How to connect the G: drive

Sign on to the Google Drive for desktop app

Google Drive for desktop is computer software that allows you to view and edit files in Google Drive using your computer’s native tools and applications. When you are logged onto the app, your Google Drive is mapped to the Windows computer’s G: drive (or mounted as macOS volume "Google Drive").

If the G: drive does not appear on your campus office Windows computer, please follow these steps to run the Google Drive for desktop application and sign on. Once you have signed on, you will be able to access your Google Drive files and folders using the computer’s G: drive.

Although these instructions are for Microsoft Windows, similar steps are used on Apple macOS computers. See Google Support article "Use Google Drive for desktop" under More Information below.

Screenshot of a typical Windows 10 Start Menu showing the location of the "Google Drive" app.

1. Open the Start menu, and run “Google Drive” (indicated in yellow). Technology Services has installed Google Drive for desktop on all campus Windows computers.

Standard web-based Google logon screen.

2. When prompted by Google, sign in with your Cardinal Credentials (Cardinal Mail email address and password).

Google Account access details. Make sure you trust Google Drive for desktop. There is an Allow button in the bottom left corner, and a small Cancel button in the right corner.

Read the disclaimer, and, if you agree, click the "Allow" button.

Screen shot of the first page of the "Welcome to Google Drive File Stream" display. There is a white circle with a black right arrow in the middle of the right side of the window.

3. Once you are signed in to Google Drive for desktop, a set of introductory pages displays. Click the “Next” right arrow to view these pages.

Screenshot of Windows 10 File Explorer showing in the left navigation pane Google Drive G: mapped under This PC, and two top-level folders "My Drive" and "Shared drives" displayed in the right pane.

4. When complete, you will be able to access your Google Drive using the Windows G: drive.

You can view your own Cardinal My Drive files, or visit Shared drives to which you have access.

If you open a Microsoft Office or Adobe file on G:, the computer will open it using the correct application.

If you open a Google Docs file (e.g., Docs, Sheets, Slides) on G:, the computer will open the file in the default web browser.