After multiple changes in the past, Google Drive is getting a new unified sync app for Mac. The app will be called Drive for desktop and will be available for both consumers and business users. Google had previously split its Google Drive app into two apps in 2017, a questionable decision which it seems to finally be backtracking on.
Google Drive for Desktop app will bring a number of improvements for users
The new app will make it easier for users to connect their devices to Google Drive and sync their photos and various folders between the cloud and their computer. The app will also allow users to select local folders and files, even if they are on external devices, and give complete control over which files they want to keep locally or in the cloud. Users will also be able to choose if they want to store individual photos and videos in their Google Drive folders or in Google Photos.
As per Google’s official announcement, the app will replace both Backup and Sync and Drive File Stream apps, and bring their best features to users which will include:
- Ability to upload and sync photos and videos to either Google Photos or Google Drive, or both.
- Sync files and folders from external storage devices
- Mirror Drive files on desktop, allowing quick and easy access to the complete files. This feature has also been available on OneDrive, iCloud, and Dropbox for a long time.
- Automatically sync local files to the cloud in the background
Google plans to start rolling out this new unified app over the next few weeks. Backup and Sync users will start seeing notifications in the coming weeks to upgrade to the new Drive for desktop. By September 2021, Google will start notifying Backup and Sync users that they should move to the new app if they wish to continue syncing their files.
Have you started using the new app yet? Let us know if you like it in the comments below.
