Fix Google Drive not Syncing All Files (11 Solutions)

You will get a clear idea about why Google Drive not syncing all files and 11 solutions to fix it. Or directly sync all files with its alternative.

Ivy

by Ivy Updated on October 20, 2022

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Google Drive not Syncing All Files

“Google Drive is not syncing all my files. I have not seen this problem before; my files have always synced previously. Is there a network problem with Google Drive? Files updated last night on the laptop are not syncing to My Android phone or the Windows desktop machine. Thanks.”

Google Drive Not Syncing All Files

Until now, many users complain about Google Drive not syncing all my files between Google Drive, Phone and computers, or Google Drive won’t sync files even if it shows sync complete.

Not anxious now!  This article helps you find the possible reasons and fix this issue with corresponding solutions. Also, you can directly sync all files to Google Drive with an easier alternative

Why Google Drive not Syncing All Files?

If you encounter Google Drive not syncing all files, there are some possible reasons that you should take them into consideration:

  • Poor Network Connection. If the network connection is poor or paused, the sync task process may be interrupted. 

  • Not enough space in Google Drive. If the data size exceeds the Google Drive storage limit, it won’t let you sync or upload new files.

  • Google Drive not showing all files. You can aslo mistake Google Drive not showing all files as Google Drive not syncing all files. In fact, it is still in the drive.google.com or Google Drive folder and you can check them if you think this is one of the causes of your problems.

How to Fix Google Drive for Desktop not Syncing All Files

In order to fix  Google Drive for desktop still not syncing all files issue, we collect 10 solutions below to help you. You can try them one by one if you do not clearly know why it is. 

Solution 1: Check the Network Connection

After resuming the sync task, the Google Drive for desktop still not sync all files, you can try to check the network connection. Since Google Drive is an online storage device, which requires a good internet connection for file sync. A poor network connection may interrupt the sync task and prevent it sync all the files or folders. 

Solution 2: Pause and Resume Sync Task 

If the internet is connected well, you can try to resume the sync task and see if Google Drive syncs all files. 

Click the Google Drive icon the system tray and then Settings > Pause syncing. Wait until the process is complete, and click Resume syncing in the Settings. 

Pause Sync

Solution 3: Restart Google Drive for Desktop

If the Google Drive syncing is stuck or the files or folders are missing somehow, restart the Google Drive app could be the best fix.

Go to the path C:\Program Files\Google\Drive\googledrivesync.exe and then double-click the googledrivesync.exe file to open Google Drive for Desktop, and it will sync all files that missed automatically.

googledrivesync.exe

Solution 4: Rename Google Drive for Desktop .exe File

If Google Drive not sync all files issue still persists, please rename .exe file of Google Drive for desktop. To do this, go to this path C:\Program Files\Google\Drive\googledrivesync.exe, right-click .exe file and select Rename, input a new name, such as googledrivesync2.exe. 

Solution 5: Run Google Drive as an Administrator

You can also run Google Drive as an administrator to fix Google Drive not syncing all files. And it's proven to be working. Find the Google Sync shortcut or the .exe file, right-click it and choose Run as administrator. And then, sync files with Google Drive as normal.

Run Google Drive as Administrator

Solution 6: Clear Cache and Storage for Google Drive

Clearing the cache and storage for Google Drive is a way to fix Google Drive app not syncing all files on Google Chrome and Android phones.

To clear the caches in Google Chrome: Input the following path chrome://settings/cookies/detail?site=drive.google.com in the address bar and click the Remove All button.

Remove Cache for Google Drive in Chrome

 To clear Documents cache for Google Drive on Android Phone: Open the Google Drive app on your Android Phone, click the three lines icon at the top left corner and press Settings. And then, select Clear cache > OK.

Clear Cache for Google Drive Android

 After clearing all cache for Google Drive, please restart the Google Drive app and then sync files you need.

Solution 7: Delete Files in Google Drive

For some reasons, Google Drive may shows storage 100% full but it’s empty, and you may think Google Drive not syncing all files. You could permanently delete unnecessary files to free up space or empty the trash first.

