Google G Suite Drive File Streaming
Google G Suite Drive File Stream Settings
Google Drive File Stream Client
Google G Suite Drive File Stream Support
Drive File Stream G Suite

With Google Drive File Stream, the contents of your Google Drive appears on your Mac like a regular drive.Unlike Google Backup & Sync (and the old Google Drive app), the files are not all copied to your computer. This saves a lot of space on your drive and almost eliminates sync errors. File Stream is only available for Google Apps G-Suite users. For regular Google accounts (Gmail), use Google Backup & Sync.

Look for Google Drive File Stream in your Mac’s top menu bar. It’s a white triangle inside a dark square. If it’s there, skip to Accessing Files below.

Google Drive File Stream will open, and you should see the following window. In Google Drive File Stream, click on the right-pointing arrow until you see Open Explorer. (Each window to which you navigate provides a feature of Google Drive File Stream.). As per Google “ Drive File Stream is a new desktop application that allows you to quickly access all of your Google Drive files on demand. Files are accessed directly from your computer, meaning you use almost none of your hard drive space and spend less time waiting for files to sync “.

Configuring Google Drive File Stream the first time

Last year, we announced a beta for shortcuts in Google Drive. This feature is now generally available and has started rolling out to all G Suite customers and users with personal Google Accounts. Shortcuts in Drive make it easier to organize content and point users to relevant information and files across various drives.

Google Drive File Stream may already be installed on your computer. Click Launchpad (rocket icon) and look for Google Drive File Stream. Or click the Finder desktop, click the Go menu at the top of the screen and choose Applications. The app must include the words File Stream. If you found it, open and skip to 3 below.

Need to download Google Drive File Stream? Click this link to sign into your Google account and download.
Follow the steps toinstall from a disk image download. You’ll open the installer icon that looks like a package.
Open Google Drive File Stream from the Launchpad or Applications folder (see above).
Was a system extension blocked? Click Open Security Preferences (or click the Apple menu, choose System Preferences and Security & Privacy). Click Allow. Now restart the computer and open Google Drive File Stream from the Launchpad or Applications folder again.
Click the Google Drive File Stream icon in the top menu bar and sign into Google Drive with your email address and password.
Google Drive is added to the desktop. You can also add it to the dock – just drag it from the desktop to the right side of the dock near the trash.

Accessing files in your Google Drive

Google G Suite Drive File Streaming

Click the Google Drive icon in the menu bar, desktop or sidebar. Can’t find it? Click the Launcher (rocket icon), then open Google Drive File Stream (make sure it says File Stream). If you have trouble, see Configuring the first time above.
Your files are inside My Drive, which is in the Google Drive icon. Copy files & folders to your Google Drive and they are uploaded. You can then delete the original copies. Create folders inside and organize just like any drive. You may also save files directly to Google Drive from any application – it’s a drive in the left side bar of open & save windows.
Folders with a cloud icon are available as long as you’re online. Files will be automatically downloaded when you open them, and uploaded when you save.
Need to access files when you don’t have internet? You can choose folders for offline-access. Hold the Control key and click a folder inside your Google Drive. Choose Drive File Stream and Available Offline. Any changes you (or others) make will not be updated until you’re connected to the internet again. Be selective about which files/folders you make available offline.
Collaborate with Shared Folders. When you add items to a folder, they’re shared with other people. Be careful: removing items may delete them from other people’s computers & devices. You’ll need to sign into Google Drive on the web and add shared folders to your drive. Learn how to share folders.
Google Drive Docs are special icons that open in a web browser so you can edit Google Docs, Sheets & Slides on the web.

Google Drive File Stream tips

Missing shared folders? If your Google Drive folder doesn’t show items other people have shared with you, you may need to log into Google Drive on the web and add them to your drive. See Google Drive collaboration for details.

There’s so much you can do with Google Drive. If you sometimes use Windows, install the Google Drive app on your PC. It’s also an easy way to share files between your computer, iPhone and iPad.

Learn more about using Google apps with a Mac.

Google G Suite Drive File Stream Settings

The business equivalent of Backup and Sync for G Suite is called Drive File Stream. Users of the enterprise app today are encountering some downtime and cannot access their documents.

Update: Google says the issue has been fixed. Affected users are advised to re-sign in to Drive File Stream.

The problem with Google Drive should be resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support. Please rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better.

The Windows and macOS application is throwing up a “Drive File Stream is not enabled for the account” error that advises users to contact a G Suite admin. The only options are to “Try again” or “Quit.”

Google Drive File Stream Client

G Suite on Twitter confirmed the Drive File Stream downtime, and the Status Dashboard has the issue marked as a “service disruption.” Besides error messages, there are reports of being bumped off, slowdowns, and other “unexpected behavior.”

We’re investigating reports of an issue with Google Drive. We will provide more information shortly. The affected users are able to access Google Drive, but are seeing error messages, high latency, and/or other unexpected behavior.

Google G Suite Drive File Stream Support

Google Drive File Stream appears down. Getting error 'Drive File Stream is not enabled for the account', was working this morning. pic.twitter.com/e3ddiBs2c7

— Toby Foote (@TobyFoote) January 22, 2020

Fortunately, the workaround involves just accessing drive.google.com on the web or the mobile apps. Drive File Stream provides access to shared drives, and has other capabilities like real-time presence in Microsoft Office and Outlook integration. It’s geared at work and school users, though it lacks the ability to sync other desktop or document folders and Google Photos.