A useful option for syncing files across platforms and devices is Google Drive for Desktop, as it is now known. But for some customers, Google Drive just won’t sync on their Windows 11 PC owing to hardware or software issues. Changes in app or device settings, flaws, or problems with the internet or a firewall are a few possible causes.
1. Stop and start the sync.
This is an easy step that has aided many people in the past.
- Select Settings from the Drive icon in the taskbar notification area, then select Pause syncing.
- Give Drive a few seconds to finish syncing. Select Resume syncing from the same menu when you return.
Verify the proper syncing of the files you’re attempting to sync in Google Drive on Windows 11.
2. More Accounts
Have you used Google Drive on your desktop with numerous accounts? Perhaps you are looking for the correct file on the incorrect account.
Select two accounts at the top by clicking on the Drive symbol in the taskbar notification area. Since I added two accounts, I see 2. You might observe a different figure.
From here, you may now open a new browser tab with the Google Drive account or the local Windows 10 Drive folder.
You were simply looking at the wrong account or folder, not that Windows Drive wasn’t syncing.
3. Verify the file name, size, and length.
When using Windows 11, there are restrictions on the file name, character count, and size that you can upload to your Google Drive account.
- The file name shouldn’t contain any special characters (@, #), and it shouldn’t be longer than 255 characters (including spaces). If so, try going by a shorter name. In case you were wondering, this limitation is caused by Windows and not Google Drive.
- Individual users are limited to 750 GB of uploads per day, but most users don’t exceed those limits.
- The maximum size for a single file is 5 TB, which shouldn’t be an issue for most customers unless you work in the data sector.
Every file that is submitted to Drive is virus-checked. Drive won’t sync that file to Windows 11 or upload it if malware or viruses are found in it.
Furthermore, the files you post must adhere to Google’s User Policy. Maybe for this reason, Windows 11 and Google Drive are unable to sync files.
4. Assess Available Storage
Users of the free version of Google Drive receive 15 GB of shared storage across all Google products, including Gmail, Drive, Photos, etc. Check the amount of storage you have remaining on Google. Additionally, you can check it in the taskbar’s notification area. For each additional account, you can do that.
You don’t need to buy or upgrade to a paid plan to free up space on Google Drive because there are a few effective methods.
5. Stop using Drive and restart Windows.
Relaunching an app can sometimes resolve frequent issues that may appear in the background. By right-clicking on the drive symbol, you can access the Settings menu and choose Quit.
6. Eliminate the desktop.ini file
What occurs if a file on Windows 11 doesn’t sync with Google Drive for desktop? It creates a desktop.ini file, which is by default hidden. The issue is that once the file has been generated, Drive will no longer sync any files you upload from that device. That file needs to be deleted first.
- Launch File Explorer by pressing Windows + E. Go to the Drive folder where the syncing of the files is not working. Select Show > Hidden Items from the View menu by clicking the View button up top.
- You can delete any file with the name “Desktop.ini” without risk.
When using Windows 11, refresh the folder (click F5) before attempting to sync data once more with Drive.
7. Accept firewall and antivirus configurations
It’s a persistent problem that occasionally appears at random. Google Drive for desktop may no longer be able to download and upload files due to a recent setting change; as a result, Windows 11 cannot sync with Drive.
- To find Firewall in the upper left corner of Settings, press Windows + I.From the search results, choose Allow an app through the Windows Firewall.
Renamed Microsoft Firewall, it is now a component of Windows Security, which, according to Microsoft, also includes Microsoft Defender (previously Windows Defender).
- After selecting Change options, locate Google Drive in the list and select Enable (check the boxes next to both the Private and Public columns).
Click on OK at the bottom to save changes and check again if Google Drive for desktop is syncing files on Windows 11 or not.
If you don’t see Drive listed here, it’s possible that you have third-party antivirus software installed. Open that instead.
8. Examine the Drive Settings
Google Drive’s desktop app allows you to manage sync settings from the Preferences menu. Let’s check it once to make sure that’s not what’s causing Drive to not sync files on Windows 11.
- Open Drive by choosing Settings > Preferences from the taskbar’s notification area.
- To add any folder on your Windows 11 PC to Drive and start instantly syncing all files within, click the Add Folder button under My Laptop.
- You have the option of selecting either mirror files or stream files under the Google Drive menu. Try the other one if the first one is not working for you. The distinction is that files are accessible offline when you mirror. When you stream, files are downloaded as needed but aren’t always accessible offline, saving space.
Are you still having problems syncing Google Drive on Windows 11? Read on.
9. Delete the cache file.
Apps can open frequently used files and services more rapidly thanks to cache files. However, occasionally, they can also cause conflicts, making it necessary to erase them in order for the app to start fresh with new cache files.
- Click Windows+R to bring up the Run window. Enter the command after typing it.
- The appearance of a folder Here, remove the DriveFS folder.
On Windows 11, Google Drive should now be syncing files and folders.
10. Get rid of bandwidth limitations.
At its core, Google Drive is a file manager. Users can therefore choose the speed at which files are downloaded and uploaded. You will notice a slow or limited sync if the speed is throttled in the settings.
- Return to Settings > Preferences and select the top-left cog symbol.
- Under the header “Bandwidth options,” uncheck the Download rate and Upload rate boxes.
As an alternative, you may think about raising or lowering the numbers to enhance sync on your Windows 11 machine if you do need to watch your bandwidth usage.
11. Please reconnect Google Drive.
It should only take a minute to complete this. By right-clicking on the Google Drive for desktop icon, select Quit.Then, reopen the application by pressing Windows + S or the Start menu.
12. Remove the shortcuts for GDOC and GSHEET.
Docs, Sheets, and Slides documents are one of the key components of Drive. These files are not downloaded to your Windows 11 PC, even though all other files are. Only a web browser can open them. Therefore, Drive makes a shortcut of the file on your computer. When you double-click it, a browser will launch and display the file. Even if you’ve set your settings to keep all files offline, this still occurs. These files can be safely deleted and accessed only with an internet connection. Some customers discovered that this solved the issue with the drive not syncing on Windows 11 computers.
13. Modify the location of a folder
The problem might also be resolved by modifying the location where Google Drive for desktop stores and syncs files and folders. It entails relocating all of your files and folders to a separate place or drive, which is why I only recommend it as a last resort.
Select a drive letter or a folder of your choice by going back to Preferences > Settings. All files will start transferring to Google Drive right now.
Perhaps this is where our tutorial on setting up Google Drive can be helpful.
Why do you do it?
Until you figure out why Google Drive for desktop won’t sync data on your Windows 11 machine, a quick and simple approach would be to access Google Drive through a web browser or possibly on your smartphone.
