Fix Google Drive Backup and Sync Not Working

Google Drive Backup and Sync (the older desktop app, now replaced by Google Drive for desktop) can stop syncing for several reasons, from a stalled process to a corrupted cache. This guide walks through the most effective fixes, starting with the quickest and safest checks, so you can get your files uploading and downloading again without losing data.

What You’ll Need

Your Google account password (you may need to sign in again).
Administrator rights on your computer to quit and restart the app.
About 15 minutes of uninterrupted time.

Step-by-Step

Check the system tray or menu bar icon. Look for the cloud icon near the clock (Windows) or in the top-right menu bar (Mac). If it has a red dot or an error message, click it to see what file is stuck. If the icon is missing entirely, the app is not running.
Restart Backup and Sync completely. Right-click the cloud icon and select Quit (Mac) or Exit (Windows). Then reopen it from the Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac). Wait 2–3 minutes for it to rescan your folders.
Pause and resume syncing. Click the cloud icon, then click the three-dot menu (or gear icon) and choose Pause syncing. Wait 30 seconds, then choose Resume syncing. This often clears a temporary network hiccup.
Check your internet connection. Open a browser and try loading any website. If that fails, restart your router or modem. If you are on a corporate or school network, the firewall may block Google Drive; try a mobile hotspot to confirm.
Free up disk space. Backup and Sync needs room to download files. On Windows, open Settings > System > Storage. On Mac, go to About This Mac > Storage. If your drive is more than 90% full, delete or move large files elsewhere.
Run the app as administrator (Windows only). Right-click the Backup and Sync shortcut, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check Run this program as an administrator. Click OK, then relaunch the app.
Clear the app’s cache. Quit Backup and Sync. Then open File Explorer (Windows) and type %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Drive in the address bar. On Mac, open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, and type ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Drive. Inside that folder, delete the tmp folder (if present). Do not delete any other folders. Restart the app.
Reconnect your account. Click the cloud icon, go to Preferences (or the gear icon), and select Disconnect account. The app will ask you to sign in again. After signing in, it will rescan your folders. This is safe—your local files are not deleted.
Check for a stuck file. If a specific file shows an error, rename it (e.g., add “_old” to the end). If it syncs after renaming, the original filename had an invalid character or was too long. Move that file out of the synced folder, then put it back with a shorter name.
Reinstall the app. Uninstall Backup and Sync from Control Panel > Programs (Windows) or by dragging it from Applications to Trash (Mac). Download the latest version from the Google Drive website and install it. Sign in again. This resets all app settings without touching your files.

Common Mistakes

Deleting the local folder to “fix” sync. If you delete files inside your Google Drive folder, they are deleted from the cloud too. Always pause sync first if you need to move files.
Assuming the app is up to date. Google rolls out updates automatically, but a paused or disabled update can leave you on a broken version. Check for updates in the app’s settings menu.
Ignoring the “file too large” error. Files over 5 TB cannot sync. Also, a single file with a path longer than 255 characters (Windows) will fail silently. Shorten the folder path.
Using the wrong account. If you have multiple Google accounts, you may be signed into the wrong one. Verify the email shown in the app’s preferences.

Tips

Keep the app open. Backup and Sync only runs when you are signed in. If you log out of Windows or shut down, it pauses. Set it to start automatically on login (it usually does).
Use selective sync. In Preferences, you can choose which folders sync to this computer. If you have a huge Drive, sync only what you need to reduce load.
Monitor the activity log. Click the cloud icon and select Open activity log to see exactly which file is stuck and why. The error message often tells you the fix (e.g., “file name too long”).
Restart your computer before trying more invasive fixes. A simple reboot clears stale network connections and memory leaks.

Troubleshooting

If the icon still does not appear after restarting: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc (Windows) to open Task Manager. Look for “Backup and Sync” under Processes. If it is there, right-click and choose End task, then relaunch. On Mac, open Activity Monitor, search for “Backup and Sync,” and click the X to force quit.

If syncing starts but never finishes: This usually means a file is locked by another program (like an open Word document). Close all office apps and try again. Also check that your computer is not in sleep mode—set it to stay awake during long uploads.

If you get a “connection failed” error: Your antivirus or firewall may be blocking the app. Temporarily disable your antivirus for 5 minutes and test. If it works, add Google Drive to the antivirus whitelist. Do not keep your antivirus disabled.

If the app crashes on launch: Delete the Sync.log file inside the same folder you cleaned in Step 7. This log can become corrupted. Restart the app after deleting it.

If nothing works after reinstalling: You may have a corrupted Windows profile or macOS keychain entry. Create a new user account on your computer and try installing Backup and Sync there. If it works, your main account has a permissions issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my files if I uninstall Backup and Sync? No. Uninstalling the app only removes the software. Your files remain in your local folders and in the cloud. However, if you uninstall and then delete the local folder, those files will be deleted from the cloud on the next sync.

Why is my upload stuck at 0% for hours? Check the file size. Uploads of very large files (over 10 GB) can take a long time on slow connections. Also, Google limits uploads to 750 GB per day. If you hit that limit, wait 24 hours.

Can I use Backup and Sync on two computers at once? Yes, but they will sync with each other. If you edit a file on one, it will update on the other. Avoid editing the same file simultaneously on both machines to prevent conflicts.

Does Backup and Sync work with Google Workspace accounts? Yes, but some administrators disable the app for security. Contact your IT admin if you get a “blocked by administrator” message.

What is the difference between Backup and Sync and Google Drive for desktop? Google Drive for desktop is the newer app that replaced Backup and Sync in 2021. It has a different interface but similar functions. If you are still on Backup and Sync, Google will eventually force you to switch.

Why does the app say “Syncing” but nothing changes? This often happens when a file has a name that the cloud cannot accept (like a colon on Windows). Open the activity log, find the error, and rename that file.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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