Skip to main content

Google Backup & Sync app now available to help maintain your computer files

Google rolls out Backup and Sync app to make it easier to protect your files

Google wants to be better at backing up your computer’s files. While the company already offers a Drive folder that can be installed on your computer, Google has now officially launched a new way to back up and sync any folder that you point it toward on your computer. If you want, Google Backup & Sync can back up your desktop, entire documents folder, and more.

The new feature is now rolling out to users in the form of an app called Backup & Sync, and it replaces both the Google Photos desktop uploader and Google Drive for both MacOS and Windows. The app is aimed at regular consumers rather than business users — Google recommends business users stick with the already available Drive functionality that’s part of its G Suite.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

the new Backup and Sync app backs up files and photos from your PC and stores them in Google Drive and Google Photos. You simply install the app, select Preferences, and then select the folders you want to backup. Click Choose folder to add other folders outside of the default choices.

Recommended Videos

You can also choose which files to sync back from Google Drive to your local computer and make available offline. Again, go to Preferences in the Backup and Sync app, click Google Drive, then Sync My Drive to this computer and specify whether to sync everything or just certain folders.

Finally, the Backup and Sync app can automatically upload files from a phone, camera, SD card, or other removable storage devices. Just go to Preferences, click USB devices & SD cards, click Plug in a camera or phone to backup files and click OK.

There are more options for you to check out once you’ve installed the app, which is available here for Google Drive and here for Google Photos. One thing, however, is for sure — syncing your entire computer will likely count pretty quickly toward your Google Drive storage limits, which sit in at 15GB for the free version — although you can buy more.

It’s nice to see Drive and Photos getting some upgrades. The Drive app has been around for some time now, and while it has gotten minor upgrades over the years, it has also become a little outdated. Another nice touch — and a necessary one — is that Google says your settings from the Google Drive app will remain untouched after the upgrade, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any of your files being lost or deleted during the switch. The integration with Google Photos is also a nice touch — and means that users should be able to more easily manage their photo libraries.

Updated: Added information on how the new Backup and Sync app works, as well as its availability.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
You can now live your developer dream with Google’s free Gemini Code Assist access
Google gemini code assist graphic.

Google has made a free version of its Gemini Code Assist tool available worldwide starting February 25. The generative AI model, previously aimed at businesses, is powered by Gemini 2.0 and integrates with IDEs like Visual Studio Code.

This means you can access Code Assist's features directly from the environment you're working in. It will auto-complete code as you're typing it, and you can also work through problems in the chat or generate code snippets.

Read more
Google’s AI can now tell you what to do with your life
Career dreamer results

Got a degree and no idea what to do with it? Google's newest AI feature can help. The company announced on Wednesday the release of Career Dreamer, an AI tool that can recommend careers that best suit you based on your experience, education, skills, and interests.

Grow with Google | Career Dreamer

Read more
The Gemini app is now the only way to access Google’s AI on iOS
The Google Gemini AI logo.

Google announced Wednesday that it is removing its Gemini AI model from the Google app on iOS, meaning that Apple users will need to download the dedicated Gemini app in order to use it.

When Google first introduced its Gemini AI to the Apple product ecosystem, it did so through its existing Google App, which had been available on iPhones and iPads since 2008. It wasn't until last November that Google released its dedicated Gemini app. Over the past three months, iOS users had their choice of which app through which to access the chatbot, but that is no longer the case.

Read more