How to Stop Google Drive from Syncing Automatically
Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services that automatically syncs your files across devices. While this is generally useful for ensuring your files are always up to date, it can become inconvenient, especially when you’re working with limited bandwidth, storage, or simply want to control which files sync. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to stop Google Drive from syncing automatically on your computer, smartphone, and across all devices.
1. How to Disable Google Drive Auto-Sync on Desktop (Windows & macOS)
On desktop, Google Drive syncs your files using the Google Drive for Desktop application. If you no longer want it to sync automatically, follow these steps:
Windows:
- Open Google Drive for Desktop: Click on the Google Drive icon in the taskbar at the bottom right.
- Settings Menu: Click on the gear icon (⚙️) in the top right corner.
- Preferences: Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
- Disable Syncing: Under the My Laptop tab, select Sync only these folders to choose which folders you want to sync or uncheck everything to stop syncing altogether. If you want to disable auto-sync completely, you can also choose Disconnect Account.
- Confirm: Click Done to apply the changes.
macOS:
- Open Google Drive: Click on the Google Drive icon located in the menu bar at the top right.
- Preferences: Click on the gear icon and select Preferences.
- Sync Options: Under the My Mac tab, uncheck the files or folders you no longer want to sync.
- Disable Syncing: Alternatively, you can select Disconnect Account to stop all syncing.
2. Stop Google Drive from Syncing Automatically on Android
If you want to stop Google Drive from syncing automatically on your Android phone, follow these simple steps:
- Open Google Drive App: Launch the Google Drive app on your Android device.
- Go to Settings: Tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
- Settings: Scroll down and select Settings.
- Auto-Sync: Toggle off the “Auto-Sync” option. This will prevent the app from automatically syncing your files.
3. Turn Off Google Drive Auto-Sync on iOS (iPhone/iPad)
To disable automatic syncing on an iPhone or iPad:
- Open Google Drive App: Launch the Google Drive app.
- Go to Settings: Tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
- Settings: Scroll down and select Settings.
- Disable Auto-Sync: Under the “Sync” section, toggle off “Auto Sync”.
4. How to Prevent Google Drive from Syncing Specific Files or Folders
Sometimes, you only want to stop syncing a few specific files or folders. Here’s how you can do it:
On Desktop (Windows & macOS):
- Open Google Drive for Desktop.
- Go to Preferences and select Sync Options.
- Choose Sync only these folders and deselect the folders you don’t want to sync. This way, Google Drive won’t sync files that are not checked.
On Mobile (Android & iOS):
Unfortunately, Google Drive on mobile doesn’t have as many options for controlling folder-specific syncs, but you can manually select what you want to upload by going to the Files section and selecting/uploading files one by one.
5. Alternative: Use Google Drive’s “Backup and Sync” Feature
Google Drive offers another feature called Backup and Sync that lets you choose folders that you want to sync. If you only want to sync specific files, you can use this tool to avoid syncing everything.
- Install Backup and Sync: Download and install the app.
- Set Preferences: During the setup process, you can specify which folders you want to back up to Google Drive.
- Disable Specific Syncs: You can also disable syncing for certain folders within the app’s settings.
6. Stop Google Photos from Syncing Automatically
If you want to stop Google Photos from syncing your images to Google Drive, here’s how to do it:
- Open Google Photos App: Launch Google Photos on your device.
- Settings: Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner and select Settings.
- Back Up & Sync: Toggle off the Back up & Sync option. This will stop Google Photos from automatically uploading your photos and videos to the cloud.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can take control of your Google Drive’s syncing behavior, preventing it from running automatically. Whether you’re on desktop, Android, or iOS, Google Drive offers various ways to disable or customize syncing according to your preferences. By managing these settings, you can ensure that your files only sync when you want them to, helping you conserve bandwidth and storage space.
Read Also:
How to Backup Your PC to Google Drive Automatically
How to Recover Deleted Files from Google Drive: A Complete Guide
How to Share a Google Drive Folder with Others – A Complete Guide
How to Upload Files to Google Drive from Mobile (Android & iPhone)
Top 10 Online File Sharing Platforms for Secure and Collaborative Work
