Google Drive File Stream is a desktop application that lets you quickly access all of your Google Drive files directly from your computer, without using hard drive space or waiting for files to sync. Drive File Stream streams My Drive and Shared Drive files directly from the cloud, making all of your files accessible on demand. It is the recommended desktop application to access Drive for University of Maryland (UMD) faculty and staff.
With Drive File Stream, you can:
Drive File Stream offers unlimited storage for current students, faculty and staff at UMD when using UMD Google or TERPmail.
Drive files can be made available for offline access with Drive File Stream. Files designated for offline access are cached while being used offline. The files are then synced back to the cloud when online, so the latest version is available on all your devices.
Backup and Sync is a new version of Google Drive that merges the functionality of the Google Drive and Google Photos desktop applications, allowing you to choose which files you wish to backup and sync to your computer.
Backup and Sync is an alternative to Drive File Stream when you are backing up and syncing a small number of files from Google Drive to your computer. Backup and Sync is available for download now and takes advantage of unlimited storage when used with UMD Google or TERPmail.
Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync offer a number of features that can optimize your cloud data storage. Check out the table below to see some of the features available for Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync
|
Feature |
Drive File Stream |
Backup and Sync |
|---|---|---|
|
Access files in My Drive |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Access files in Shared Drives |
✔ |
✘ |
|
Stream files on demand |
✔ |
✘ |
|
Sync only selected folders in My Drive |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Sync only individual files in My Drive |
✔ |
✘ |
|
Use native applications like MS Word and Photoshop |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Sync other folders, such as Documents or Desktop |
✘ |
✔ |
Image Credit: Google
Backup and Sync and Drive File Stream employ interfaces that are designed to make your experience with both applications as easy as possible. Check out the table below to see some of the primary differences between the user interfaces for Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync:
|
Drive File Stream |
Backup and Sync |
|---|---|
|
Access Google Drive like any other local or network drive. Mac: Google Drive appears in Finder under Devices. Windows 10: Google Drive appears in Explorer as a mounted drive under This PC and Quick Access. |
Access Google Drive like a folder on your hard drive. Mac: Google Drive appears in Finder under Favorites. Windows: Google Drive appears in Explorer under Quick Access. |
|
When you access Google Drive on your computer, you see both My Drive and Shared Drives. |
When you access Google Drive on your computer, you see My Drive. You can find Shared Drives only in Drive on the web.* |
|
To sync content from Documents, Desktop, or other folders, you must explicitly move it to My Drive. |
You can select other folders on your computer to automatically backup and sync besides My Drive (such as Documents or Desktop). These folders appear in the Computers section in Drive on the web. |
Image Credit: Google
Drive File Stream can be used on the following operating systems.
Contact the Service Desk at 301.405.1500 or email itsupport@umd.edu.