Google Drive is an excellent cloud storage service, but its official desktop application can cause a massive headache for new users. If you have 500GB of files stored in your Google Drive cloud, and you install the “Google Drive for Desktop” app on a laptop that only has a 256GB SSD, you will inevitably receive a terrifying “Disk Space Full” warning.
By default, the Google Drive desktop app sometimes attempts to download a physical copy of every single file you own directly onto your local hard drive. If you do not have enough local storage to hold your entire cloud library, your PC will slow to a crawl or stop functioning entirely. Fortunately, you can fix this instantly by switching your sync settings from “Mirror” to “Stream.”
Mirroring vs. Streaming: What is the Difference?
To understand the fix, you need to know how the desktop app handles your files:
- Mirror Files: The app downloads a physical, offline copy of every single file from the cloud onto your computer’s hard drive. Changes you make locally are synced back to the cloud. This consumes a massive amount of local storage space.
- Stream Files (Recommended): The app creates a “virtual” drive on your computer. You can see all your files and folders, but they live entirely in the cloud. They take up zero space on your hard drive. A file is only temporarily downloaded when you double-click it to open it.
To reclaim your storage space, you must switch your setting to “Stream files.”
How to Switch to “Stream Files” (Windows and Mac)
The process for fixing this is identical whether you are using a Windows PC or a Mac.
- Locate the Google Drive icon on your computer. On Windows, it is in the bottom-right system tray (you may need to click the up arrow to see hidden icons). On a Mac, it is in the top-right menu bar.
- Click the Google Drive icon. A small window will pop up showing your recent sync activity.
- Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner of that pop-up window.
- From the dropdown menu, select Preferences.
- A new preferences window will open. Look at the left-hand sidebar and click on Google Drive (it usually has a folder icon next to it).
- You will now see two distinct options: “Stream files” and “Mirror files”. Select Stream files.
- A prompt may appear asking you to confirm the change, warning you that the physical files will be removed from your hard drive. Click Continue or Save.
Google Drive will now begin deleting the physical copies of the files from your local hard drive, immediately freeing up your storage space. Do not worry—your files are perfectly safe in the cloud; they are simply no longer taking up local space on your physical disk.
How to Keep Specific Files Available Offline
One downside to “Stream files” is that you need an active internet connection to open a document. If you are travelling or working remotely without Wi-Fi, you will not be able to access your cloud files.
However, you do not have to go back to Mirroring everything. You can choose to stream your entire drive, but selectively make specific, important folders available offline.
- Open your computer’s file browser (File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac).
- Navigate to your virtual Google Drive (usually listed as a separate drive letter like G: on Windows, or under “Locations” on Mac).
- Find the specific file or folder you want to access without the internet.
- Right-click on the file or folder.
- In the context menu, select Offline access, then click Available offline.
A green checkmark will appear next to the folder, indicating that a physical copy has been downloaded to your hard drive. This allows you to save space by streaming 99% of your files, while keeping the 1% you actually need available offline.
