Deploy Backup and Sync

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 Google Drive for desktop. For details, see Choose a sync solution.

Learn more about syncing files.

Install or deploy Backup and Sync

Open all  |  Close all

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.

Step 2: Install Backup and Sync

Install Backup and Sync on each user's computer using one of these options:

• 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

You can decide whether Backup and Sync updates automatically on your users’ computers. For details, see Manage Chrome updates (Windows) or Manage Chrome updates (Mac).

Step 3: Communicate with your users

Tell your users about Drive and how they can get started.

Customize default user settings

You can customize the default Backup and Sync settings for your users.

Open all  |  Close all

Step 1: Create a setup file

Create a plain text file named user_setup.config. 

Example content:

[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: ALWAYS_SYNC_DELETES

Note: Delete mode can be: ALWAYS_SYNC_DELETES, ASK, or NEVER_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

Step 2: Customize the file

Change the parameters of the text file in step 1 to meet the needs of your organization.

Note: Environment variables are not supported for the folder attributes.

Step 3: Deploy the file

Deploy the configuration file to the user's computer.

• 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

• Drive firewall and proxy settings
• Backup and Sync release notes

Google, Google Workspace, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.