If you use Google Drive on your system, you will soon be prompted to upgrade due to a change to Google G Suite. Google Drive is now called Google Drive File Stream, and it lets you access all of your Google Drive and Team Drive files from your computer while almost completely eliminating the need to synchronize files and consume local disk space. As a result of this change, Google support for the current Google Sync program was discontinued on Dec. 11, 2017. Google is replacing Google Sync with Google File Stream, which is a much more robust solution for Google Drive and Team Drive file management.
Here are some highlighted features of Google File Stream:
- With Google Drive File Stream you can quickly see all your Google Drive files in Finder and Explorer, including Team Drives.
- You can also browse and organize Google Drive files without downloading all of them to your computer.
- Google Drive File Stream lets you open files in common apps like Microsoft Office and Adobe applications and displays the files and folders in the same familiar format as Windows File Explorer and Finder on the Mac.
- Your Google Drive and Team Drive files can be accessed like any other local or network drive (H:, S:, T:, etc.).
- In the Mac environment, Google Drive appears in Finder under Devices.
- In the Windows environment, Google Drive appears in Explorer as a mounted drive under This PC and Quick Access.
- Google Drive File Stream lets you choose the files or directories you would like to make available offline when you are not connected to a network.
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