox to enable it.

Step 6. Tap the blue-colored Done button to save your changes.

Now, if you want to save all your Google Drive files on Mac for offline access, you can do that too!

Save Google Drive Files to Mac

Follow the steps outlined below to accomplish this:

Step 1. Download and install Google Drive's Backup and Sync.

Step 2. Sign in with your Google Account and open the app's Configuration section.

Step 3. To save all Google Drive files on your Mac, you can modify the Sync settings and opt for the Mirror files option.

Step 4. Allow the files to download on your Mac, and you can access the file at any time. With the extension's support, the files will automatically open in Chrome.

How to Backup Google Drive to Other Cloud Storage Services

When you require a secure offsite backup for your Google Drive files, you can opt to back them up to similar cloud storage services. While you might trust Google Drive, it's more organized to save copies of your files on another cloud platform. One effective method to achieve this is by utilizing a remote FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server. However, backing up Google Drive to a remote FTP server can be challenging due to limited free storage space. Therefore, exploring alternative solutions is advisable.

Hence, you can backup Google Drive to other cloud drives (the best option being Tools Cloud Drive) and then transfer it to an FTP server. Here's why Tools Todo Backup Home is ideal for this purpose:

• 250 GB of Free Cloud Storage
• Perfect for a limited budget
• Adaptable for both personal and professional use
• Enhance file security by storing them in the Secure Zone
• Reliable, speedy, and user-friendly

You can even use its software to back up to a hard drive with its full-offline backup feature.

Step 1. To initiate the backup, click on Select backup contents.

Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail.

Step 3. On the left-hand side, you'll see a list of local and network files. Expand the directory to select the files to be backed up.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the location where you want to save the backup.

In Backup Options, click Options to encrypt the backup with a password, set the backup schedule, and decide whether to initiate the backup at a specific event under Backup Scheme. A range of customizable features are available for you to explore, allowing you to tailor the backup process to suit your precise needs.

Step 5. Backups can be stored on a local disk, in the tool's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step 6. Todo Backup enables users to back up their data to a third-party cloud drive or the company's own cloud storage.

If you want to back up your data to a third-party cloud drive, choose Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and enter your account information.

You can also use the tool's built-in cloud storage service. Click Tool Cloud, create an account with your Tool Account, and then log in to your account.

Step 7. To initiate a backup, select Backup Now. Once the backup process is successfully completed, it will be displayed as a card on the left-hand panel. For more detailed management of the backup job, right-click on it.

If you wish to restore a backup from Google Drive, you can simply click on the backup file and follow the on-screen instructions.

How to Enable Offline Sync for Google Docs

Enabling offline sync, especially in Google Docs, is crucial to be aware of! Once you've downloaded the Google Docs Offline extension, here's how you can activate it to work seamlessly.

Follow the steps below to enable offline sync for Google Docs: 1. Open Google Chrome and ensure you're logged in to your Google account. 2. Go to the Google Docs website (docs.google.com). 3. Click on the "Gear" icon located in the top-right corner of the screen, which represents the Settings menu. 4. From the dropdown menu, select "Settings." 5. In the Settings window, scroll down to the "Offline" section. 6. Check the box next to "Enable offline editing" to activate the feature. 7. If prompted, click "Allow" to grant Google Docs permission to access your files offline. 8. Ensure that you have the Google Drive Chrome app installed. If not, click on the "Install Google Drive for Chrome" link provided in the Offline section. 9. After installing the app, a confirmation message will appear, notifying you that offline sync is enabled for Google Docs. 10. Close the Settings window. Now, when you're offline, you'll be able to view and edit your Google Docs documents on your computer. The changes will be automatically synced once you're back online.

Step 1. Visit Docs.google.com

Step 2. Tap on the Hamburger icon in the top-left corner to open the Menu.

Step 3. Go to Settings

Step 4. Turn on the Offline button

Step 5. Press the OK button to save it.

Alternatively, if you want only a specific file that you want to work on offline, you can do that too!

Follow the steps outlined below to accomplish this:

Step 1. Open the document you want to access offline

Step 2. Click on the 'File' menu in the top-left corner

Step 3. A drop-down menu appears; click on Make Available Offline

Therefore, you can access files offline. If a particular file is crucial, you can opt for offline access exclusively for that specific file.

Frequently Asked Questions? Translation: Frequently Asked Questions?

You might have numerous doubts and confusion regarding offline backups. But fret not, as we have the answers to all your queries!

1. How to disable offline sync for Google Drive?

1. Open Google Drive Settings and navigate to the General section. 2. Next, uncheck the Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings option to disable offline synchronization.

2. How to enable offline sync in Google Docs?

1. Open the Google Docs app (such as Docs, Slides, or Sheets) and navigate to its Settings. 2. Enable the Offline button. However, you will need the Google Docs Chrome app for synchronizing files offline.

3. Which files can you access offline from your Google Drive?

You can access several files offline, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, Photos, Videos, and even PDF files, straight from Google Drive.

4. How to Fix Google Drive Not Working

To resolve the issue of Google Drive not functioning properly:

1. Check Your Internet Connection 2. Clear Your Caches and Cookies 3. Update Your Browser Version 4. Enable Offline Cache Mode in Chrome...

Final Verdict can be translated into English as " Ultimate Judgment" or "Final Decision."

Offline Sync is an excellent feature that enables you to work on your Google Drive and Docs files even without an internet connection. It stores your files on your computer, ensuring that you have access to them locally. Once you regain internet connectivity, any modifications made offline will be updated in your Google Drive and Docs files. This way, you can also keep your important files securely saved on your device for easy access.

If you wish to retrieve your Google Drive files and store them on a remote FTP server as an offsite backup, you can utilize a tool like Todo Backup. This software allows you to back up your Google Drive files to its cloud storage, and subsequently transfer them to your device. Following that, you can upload these files to an FTP server.