This article is for administrators. If you’re using Google Drive with a work or school account and want to use Backup and Sync, contact your administrator. If you want to install Backup and Sync for your personal account, see Back up & sync files with Drive.
You can synchronize local files to Google Drive on the web. Deploying Backup and Sync in your organization makes those files available on all your devices.
What can I sync?
When you install Backup and Sync, a new folder (named Google Drive) appears on your computer. Files in My Drive (and any subfolders you select) copy over to this new folder. Changes made in one folder are automatically reflected in the other.
You can also sync existing folders on your computer, such as Documents or Desktop. They appear in the Computers folder in Drive on the web. Other items you can sync:
- USB devices and SD cards
- Your photos and videos to Google Photos
Tip: To sync shared drive folders, use Drive File Stream. For details, see Choose a sync solution.
Learn more about syncing files.
Install or deploy Backup and Sync
Step 1: Check settings and requirements- Verify that the Drive system requirements work for your organization. For details, see System requirements and browsers.
- Allow Backup and Sync for your organization. Decide if users can see Backup and Sync download links. For details, see Turn on sync for your organization.
- Let each user install it on their own machine. For details, see Back up & sync files with Google Drive.
- Push the appropriate Backup and Sync .msi file, 32 bit or 64 bit, to your users. See your Microsoft Windows documentation to learn how to install .msi files.
Control automatic updates
Customize default user settings
You can customize the default Backup and Sync settings for your users.
Step 1: Create a setup fileuser_setup.config. [Computers]
desktop_enabled: False
documents_enabled: False
pictures_enabled: False
folders: /path/to/folder1, /path/to/folder2, /path/to/folder3
high_quality_enabled: False
always_show_in_photos: False
usb_sync_enabled: True
ignore_extensions: ext1, ext2, ext3
# Delete mode can be: ALWAYS_SYNC_DELETES, ASK, NEVER_SYNC_DELETES
delete_mode: ALWAYS_SYNC_DELETES[MyDrive]
folder: /path/to/google_drive
my_drive_enabled: True[Settings]
autolaunch: True
show_overlays: False[Network]
download_bandwidth: 100
upload_bandwidth: 200
use_direct_connection: False- On an Apple Mac computer:
~/Library/Application Support/Google/Drive/user_default
- On a Windows computer:
%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Google\Drive\user_default
Related topics
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