Google Drive Not Syncing
Workaround available Windows, macOS Updated October 21, 2026
Quick answer
Drive for desktop usually stops syncing because of folder permissions, low disk space, antivirus interference, or a stuck account connection. Restart the app, check permissions and disk space, then disconnect and reconnect the account or reinstall.
Most likely fix: Restart Drive for desktop.
Symptoms
Files added on your computer don't appear on drive.google.com (or vice versa), the Drive for desktop icon shows an error, files pile up in a Lost & Found folder, or you see 'Drive for desktop encountered a problem'.
Why it happens
- Drive for desktop stuck or outdated
- Missing read/write permissions on the synced folder
- Low disk space on the drive Drive for desktop uses
- Antivirus scanning or blocking Drive for desktop
- Firewall or proxy blocking the connection
- Synced folder renamed, moved or deleted
- Google storage quota full
How to fix it
Try these in order — the most common fix is first.
1. Restart Drive for desktop
- Click the Drive for desktop icon in the menu bar (Mac) or taskbar (Windows)
- Click the Settings gear > Quit
- Reopen Drive for desktop, and restart the computer if it still stalls
2. Check folder permissions
- Windows: right-click the folder > Properties > Security and make sure your user has Allow for all permissions (use Edit to change)
- Mac: right-click the folder > Get Info > Sharing & Permissions and make sure your user has Read & Write
3. Free up disk space
- Free space on the disk named in the error
- Quit Drive for desktop and start it again
4. Fix a missing or renamed folder
- Click Locate in the Drive notification and select the renamed folder
- If you deleted it, click Stop syncing this directory
5. Exclude Drive for desktop from antivirus
- Add Drive for desktop to your antivirus exclusions, especially if 'Drive for desktop encountered a problem' keeps appearing
- Check firewall/proxy settings on work networks
6. Retry files in Lost & Found
- Open the Lost & Found folder
- Move files back into My Drive to retry syncing
7. Disconnect and reconnect your account
- Copy anything in Lost & Found somewhere safe first (disconnecting deletes it)
- Settings gear > Preferences > gear icon (Advanced settings) > Disconnect account
- Sign in again and choose a new location for the Google Drive folder
8. Reinstall the latest version
- Download Drive for desktop from Google's download page and install over the old version
- Google recommends staying on a version released within the last 12 months
This guide also covers
- google drive not syncing
- google drive for desktop not syncing
- google drive not syncing mac
- google drive not syncing windows 11
- drive for desktop encountered a problem
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