How to Enable and Use Google File Stream

What is G Suite’s Drive File Stream? Drive File Stream is an application that runs on Windows or Mac that provide a cloud-centric implementation of Google Drive. In other words, it provides the same level of collaboration and access as Google Drive with the bonus of storing the documents in the cloud and streaming the contents to you rather than requiring you to maintain local copies that must be synced.

You can also select folders to be available offline and they will sync automatically when connected to the network.

Once installed on a Windows PC, Google File Stream will appear as Drive G: by default. You can right click files and folders within this drive, choose Drive File Stream, and then check whether or not you would like them available off-line.

Do I have access to it? Yes, Drive File Stream is available to all VT faculty, staff, and students.

How do I install it? Follow this link to install Drive File Stream - or - log into your Google Drive account, click the settings icon in the top right, and choose toGet Drive File Stream. (This works on both Windows and OS X.)