This wikiHow teaches you how to download all the files in Google Drive to a Windows or Mac computer. You can download the files directly from the Google Drive website, sync Google Drive files to your computer with Google's Backup and Sync program, or download all Google Drive data in the form of a Google Archive. If the data in Google Drive exceeds 5 GB, we recommend that you sync your Google Drive account to your computer with Google's free Backup and Sync program.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Google Drive
Step 1. Visit Google Drive
Launch a web browser and visit https://drive.google.com/. If you are signed in to your Google Account, the Google Drive page will open.
If you are not logged in to your Google Account, click Go to Google Drive when prompted, then type in your email address and password.
Step 2. Click any file or folder in the Drive window to select it
Step 3. Select all content in Google Drive
Do this by pressing Command+A (Mac) or Ctrl+A (Windows). All items on the Drive main page will turn blue.
Step 4. Click in the upper right corner
A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Click Download
This option is in the drop-down menu. The Google Drive file will begin downloading to your computer.
Google Drive will compress the files into a ZIP folder
Step 6. Wait for the computer to finish downloading the Google Drive file
Once the download is complete, you can extract the file to view it.
Method 2 of 3: Using a Backup and Sync Program
Step 1. Visit the Backup and Sync page
Run a web browser on your computer and visit https://www.google.com/drive/download/. You can use the Backup and Sync program to sync files between your computer and your Google Drive account so you can download all the content on Google Drive to your computer.
The main use of this method is that any changes made in Google Drive are automatically reflected in the Backup and Sync program on the computer
Step 2. Click Download
This blue button is below the " Personal " heading on the left side of the page
Step 3. Click Agree and download when prompted
The Backup and Sync installer file will begin downloading to your computer.
Step 4. Install Backup and Sync
Once the installer file is downloaded, choose one of the following actions (depending on the operating system you are using):
- Windows - Double click the installer file, click Yes when prompted, then click Close after the installation is complete.
- Mac - Double-click the installer file, verify its installation when prompted, click and drag the Backup and Sync icon to the "Applications" folder shortcut, then wait for the installation to complete.
Step 5. Wait for the Backup and Sync login page to open
Once Backup and Sync is installed on your computer, the program will open a page to sign in to your Google Account.
Maybe you should click GET STARTED to continue.
Step 6. Sign in to Google Account
Type in the Google Account email address and password associated with the Google Drive content you want to download.
Step 7. Specify a folder on the computer to sync if necessary
Check the box next to the folder you want to upload to Google Drive.
If you don't want to upload any files, uncheck all the boxes on this page
Step 8. Click NEXT
It's in the lower-right corner.
Step 9. Click GOT IT when prompted
A Downloads page will open, where you can specify which Google Drive files you want to download to your computer.
Step 10. Check the box "Sync everything in My Drive"
This box is located at the top of the window. Doing so will download everything in Google Drive to your computer.
Step 11. Click START
It's a blue button in the lower-right corner. All Google Drive content will be downloaded to your computer.
- Be patient as the process can take some time (depending on the size of the file in Google Drive).
- Once the download is complete, look for the files in the "Google Drive" folder on your computer. You can access it by clicking on the icon Backup and Sync, then click the folder icon in the top right of the Backup and Sync menu.
Method 3 of 3: Downloading Archives from Google
Step 1. Visit the Google Account page
Run a web browser and visit https://myaccount.google.com/. If you are already signed in, the Account Settings page for your Google Account will open.
If you are not signed in to your Google Account, click the button Sign in in the blue icon at the top right of the page, then type in your email address and password to continue.
Step 2. Click Control your content
This button is below the "Personal info and privacy" heading.
You may have to scroll down to find this option
Step 3. Click CREATE ARCHIVE located on the right side of the page, under the "Download your data" heading
Step 4. Click SELECT NONE
It's a gray button on the right side of the page.
Step 5. Scroll down the screen, then click the gray “Drive” button
This button (located opposite the " Drive " heading in the lower third of the page) will turn blue
. This indicates that the Google Drive file will be downloaded.
You can also click the gray button next to other Google products you want to include in your archive
Step 6. Scroll down the screen, then click NEXT
It's a blue button at the bottom of the page.
Step 7. Select the archive size
Click the " Archive Size " drop-down box, then click a size that matches (or exceeds) the size of the Google Drive download.
If your Google Drive is larger than the selected size, you will download several zip files
Step 8. Click CREATE ARCHIVE located at the bottom of the page
Google Drive will create a ZIP folder containing all of your Drive content.
Step 9. Wait for the archive to finish creating
The process for completing this Google Drive archive usually takes a few minutes. So, don't switch pages until the button appears DOWNLOAD.
Google will also send a download link to your email address. So, if you have closed the page, open the email sent by Google, then click Download archive in the email to download the archive.
Step 10. Click DOWNLOAD
It's a blue button to the right of the file name in the middle of the page.
Step 11. Type in the Google password
when prompted, enter the password used to sign in to your Google Account. Once you do that, the archive file will start downloading onto your computer.
Step 12. Wait for the content on Google Drive to finish downloading
Once the file is downloaded, you can access it by extracting it first.
