You can also backup files from a USB drive or SD card. In the former case, the app lets you create a backup of your entire computer or the selected folders on Google Drive. How Does Backup and Sync App WorkĪs the name suggests, the app offers two functionalities - backup and sync.

It also offers the ability to add photos to Google Photos. It has a web version and its mobile app is downloadable on Android and iOS devices.īackup and Sync is Google Drive’s app for Windows and Mac computers that lets you access Google Drives files on your computer and also creates a backup of your selected local files to Google Drive. Google Drive is a platform to store and sync content across various devices. Difference Between Google Drive and Backup and Sync

So how does this app work and what all features do you get here? Let’s explore it in this guide. Just for clarity’s sake: I am interested in the answers to these questions on MacOS, specifically in Catalina, if that makes a difference.Now the Backup and Sync app is used on Windows and Mac computers to add files to Google Drive and Photos both. Where is File Stream storing these offline files? Is there a way to back them up, or to access them when the program is not running? With File Stream, I have no idea where those files are - when the program is not running the 'Google Drive' volume unmounts from my system, and the files appear to be completely inaccessible moreover I don't think Time Machine backs them up. Great!īut where are these files stored? With the 'old' Google Drive (now 'Backup & Sync') there was a Google Drive folder at the top of my user directory this folder was always available, whether Backup & Sync was running or not, and Time Machine would back it up for me (if I wanted it to). File Stream makes this easy: control-click on the file, and choose 'Available Offline'. I use Google Drive File Stream for work, and there are certain mission-critical files that I need available for offline access.

Google drive file stream name change