How to Change the Google Drive Default Folder Location?

Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service developed by Google that allows users to store files in the cloud, share files, and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations collaboratively.

When you first set up Google Drive, it automatically creates a folder called "Google Drive" in your computer's file system. This folder is set as the default location for new files uploaded to Google Drive. Any files added to this folder are automatically synced with your Google Drive cloud storage.

However, you may want to change the default Google Drive folder location for various reasons:

• The default location has limited storage space
• You want to organize your Drive files into specific folders
• You are setting up Drive on a new computer
• You want Drive files to save to an external drive

Fortunately, it is easy to change the default Google Drive folder location on desktop. This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to change the default folder location for your Google Drive files on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

Prerequisites for Changing Google Drive Folder Location

Before changing the default Google Drive folder location, ensure:

• You have administrative rights on your computer
• Google Drive app is installed on your computer
• All files are synced to the cloud (to avoid data loss)
• The new location has enough storage space for Drive files
• You remember the new folder's location to access files later

How Much Free Space is Needed?

The new Google Drive folder location should have enough free disk space for your current Drive files plus additional growth. Here are some tips for estimating required space:

• Check the storage usage in Google Drive settings to see current usage
• Add at least 50% more free space for future growth
• For larger Drive accounts, allocate 100-200GB or more free space

How to Change Google Drive Folder Location on Windows

Follow these steps to change the default Drive folder location on Windows:

1. Locate the Default Google Drive Folder

The default folder is usually located at:

C:Users[username]Google Drive

Where [username] is your Windows account name.

2. Move the Google Drive Folder to the New Location

Cut and paste the Google Drive folder to the desired new location on your computer. For example:

D:DriveStorageGoogle Drive

Where D: is an external hard drive with enough storage space.

3. Launch Google Drive Settings

Open the Google Drive app and click the Settings icon (shaped like a gear).

4. Click on the "Syncing" tab

Under "Syncing", you will see the current default storage location for Google Drive.

5. Click "Change" and select the New Folder Location

Select the new folder location you copied the Google Drive folder to.

6. Confirm the New Drive Storage Location

Google Drive will move the storage location and start syncing files from the new folder. Confirm the change is complete.

And that's it! Google Drive will now use the new folder location on your Windows PC as the default for file syncing and storage.

How to Change Google Drive Folder on Mac

Here are the steps to change the default Google Drive folder on macOS:

1. Locate the Default Google Drive Folder

The default folder is usually located at:

/Users/[username]/Google Drive

Where [username] is your Mac account username.

2. Move the Google Drive Folder to New Location

As on Windows, cut and paste the Google Drive folder to the new location on your Mac. For example:

/Volumes/ExternalDrive/Google Drive 

3. Go to Google Drive Preferences

Click the Google Drive icon in the menu bar and select Preferences.

4. Click on "Syncing"

Under "Syncing" you will see the current default sync folder location.

5. Click "Change" and Choose the New Location

Select the new folder you copied the Google Drive folder to.

6. Confirm the Folder Location Has Changed

The Google Drive app will move the storage location and start syncing from the new folder. Verify the change was successful.

The steps are very similar on Windows and Mac - simply locate the default folder, move it to a new location, and update the sync preferences in Google Drive app.

How to Change Google Drive Folder Location on Linux

On Linux, you can change the default Google Drive folder location as follows:

1. Identify the Default Google Drive Folder

The default location is usually:

/home/[username]/Google Drive

Where [username] is your Linux account name.

2. Move the Folder to New Location

As before, move the folder to new location, such as external drive:

/media/ExternalDrive/Google Drive

3. Launch Google Drive App

Open the Google Drive app on your Linux desktop.

4. Go to Settings and Click on "Syncing"

Go to the Syncing tab in Drive settings.

5. Click "Change" and Select the New Location

Choose the new folder location you copied the Google Drive folder to.

6. Verify Sync Folder Has Changed

Confirm Google Drive is now syncing files from the new location.

And that's it! The steps are very similar across Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Where Should You Move the Google Drive Folder?

As you saw in the steps above, you can move the default Google Drive folder location to any folder on your local storage or external drive with sufficient free space.

Here are some suitable locations to consider for the new Google Drive folder:

• External hard drive or USB drive
• Secondary internal hard drive with space
• Your user directory on fast internal SSD
• Network attached storage (NAS) on local network
• Linux - Mounted network drive or secondary drive

Avoid moving the folder to:

• System drives with limited space
• Shared network drives with user access issues
• Slow USB flash drives - use high speed external drive
• Cloud storage like OneDrive - not locally synced

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Troubleshooting Google Drive Folder Location Change

Here are solutions for common issues that may arise when changing the default Google Drive folder:

Drive doesn't recognize or sync the new folder

• Restart computer and Drive app
• Check the folder is copied fully to the new location
• Verify Drive settings show the new path correctly

Files disappear from Drive on computer

• The files still exist in Drive cloud, just resync
• If relocating from C: drive, Windows may restrict access - change permissions

No space left error

• Allocate more disk space to the new folder location
• Move Drive folder to a higher capacity drive

New location runs slower

• Use an external SSD drive for optimal speed
• Avoid nearly full drives as fragmentation slows performance

Cannot access new Drive folder location

• If using an external drive, check it is connected and powered on
• Confirm you have permissions to access the new folder location

Best Practices for Changing Google Drive Folder Locations

Follow these best practices when changing the default Google Drive folder:

• Copy the entire Drive folder to new location, not just some files
• Pick a folder with ample empty space for future growth
• External SSD drives provide best performance
• Backup Drive data before changing folder location
• Double check Drive settings to confirm path change
• Ensure Drive fully syncs files after change
• Select a permanent location - minimize folder changes

Conclusion

Changing the default Google Drive folder location is simple and offers benefits like organizing files and freeing up system disk space.

Follow the step-by-step instructions to easily move the Google Drive folder to any new location on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Pay attention to allocating sufficient disk capacity and any permissions issues.

Changing the folder will not affect your Google Drive cloud files which remain accessible from Drive apps and the web interface. With the default folder moved to a spacious external drive, you can continue seamlessly adding Google Drive files on your desktop.

FAQs About Changing Google Drive Folder Location

Here are some frequently asked questions about changing the default Google Drive folder on your computer:

Q: Will changing the folder location affect my cloud Drive files?

No, your Google Drive cloud files are unaffected by changing the local sync folder. The files themselves are stored in Google's servers.

Q: Can I have multiple Google Drive folders?

Technically you can, but only one folder can be set as the default sync location. The Google Drive app will only monitor and sync with the default folder.

Q: What happens if I run out of space in the new location?

Google Drive will show errors about insufficient space. You will need to move the folder again to a drive with more storage capacity.

Q: Is it better to use an external drive for Google Drive?

Yes, using an external drive allows you to dedicate more storage space to Google Drive files. It also keeps system drives free for applications and OS files.

Q: Can I undo the folder location change if I want?

Yes, you can revert back to the original default location or choose another new path anytime by going through the steps again.

Q: Will changing the folder impact Google Drive performance?

No, as long as the new location has good disk speed and enough free space. An external SSD drive is ideal for optimal performance.

Q: What happens to my Google Drive on a new computer?

When installing Drive on a new computer, simply move the existing synced folder to the new computer and set as the default location.