2023 Guide | How to Turn On Offline Sync Google Drive/Google Docs
Working on the go becomes easy with Google Drive. But have you ever encountered situations when your WiFi does not work or has a poor connection? Well, the problem is pretty evitable in your daily life. It becomes challenging to work offline. Therefore, working offline on Google Docs and Drive files helps. You can do so easily with Offline Sync. We have covered you if you want a complete guide to turning on offline sync Google Drive/Google Docs!
Google Workspace apps like Docs, Slides, and Sheets are perfect for working without subscription plans. However, it requires constant internet connectivity. Therefore, you cannot access them without an internet connection.
What Does Offline Sync Google Drive Mean?
Offline Sync Google Drive works best in this case. Not only it lets you access files offline, but it also saves any modifications made during the time. For example, you would be someone who likes to work with focus and stay away from socializing. Thus, you research your projects well and then turn off your internet to concentrate by avoiding distractions. Then too, you can open and edit files offline with the Offline Sync feature. It does so by Saving the changes on your computer. Later, when you reconnect to the internet, all the changes are synced to your Google Drive files.
Otherwise, the online synchronization process consumes too much internet and requires more robust network connectivity. Moreover, things become arduous if you travel to locations with persistent network issues becomes arduous. So, conventional Sync becomes difficult and can often turn into a hassle. Therefore Google Drive's Sync Offline feature is a great rescue. Thus, you can save your changes without the fear of losing them in the absence of the Internet.
Before proceeding with it, you should learn how to do it! Then, the below-mentioned section will help you do the same.
How to Turn On Offline Sync Google Drive [Windows & Mac]
You must download the Google Docs Workspace extension to use Google Drive offline sync on Windows and Mac. The procedure is easy-peasy. You need an internet connection to set up offline sync. You will find an error if you try to work offline without sync.
Also, you can save all your recent files, including those you are working on, using Google Drive Backup and Sync.
How to Turn On Offline Sync Google Drive on a Windows PC
To configure offline sync, it is necessary to ensure Chrome is your default browser. If you have set Microsoft Edge or Mozilla as default, make Chrome the default one for setting up the Offline Sync.
Follow the steps given below to turn on offline sync Google Drive on a Windows PC:
Step 1. Head over to Google Chrome.
Step 2. Visit the Chrome Webstore to search for the Google Docs Offline extension and press the Add to Chrome button.
Step 3. You will receive a prompt to sign in with your Google Account if you have not signed in.
Step 4. Go to www.Drive.google.com
Step 5. Open Google Drive, and click on the "Gear" icon beside the Search Drive box to open Settings.
Step 6. Navigate to General.
Step 7. Click on the "Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings files" to this computer so that you can edit the offline checkbox.
Step 8. Now, press the "Done" button on the Settings page's top-right side.
It will do the task for you if you want to save your offline changes. However, if you wish to download your previously GDrive files to the computer, you must download Backup and Sync for Drive and set it up.
Save Google Drive Files to Windows
Follow the steps given below to do so:
Step 1. Go to Google Drive Download Center and download Backup and Sync.
Step 2. Install and launch the software and log in with your credentials.
Step 3. Open Google Drive Preferences, and switch to Google Drive.
Step 4. Select the Mirror Files option to Sync everything on your PC.
It will save all your Drive files to your computer. Alternatively, you can save specific files by selecting the Sync only these folders button. Then, you will get a prompt to choose the particular files.
You can even save your Computer's files to your Drive. For that, go to My Laptop from the left pane. Then Click the checkboxes Desktop, Documents, and Pictures as per your preferences.
How to Turn on Offline Sync Google Drive on Mac?
When you use a Mac, there is a higher probability of using Safari. However, for setting up offline sync on Google Drive, you should make Chrome your default browser from Mac settings. The critical step is to download and install Chrome.
Follow the steps given below to set up Chrome as your default browser on Mac:
Step 1. Click on the Apple icon from the top-left side of your home screen.
Step 2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 3. Go to General from the pop-up that appears.
Step 4. Click on the Default Web Browser and select Google Chrome from the list.
However, it may happen that even after installing Chrome, it is not visible in the Default Web Browser list. To tackle it, reboot your Mac and set it as Default Browser. Afterward, you are all ready to set up offline sync.
Follow the steps given below to turn on offline sync on Google Drive on Mac:
Step 1. Open Chrome and head over to the Chrome Webstore
Step 2. Search for Google Docs Offline and press the Add to Chrome button
Step 3. Go to Google Drive and open its Settings
Step 4. Navigate to General from the left pane
Step 5. Click on the Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings checkbox to enable it
Step 6. Hit the blue-colored Done button to save your changes
Now, if you want to save all your Google Drive files on Mac for offline access, you can do that too!
