How To Fix Google Drive Not Syncing On Windows 11

The ability to sync your device’s data on Google Drive is super-useful. However, if you find Google Drive not syncing on Windows 11, fret not. Turn off active VPN and Proxy, update the app, or apply the right settings to eliminate this problem.

Key Takeaways

• Google Drive may stop syncing data due to lack of storage, large or corrupt files, bandwidth/Firewall restrictions, and more.
• Lift off bandwidth restrictions, reinstall the Google Drive app, and check Drive settings to fix the issue.
• Only disable the Windows Firewall when other fixes do not work. Re-enable this security feature once the syncing resumes.

Why Is Google Drive Not Syncing On Windows 11?

We can rule down the syncing issue to the causes below:

• Inaccurate Google Drive app configurations.
• Poor internet connectivity.
• Windows Firewall restrictions.
• Insufficient space available in the Google Drive account.
• Temporary glitches or bugs.
• Corrupt app data or cache.
• Uploading unsupported/large files.
• Server outages.
• Bandwidth limitations.
• Out-of-date Windows or Google Drive app.
• Problems with your Google Drive account.
• Proxy/VPN enabled on the computer.

Also Read: Windows 11 Stuck On Restarting Screen

How To Fix Google Drive Not Syncing On Windows 11?

You can rely on the following fixes to help you sort out the syncing issue:

1. Inspect Internet Connectivity.
2. Quit The App And Restart the Computer.
3. Allow Startup Permissions.
4. Verify Syncing Permissions.
5. Inspect Google Drive Storage Status.
6. Look For Errors.
7. Remove Bandwith Restrictions.
8. Enable Stream Files.
9. Delete Desktop.ini File.
10. Turn Off Proxy Settings.
11. Disable VPN.
12. Clear App Cache.
13. Halt Background Processes And Streaming.
14. Reconnect Your Account.
15. Use The App In Admin Mode.
16. Reinstall Google Drive.
17. Update The App.
18. Update Windows.
19. Run SFC And DISM Scans.
20. Check Antivirus Settings.
21. Whitelist Google Drive On Windows Firewall.
22. Disable Windows Firewall.
23. Resort To The Web Version.

Important: Check the Google Drive server status before applying the fixes.

Inspect Internet Connectivity

The foremost troubleshooting step for this problem is to ensure that you have a stable internet connection. Take an internet speed test and evaluate the network’s performance on your computer. It should be more than 2Mbps for the Google Drive features to work without hindrance.

Besides, you can power cycle the internet router to fix network connection troubles. If that does not work, try connecting to a different network.

Quit The App And Restart The Computer

Moreover, you can quit the Google Drive app to halt its operations and clear any faulty data preventing the Drive from syncing. Next, power cycle your computer and re-launch the app. In addition, double-check that you have signed in to the right profile you use for syncing data.

Allow Startup Permissions

For Google Drive to sync your data without any hassles, ensure you have allowed the app to launch as soon as you boot up the computer.

Here are the steps to enable startup permissions:

1. Click on the “Windows” symbol on the “Taskbar.”
2. Select “Settings” from the consequent menu.

   

3. Now, move to “Apps” in th left pane, then choose “Startup.”

   

4. Find “Google Drive” in this list and “Turn On” the permission via the toggle switch.

   

Verify Syncing Permissions

It is also possible that you temporarily paused the Google Drive syncing feature. Therefore, we made sure this is not the case on our computer.

In case you find that the syncing is paused, resume it using the following method:

1. Find the arrowhead pointing upwards on the left side of your “Windows Taskbar” and click on it.
2. Click on the “Google Drive” icon in this mini-menu.

   

3. Choose “Settings” at the top right edge of this window.
4. You should see the “Resume Syncing” option if it is on hold. Click on it.

   

Also Read: PC Ran Into A Problem And Needs To Restart [FIXED]

Inspect Google Drive Storage Status

The syncing may automatically stop if there is little to no available storage on your Google Drive account. The storage bar may turn red when there is no space left to sync files.

These are the simple steps for this fix:

1. Open “Google Drive” using the “Taskbar” as instructed above.
2. It should show you the amount of used storage against the total storage available for your currently logged-in accounts.

   

Important: If the storage is nearly full, you may want to delete unnecessary pictures and files. 

Look For Errors

The app has a dedicated menu to check for syncing errors. You can also check if faulty files are hindering the overall process and try to re-sync them. Importantly, make sure that the file you are trying to upload is in a supported format and does not exceed the maximum limit offered by Google Drive. The complete details are available on Google Drive Help.

Use these instructions:

1. Launch the Google Drive “Settings” menu in its interface.
2. This time, select “Error List.”

   

3. Pick the erroneous files and re-sync them to the Drive.
4. Remove the file from the list if it does not meet the Google Drive criteria.

Remove Bandwith Restrictions

Our team ensured that Google Drive’s bandwidth usage is not restricted in any way since it can interfere with the syncing process. 

This is a step-by-step method we followed for this fix:

1. Come to Google Drive’s “Preferences” section.
2. Navigate to “Bandwidth Settings.”
3. Unmark the boxes beside “Download Rate” and “Upload Rate.”

   

Also Read: SOLVED: How To Get Into BIOS [Windows 11]

Enable Stream Files

This option is also available in the “Preferences” menu of the Drive’s app. Verify that you have selected “Stream Files” in the “My Drive Synicng Option” section.

