google drive Code Backup Failed Error

Fix Google Drive Error: Backup Failed

Diagnostic Procedures

  • 1 Identify triggers for backup errors in Google Drive for Desktop
  • 2 Grant system-level directory and disk access
  • 3 Clear corrupt volume shadow copies on Windows
  • 4 Resolve file permission locks on macOS
  • 5 Re-register folders and restart the sync daemon

Fix Google Drive Error: Backup Failed

Encountering a Backup Failed error in Google Drive (specifically on the “Mirror” or “Backup” features in Google Drive for Desktop) indicates the client has lost the ability to monitor, read, or copy files from local directories (like Desktop, Documents, or Pictures) to your cloud drive.

This guide details how to configure permissions, resolve Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) errors on Windows, and clear OS-level blocks on macOS.

What Causes Google Drive Backup Failures?

Desktop backup features interact directly with your local operating system’s file system, making them vulnerable to:

  1. Missing Full Disk Access (macOS): Security settings block third-party daemons from scanning user folders (Documents, Desktop, Downloads).
  2. Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) Failures (Windows): Google Drive relies on VSS to capture files that are currently open in other programs. If VSS is corrupted or stalled, backups fail.
  3. Invalid Root Folders: Attempting to back up entire root partitions (e.g., C:\ or /) or system-critical directories containing locked system logs.
  4. Path Depth Limits: File paths nested deeper than 260 characters on Windows, causing the directory reader to crash.

Detailed Steps to Resolve Backup Failures

Follow these steps to restore local folder monitoring.

Step 1: Grant Full Disk Access to Google Drive (macOS)

Beginning with macOS Catalina, apps must be explicitly authorized to scan user documents and desktop folders.

  1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
  2. Navigate to Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access.
  3. Locate Google Drive in the list.
  4. Toggle the switch to On. (You may need to enter your Mac password).
  5. If Google Drive is not in the list, click the + (plus) icon, navigate to /Applications/Google Drive.app, select it, and add it.
  6. Restart the application.

Step 2: Repair Volume Shadow Copy Service (Windows)

If files are locked by programs, Windows relies on the Volume Shadow Copy service to read them. If this service is locked, backups will fail.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Run the following commands to clear old snapshot allocations and restart the VSS service:
:: Reset and restart the Volume Shadow Copy Service
net stop vss
net start vss

:: Clear corrupted shadow copies that might block new allocations
vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet

:: Check VSS writer status for errors
vssadmin list writers

Ensure the output shows “No error” for all writers. If there are errors, reboot the computer.

Step 3: Run Drive as Administrator & Adjust Folder Permissions (Windows)

If permissions are restricting access to the backed-up directory:

  1. Right-click the Google Drive desktop shortcut and select Properties.
  2. Go to the Compatibility tab and check Run this program as an administrator. Click Apply.
  3. To fix folder ownership: open Command Prompt as Admin and run (replacing C:\MyFolder with the folder path you are backing up):
:: Take ownership of the backup directory
takeown /F "C:\MyFolder" /R /D Y

:: Grant full control permissions to the active user group
icacls "C:\MyFolder" /grant Administrators:F /T

Step 4: Re-Register Backup Folders

If the backup catalog becomes corrupt, you must remove and re-assign the target folders in preferences.

  1. Open Google Drive Preferences.
  2. Under “My Computer,” select the folders showing backup errors.
  3. Click Remove folder or uncheck “Sync with Google Drive.”
  4. Save preferences and restart the application:
    • Windows: 
      taskkill /F /IM GoogleDriveFS.exe
start "" "C:\Program Files\Google\Drive File Stream\bin\GoogleDriveFS.exe"
    • macOS: 
      killall "Google Drive"
open -a "Google Drive"
  5. Re-open Preferences, click Add Folder, and re-select the directory to start a clean differential backup.

Summary Checklist

  • Check if macOS has granted Full Disk Access to the Google Drive application.
  • Run Google Drive as Administrator on Windows.
  • Verify you are backing up user directories, not entire root partition drives (C:\).
  • Reset the Windows Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) service using the commands above.
  • Delete and re-add the folders in the Google Drive desktop app preferences.