Save Google Drive Files to Mac
Follow the steps given below to do so:
Step 1. Download and install Google Drive's Backup and Sync.
Step 2. Sign in with your Google Account, and open the Configuration section of the app.
Step 3. To save all the Google Drive files on the Mac, you can change the Sync settings and switch to the Mirror files.
Step 4. Let the files download on your Mac, and you can then access the file anytime. The files will automatically open in Chrome with the support of the extension.
How to Backup Google Drive to Other Drives
When you need a secure offsite backup, you can back up Google Drive files to similar cloud drive services. You would rely on Google Drive but saving them to another Drive to keep it more organized is a better idea. One of the best ways to do so is by using a remote FTP server. However, backing up Google Drive to a remote FTP server is difficult. It does not have much free storage, so looking for an alternative is the best.
Therefore, you can back up Google Drive to Other Cloud drives (the best one: Qiling Cloud Drive) and transfer it to the FTP server. Here's why Qiling Backup Home is the perfect fit for it:
- 250 GB of Free Cloud Storage
- Ideal for a limited budget
- Suitable for personal as well as professional purposes
- Secure files better by Saving them.to Security Zone
- Reliable, fast, and easy to use
You can even back up using its software when creating a backup to a hard drive with its full-offline backup.
Step 1. To start backup, click the File backup button.
Step 2. On the left-hand side, you'll see a list of local and network files. Selecting the files to be backed up by expanding the directory.
Step 3. Follow the instructions on the screen and pick the location where you wish to store the backup.
Step 4. In Backup Options, click Options to encrypt the backup with a password. There are a variety of customizable features available for you to explore, and you may tailor the backup operation to meet your specific requirements.
Specify the backup schedule, and choose whether or not to start the backup at a certain event in Backup Scheme.
Step 5. Backups can be stored on a local disk, in Qiling's cloud service, or on a network attached storage device (NAS).
Step 6. Qiling Backup allows customers to back up data to a third-party cloud drive or the company's own cloud storage.
If you wish to back up your data to a third-party cloud drive, select Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device and enter your account information.
Step 7. To begin a backup, choose Proceed. It will appear in the shape of a card on the left-hand panel when the backup process has been successfully finished. To handle the backup job in more detail, click on it.
If you want to restore a backup from Google Drive, you can click the backup and follow the on-screen instruction.
How to Turn On Offline Sync Google Docs
Turning on offline sync, particularly in Google Docs, is essential to know about! After you have downloaded the Google Docs Offline extension, you know how to enable it to function.
Follow the steps given below to turn on offline sync Google Docs:
Step 1. Go to Docs.google.com
Step 2. Tap on the Hamburger icon ln the top-left to open the Menu
Step 3. Navigate to Settings
Step 4. Toggle on the Offline button
Step 5. Press the OK button to save it
Alternatively, if you want only a specific file upon which you want to work offline, you can do so!
Follow the steps given below to do so:
Step 1. Open the document you want to access offline
Step 2. Click on the File menu on the top-left
Step 3. A drop-down menu appears; click on Make Available Offline
Thus, you can access files offline. If any particular file is essential, you can choose offline access only for that specific file.
Frequently Asked Questions?
You would have several doubts and confusion regarding offline Backup. However, we use the answer to all your queries!
1. How to turn off offline sync Google drive?
- Open Google Drive Settings and go to General.
- Then click the Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings checkbox to turn off offline sync.
2. How to turn on offline sync on Google docs?
- Open the Google Docs app (like Docs, Slides, Sheets) and go its Settings.
- Toggle on the Offline button. However, it would help if you had Google Docs Chrome for syncing files offline.
3. What files can you access offline from your Google Drive?
You can access several files offline, like Docs, Sheets, Slides, Photos, Videos, and even pdf files, from Google Drive.
4. How to fix Google Drive not working
To fix Google Drive not working:
- 1. Check Your Internet Connection
- 2. Clear Your Caches and Cookies
- 3. Update Your Browser Version
- 4. Turn on Offline Cache Mode in Chrome...
Final Verdict
Offline Sync is a great way to work offline on your Google Drive and Docs files. It saves your files on your PC. Later, when you reconnect to the internet, the changes reflect in Google Drive and Docs files. You can save your precious files also to your device for convenience.
If you want to fetch your Google Drive files to a remote FTP server for an offsite backup, then you can use Qiling Backup. You can back up Google Drive files to its cloud and then transfer them to your device. Further, you can upload it to an FTO server.
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