Google Drive Not Syncing on Windows 10 (8 Effective Fixes)

Google Drive not syncing Windows 10 is a common case of weak internet and a few other causes. Learn how to fix the Drive's sync issue to upload the data on the drive and access it on various devices.

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Larissa

Updated on Jan 12, 2024

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Key Takeaways:

  • 📌If the Google Drive sync is not working, you cannot upload and access files across the devices.
  • 📌Check the Internet, restart the app, turn off the antivirus, restart the computer, or reinstall the Google Drive app to fix the issue.
  • 📌If the sync trouble persists, opt for the file backup with EaseUS Todo Backup, as it safeguards your data while maintaining your sync under all situations.
I have a Mac and a Windows PC and I recently switched to Google Drive. Today I added another folder to sync on my Mac but when I came home and started my PC the folder didn't appear at all. I had to switch sync on and off on Windows to start syncing. Am I doing something wrong? 

Google Drive's sync makes a lot of things easier for the users. It is one of the best and works in real-time to show the changes you have made across the devices. But if the Google Drive not syncing Windows 10 issue arises, you may lose all of the recently uploaded files or may not access files on other devices. This happens for multiple reasons, but fixing the issues ASAP is our primary goal. In this post, learn how to fix Google Drive sync not working on Windows.

google drive not syncing windows 10

✏️Extend reading: OneDrive Not Syncing on Windows 11 | Dropbox Not Syncing on Windows 11

8 Ways to Fix Google Drive Not Syncing Issue on Windows 10

If you are stuck or find Google Drive sync not working on Windows 10, you can try a few fixes to sync the Drive again. Try out the eight solutions below to resolve the Drive's syncing issues.

Quick Navigation:

Fix 1. Reconnect the Network

If the GDrive sync is stopped midway, there may be some issue with the network. So, check the internet connection to see if it is working fine. If the issue persists, reconnect the network or restart the router to solve the Google Drive not syncing problem.

Fix 2. Restart/ Reinstall Google Drive for Desktop

If an app is stuck or not running fine, restarting the app will solve the problem. Try relaunching the app to see if the sync is back again or not. Further, you can reinstall the Google Drive desktop app and log in with Google account to solve the problem.

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

Step 2. Enter appwiz.cpl and press OK.

Step 3. Find the Google Drive app, right-click on it, and select Uninstall.

uninstall google drive

Step 4. Download the Google Drive for desktop again, log into it, and see if you can establish the sync.

Fix 3. Restart Your Computer

The OS throws minor issues once in a while and may affect some operations on the computer. Many minor issues get fixed with a simple restart, as it shuts the OS and gives a fresh start. 

Does the guide help you solve your problem successfully? If yes, share it on your social media to help your friends and fans with the same error.

 

Fix 4. Check Google Drive's Available Storage Space

If you are out of storage on your Google Drive, there's no point in syncing, as the space is insufficient to store the data. If you are facing sync issues, check Google Drive's available storage to see if you have to buy more.

If you have used up the entire storage of the current plan, you have to pay to get more cloud storage you can free up some space to accommodate the new content.

check the available storage on google drive

Fix 5. Run Google Drive as Administrator

Usually, Google Drive does not need admin rights to function. But, if there's an issue with the app sometimes, you can run the app in administrator mode to see if the issue gets fixed. To run GDrive with admin access, close all the Google Drive tasks.

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

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

run google drive as administrator

Fix 6. Disable Antivirus and Firewall

In a few cases, the PC's antivirus and firewall may interfere with Google Drive's operations and cause it to function abnormally. If the Firewall or Antivirus restricts the Google Drive, you can disable them to see if the sync happens.

Step 1. Navigate to Start > Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Turn Windows Defender Firewall On or Off on your Windows computer.

Step 2. Under Customize settings for each type of network, check the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall in both the private and public settings.

disable windows defender firewall

Fix 7. Manually Sync Files to Google Drive

If the Google Drive sync task is not working you can sync the file manually. 

Step 1. Open the Drive for Desktop app on your PC.

Step 2. Go to View > unsyncable files > Retry all to sync the file manually. 

To make it more easy, just drag and drop the unsynced files onto the drive to upload them.

Fix 8. Update Windows

If you have an outdated Windows OS running on your PC, it can cause issues like Google Drive not syncing Windows 10. So, update Windows  to resolve the issue.

Step 1. Navigate to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Step 2. Click on Check for updates to see if there are any updates available for your device.

update windows os

Step 3. If yes, Download and install the updates and try syncing the Google Drive again.

Does the guide help you solve your problem successfully? If yes, share it on your social media to help your friends and fans with the same error.

 

Save Data to Google Drive Safely via Backup Instead of Syncing

If the Google Drive sync is troubling you, the best way to protect your data is to back it up. Usually, a sync allows you to access the same file on various devices, but a backup creates a copy of the file. Moreover, if you have lost your files in sync, you cannot recover them but backup allows you to restore them easily.

So, to back up your files, the best Windows backup software is EaseUS Todo Backup Free. With this, you can backup your files to Google Drive instead of syncing. Additionally, using the scheduling feature, you can back up the files frequently to automate the process, allowing you to sync files across the devices. Along with the advanced backup options, EaseUS offers you cloud storage to save your files and encrypt important files.

You can backup your files, folder, or even create a system image to the cloud or a hard drive with Todo Backup. This software creates a backup of your data, allowing you to protect it and save it to the Drive safely. Download the EaseUS Todo Backup Free and back up your data right now.

📚Backup and sync are similar to each other when it comes to protecting data on a computer, but technically they are different when implemented in real cases. Follow the guide to know all about backup vs. sync. Related Reading: 3-Minute Guide on Backup vs. Sync

Sum Up

You need to fix the Google Drive not syncing Windows 10 quickly to save and access your files across the devices. The eight solutions in the article could potentially fix the issue and regain your Google Drive sync. If you want to protect and sync the data simultaneously, you can use the EaseUS Todo Backup Free to make a copy of your files and move them to Google Drive. Download the tool now and give it a try.

FAQs Related to Google Drive Not Syncing Windows 10

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on Google Drive not syncing Windows 10. If you have similar queries, I hope this will help you.

1. How to I force my Google Drive to sync?

To force the Google Drive sync, click "Start Sync now" at the top-right of your screen in the drive menu. This will force a re-sync of all the files and does not re-upload any files unnecessarily.

2. Why does Google Drive take forever to sync?

If Google Drive takes forever to sync,  it could be due to many reasons, such as weak Internet, bandwidth limit, errors, less storage, and more.

3. What is the difference between Google Drive and Google Drive for desktop?

The significant difference between Google Drive's web app and desktop app is that they have separate functions. The desktop app offers more functions and customizations, whereas the website only limits users to specific basic tasks.

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  • Updated by

    Larissa

    Larissa has rich experience in writing technical articles and is now a professional editor at EaseUS. She is good at writing articles about data recovery, disk cloning, disk partitioning, data backup, and other related knowledge. Her detailed and ultimate guides help users find effective solutions to their problems. She is fond of traveling, reading, and riding in her spare time.…
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