Google Drive Desktop Won’t Open on Windows? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• Antivirus or other security software interfering with Drive for desktop
• Missing permission or ownership on Drive’s configuration folder
• No free drive letter for Google Drive (Windows only)
• Proxy, firewall or other network settings interfering with Drive for desktop
• A work or school admin who doesn’t allow Drive for desktop
• System cleaner apps editing Drive’s configuration data

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with a quick restart, then match the step to the message you see, and leave disconnecting your account and reinstalling until last.

1. 1

   Step 1: Quit and reopen Drive for desktop

   Restarting the app, then your computer, is one of Google’s basic steps when Drive for desktop stops or quits suddenly.

   Find the Drive for desktop menu in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen. If you don’t see it, click the arrow to show hidden icons.

   Click Settings, then Quit. Then reopen Drive for desktop.

   If it still won’t start or load, restart your computer and check that your internet connection is stable.

2. 2

   Step 2: Exclude Drive for desktop from your virus scan

   Certain virus detection and security software can interfere with how Drive for desktop works.

   If you have virus scan software and repeatedly get the error “Drive for desktop encountered a problem and has stopped,” exclude Drive for desktop from your virus scan.

   On Windows, Drive for desktop’s default streaming location is G:, but it may be another location you’ve set up.

3. 3

   Step 3: Free up a drive letter

   On Windows, Drive for desktop can’t load your account if you don’t have any available drive letters.

   Free up a drive letter, then restart Drive for desktop.

   If the drive letter you picked for Google Drive is in use by another device, Drive for desktop selects the next available letter. To use the letter you picked, disconnect the device that uses it.

   Good to know

   To change the letter Google Drive uses, click the Drive for desktop menu, then Settings, Preferences and Advanced settings, and use Change Google Drive letter.

4. 4

   Step 4: Fix the configuration folder permissions

   If you see “Google Drive can’t start due to a configuration folder error,” give Drive’s configuration folder full permission and ownership.

   Drive uses this folder to store critical application settings and data. On Windows, it’s the Google folder in C:\Users, then your user name, then AppData\Local, along with the DriveFS folder inside it. Enter the folder’s path in the File Explorer address bar to go straight to it.

   Right-click the folder, select Properties, then click the Security tab. Under group or user names, click your username and make sure you have Allow for all the permissions and no check marks under Deny. To change them, click Edit, then click OK.

   If you don’t have permission to the Google folder, you won’t have the DriveFS folder. Once you grant permission to the Google folder, Drive for desktop can start and creates the DriveFS folder.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check your proxy and firewall settings

   Certain firewall, proxy and other network settings may interfere with Drive for desktop, and proxy settings can stop it from loading your account.

   To check Drive’s own proxy setting, click the Drive for desktop menu, then Settings, Preferences and Advanced settings.

   Under the proxy settings, Auto-detect uses your system’s settings, while direct connection bypasses them.

6. 6

   Step 6: Check with your admin on a work or school account

   Your admin may not allow Drive for desktop for your organization or on your device.

   If you use a work or school account, you might not be able to use Drive for desktop, or your organization might have to install it for you.

   If your account won’t load and you think your organization blocks Drive for desktop, contact your administrator.

7. 7

   Step 7: Disconnect and reconnect your account

   Disconnecting and signing back in is one of Google’s steps for an account that won’t load.

   Open Drive for desktop and click Settings, then Preferences, then Advanced Settings. Find the account you want to disconnect and click Disconnect account.

   Sign in again, then choose a new location for the Google Drive folder.

   Good to know

   Files that failed to sync earlier may be in your Lost & Found folder, which is deleted when you disconnect, so copy them somewhere safe first. Disconnecting a streaming account also removes any offline files.

8. 8

   Step 8: Reinstall Drive for desktop

   Installing the most recent version is Google’s last basic step when the app keeps stopping.

   First check that your version of Windows is compatible with Drive for desktop.

   Go to the Drive download page and download the most recent version of Drive for desktop. Open GoogleDriveSetup.exe and follow the on-screen instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions