google drive

Google Drive Not Syncing

Resolution Checklist

  • 1 Diagnose common causes of Google Drive sync failures
  • 2 Perform initial credential and account checks
  • 3 Reset and clear DriveFS cache databases on Windows
  • 4 Reset and re-authenticate Google Drive on macOS
  • 5 Restart the virtual file system mount connections

Google Drive Not Syncing

When Google Drive for Desktop is not syncing, modifications to your folders won’t propagate online. The desktop client may get stuck in loops like “Comparing files…”, display synchronization warning codes, or fail to mount the virtual Google Drive folder in your system file manager.

This comprehensive guide walks you through diagnosing sync failures and resetting the sync databases on both Windows and macOS.

1. Primary Causes of Google Drive Sync Failures

Google Drive for Desktop utilizes a background engine called DriveFS to stream files. Stalls are typically caused by:

  • Virtual Drive Mounting Failures: Windows or macOS blocks the virtual file system driver from mounting the virtual disk (e.g. drive letter G: or virtual Finder volume).
  • Corrupted Local Metadata Cache: Local index files become desynchronized from the actual cloud directory, halting the sync upload queue.
  • Strict Security & Permissions: Network proxy blocks or operating system permissions (like FileProvider extensions on Mac) block the app daemons.

2. Initial Basic Audits

Before modifying configuration files, perform these standard checks:

  1. Check Account Storage Limits: Google Drive shares storage across Gmail, Google Photos, and Drive. If your account exceeds its storage quota (e.g. 15GB free limit), sync will freeze. Log in to Google One Storage Page to verify.
  2. Verify Portal Access: Open your browser and try to upload a file directly to Google Drive Web Portal. If successful, the server is online and the error resides in your local client.
  3. Audit File Size Limits: Ensure you are not attempting to sync single files larger than the 5TB upload limit.

3. Reset & Repair Google Drive on Windows

If the virtual drive blocks or file processing hangs on Windows, follow these repair steps:

A. Force Quit the Client Engine

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager.
  2. Click the search bar, type Google Drive or googlepackagedexe.
  3. Select any running processes and click End Task.
  4. Alternatively, open Command Prompt (Admin) and execute: 
    taskkill /f /im googlepackagedexe.exe
  5. Relaunch Google Drive from the Start menu.

B. Clear the Corrupted DriveFS Cache Folder

If files remain stuck in a loop, clearing the local DriveFS folder forces Google Drive to rebuild the local cache database.

  1. Force close Google Drive (as shown in the step above).
  2. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run window.
  3. Copy and paste the path below, then press Enter: 
    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\
  4. Find the folder named DriveFS and delete it. (Note: If you have offline files that haven’t synced, move them out of the virtual drive first).
  5. Launch Google Drive from the Start Menu. It will prompt you to log back in and perform a clean sync comparison.

4. Reset & Repair Google Drive on macOS

On macOS, Google Drive relies on custom system extensions and the FileProvider framework to project the virtual drive under Locations in Finder.

A. Grant System Directory Access

  1. Open macOS System Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security → Files and Folders.
  3. Locate Google Drive and ensure the toggle for access to folders (like Desktop, Documents, or external volumes) is enabled.
  4. Restart your Mac.

B. Reset the macOS DriveFS Database

  1. Quit the Google Drive application from the menu bar icon.
  2. Open Terminal (via Spotlight search).
  3. Delete the local DriveFS configuration cache folder by executing: 
    rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/DriveFS
  4. Launch Google Drive, click Sign In, and allow the browser to complete the token verification handshake.

5. Summary Quick Reference Checklist

Troubleshooting TargetTarget Command / PathExpected Outcome
Windows Force Quittaskkill /f /im googlepackagedexe.exeTerminates zombie client connections.
macOS Reset Cacherm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/DriveFSPurges corrupted sync databases.
Windows Reset Cache%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\DriveFSRe-downloads fresh directory indices.
Verify Sync Statuscheck tray status iconResolves file conflicts and size limits.