This wikiHow teaches you how to stop the automatic syncing of files and folders between the Google Drive cloud and a computer's local storage, using a desktop web browser.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Select Individual Folders
Step 1. Open Google Drive in your internet browser
Type drive.google.com in the address bar, and press ↵ Enter or Return on your keyboard.
- If you don't log in automatically, enter your email address or phone number, click FOLLOWING, enter your password, and click again FOLLOWING.
Step 2. Click the icon
In the bottom right.
This button looks like a white cloud with a blue arrow in the lower right corner of the screen. This will open the backup and sync menu in a pop-up window.
You will see this icon only when a sync is in progress. If you don't see it, try uploading a new file to your Drive account
Step 3. Click the ⋮ icon in the sync window
This button is in the upper-right corner of the pop-up window. This will open the sync options in a menu.
Step 4. Click Pause on the sync menu
This will pause the current syncing of files on the account.
- You can continue the synchronization at any time by clicking Resume in the same menu.
Step 5. Click Preferences on the sync menu
This will open the backup and sync preferences in a new window.
Step 6. Click Google Drive Settings on the left menu
This option is located in a navigation menu on the left side of the Preferences window. Here you will see a list of all synced folders.
Step 7. Uncheck a folder in the list
Click on the blue box next to a listed folder, and make sure the box is empty.
- Unchecked folders will no longer sync from Drive to local computer storage.
- The marked folders will continue to sync automatically between the computer and the cloud.
Step 8. Click the blue OK button
This button is located in the lower right corner of the window. This will save the new settings, and prevent unmarked folders from syncing later.
Method 2 of 2: disable all syncing
Step 1. Open Google Drive in your internet browser
Type drive.google.com in the address bar, and press ↵ Enter or Return on your keyboard.
- If you don't log in automatically, enter your email address or phone number, click FOLLOWING, enter your password and click again FOLLOWING.
Step 2. Click the icon
in the upper right.
This button is located below your profile photo in the upper right corner of the screen. This will open a drop down menu.
Step 3. Click Settings in the menu
This will open the Drive settings in a new pop-up window.
Step 4. Click General on the left menu
This button is at the top of the navigation menu on the left side of the Settings window.
Step 5. Uncheck the box next to Offline
When this option is checked, all files in Drive are automatically synced to local computer storage for access without internet access.
Step 6. Click DONE
It's a blue button in the upper-right corner of the Settings window. This will save the new account settings.