Delete Desktop.ini File

Desktop.ini holds the information about any changes you make to the files and folders on your system. In certain cases, this file may automatically appear on your “Desktop” screen and affect data syncing. Consequently, delete “Desktop.ini” from your computer and check if the syncing resumes. 

Resort to these instructions if you do not see the file on your Desktop screen:

1. Altogether, press “Win+E” to launch “File Explorer.”
2. Head to the Google Drive folder where the files are not syncing.
3. Click on the “View” option on the upper panel.
4. Place your cursor over the “Show” option, then select “Hidden Items” from the subsequent menu.

   

5. Delete the “Desktop.ini” if you find it here.

   

6. Restart your computer and check if the syncing begins. 

Also Read: FIXED: Windows 11 Time Zone Greyed Out [2023]

Turn Off Proxy Settings

Disabling the Proxy on your PC is another solution to get out of Google Drive not syncing on Windows 11 trouble. Other than that, here are the fixes you can use if a certain app cannot run on your PC.

Here are the steps to help you with the process:

1. Once in the “Preferences” menu, locate and click on the “Settings” gear at the top-right beside your display picture.

   

2. Scroll to the “Proxy Settings” section.
3. Proceed to pick “Direct Connection.”
4. Click the blue button “Save” button.

   

Disable VPN

We also found that an active VPN connection on Windows 11 can interfere with Google Drive’s functioning. Therefore, we turned off the VPN on our system and restarted the computer to fix the syncing. 

Clear App Cache

This solution applies if you use the Google Drive app, not the web version. Sometimes, the data stored in the cache can become corrupt or incur glitches or bugs. Thus, clearing the cache becomes necessary to remove the problematic data.

Clear the app cache using these steps:

1. Simultaneously, press the “Windows+R” keys to open the “RUn” menu.
2. Execute the address, “%LOCALAPPDATA\Google.”

   

3. It should take you to a new window. Find the “DriveFS” folder and right-click on it.
4. Select “Delete” from the drop-down.

   

5. Restart your computer and check if the syncing is resumed.

Halt Background Processes And Streaming

We advise you to stop ongoing downloads on your computer via the web because it may consume a fair share of bandwidth, thereby restricting Google Drive’s performance. Additionally, avoid using streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ until the syncing is complete since they require a significant chunk of bandwidth for 4K streaming.

Also Read: Windows 11: Computer Won’t Wake Up From Sleep [SOLVED]

Reconnect Your Account

One more thing we tested was reconnecting our Google Drive account. You can log out of your account and then log in again with the same credentials to send away any temporary issues preventing the sync.

Use The App In Admin Mode

Launch the app in Administrator mode to take full control of its features and settings. Simply right-click the “Google Drive” icon or search for it in the Windows 11 “Seach” menu. Proceed with “Run This Program As An Administrator.”

Reinstall Google Drive 

Delete the application from your Windows 11 PC and wait about 2 minutes. Then, head to the Microsoft Store or the official website to download the app again.

Also Read: How To Fix Windows Update Error 0x800f0922

Update The App

Using the most recent versions of apps and software on your devices is always ideal to prevent errors and problems with their features, such as Google Drive not syncing on Windows 11. As a result, check for available updates for the Google Drive app and install them.

Update Windows

Similar to the previous fix, this fix prompts you to download and install any pending updates for your Windows 11 OS. Here is a complete guide on updating Windows.

Run SFC And DISM Scans

It is also possible that faulty files on your computer may interrupt the syncing process. System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) effectively rid the system of such issues.

Run these codes in the Command Prompt one after another:

SFC/scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Check Antivirus Settings

Apart from the above solutions, verify that the antivirus software on your computer is not restricting Google Drive from accessing the system’s data in any way. Furthermore, you should use trusted third-party antivirus software like Avast or McAfee to protect your data and check for malware or viruses.

Whitelist Google Drive On Windows Firewall

While Windows Firewall keeps your system safe from threats, it might block your access to certain websites and restrict features. Therefore, you can modify the settings to ensure that Firewall does not affect Google Drive’s performance.

These steps will help you in applying this fix:

1. Search for “Windows Defender Firewall” and launch it.
2. Find the option on the left bar, “Allow An App Or Feature Through Windows Defender Firewall.” Click on it.

   

3. Now, pick “Change Settings.”
4. Press the “Allow Another App” button.

   

5. Hit “Browse.”

   

6. Navigate to the “DriveFS/Google Drive” folder within the “Google” folder.
7. Once selected, choose “Add.”

   

Also Read: How To Solve Windows Security Certificate Error

Disable Windows Firewall

Remember only to resort to this fix when other, simple troubleshooting steps fail to remove the issue. Using a Windows Firewall is vital to your system’s protection. 

Following is the way to turn off Windows Firewall:

1. Access the “Windows Defender Firewall” page.
2. Click “Turn Windows Defender On Or Off,” located on the left pane of this screen.

   

3. Mark the circle beside “Turn Off Windows Defender Firewall (Not Recommended)” in the “Public” and “Private” network settings section.
4. Hit “OK” to apply the settings.

   

Resort To The Web Version

When everything fails to fix Google Drive not syncing on Windows 11, you may use the web version of Google Drive to sync data from your computer. On the other hand, reach out to Google Support for personalized assistance.

Also Read: Windows Error 0X80072F8F-0X20000 [17 FIXES]