Before deleting files, you need to check the products that using your Google Drive storage space. And usually, there are three products that share the same storage, including Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. So you can delete corresponding files in it. For details, please go https://one.google.com/storage to check.

Google Drive Full No Files

  • You could delete files in Google Drive, including Trash Bin files, and other unneeded files.

  • For Gmail, delete the messages, attachments, including the items in your Spam and Trash.

  • For Google Photos, please compress the original size files by clicking Recover storage to free up space.

  • As for empty Trash Bin, you should be aware of this: Google Drive Trash Bin will never automatically be deleted, Google Photos Trash Bin will be deleted automatically after 60 days, and Gmail Trash Bin files will be deleted automatically after 30 days. 

Solution 8: Upgrade Google Drive to Larger Storage

If your Google Drive shows storage full but there is no files in there. After deleting files, it still has the problem, it’s better for you to upgrade your storage space for Google Drive.

Please open the Google Drive webpage, scroll down to the Storage tab and click Buy Storage to upgrade your plan. Also you can check if the cloud storage is full. 

Google Drive Storage

Solution 9: Reconnect the Google Account

Sometimes, you will get the Google Drive folder is missing error if you don't use it for a long-term or you have multiple accounts, but the account associated with sync task is logged out. And in this case, you can choose to disconnect account and then sign in again to your Google account. Also, you can locate folder to choose a new location for it or the renamed version if you move it to another location. 

Google Drive Folder Missing Disconnect Account

Solution 10: Temporary Turn off the Firewall and Antivirus

The Windows Firewall and Antivirus may block the Google sync process, so you need to turn them off or disable them temperarily.

Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Firewall > Turn Windows Firewall on or off, then select Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended) for Private or Public network settings and click OK.

Turn off Firewall

Solution 11: Uninstall and Reinstall Google Drive

If the above methods do not work for  Google Drive not showing all files or the sync process quit unexpectedly, you still can uninstall Google Drive and download the latest version of Google Drive. 

Open Start menu > Settings > Apps, scroll down to Apps & features, select Google Drive and click Uninstall. And then reinstall Google Drive and sync your files.

Uninstall Google Drive

Use Google Drive for Desktop Alternative to Sync All Files in Windows 10 

If you still have sync problems with Google Drive, or want an easier way to sync all files in Windows 10, try Google Drive for desktop alternative - professional file synchronization software AOMEI Backupper Professional. It supports all the sync methods and works well in all the Windows systems, including Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, including 32-bit and 64-bit systems. And then you can select one of them to start the file sync task: 

Basic Sync: It's the most basic sync method, syncing files or folders from source to destination, and supports all the scheduled sync settings. You can use daily, weekly, montnly, event triggers and USB plug in. 
Real-Time Sync: Like Basic Sync, it's a one-way file sync method, but focuses more on sync time. It will detect and sync changes immediately when you make it. 
Mirror Sync: Based on the first sync method, it will sync files automatically, but is more concerned about synced files in the destination. It will delete newly added files in the destination, and undo changes as well, either modified or deleted. 
Two-Way Sync: Unlike all the previous sync methods, it will sync changes between source and destination. Once you make any change in one of the sides, it will be synced to the other side.

Besides, you still can sync files to Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, SugarSync, or external devices, such as, external hard disk (HDD or SSD), USB flash drive, CD or DVD, network share or NAS, etc. So you can sync files with any of them. Please download AOMEI Backupper Professional first. 

Download Free TrialWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

(PS: The sync methods in the free trial methods can only be used within 30 days, to sync all files automatically, please upgrade to the official version. And you can enjoy 20% discount in this page.)

To avoid Google Drive not syncing all files error, you could sync files to Google Drive with two-way sync feature, follow the steps to sync:

1. Execute AOMEI Backupper Professional, click Sync > Two Way Sync in turn.

Two Way Sync

Tip: If you need to sync all files to Google Drive in Windows Server, try AOMEI Backupper Server. And all the steps are exactly the same as the Professional version.

2. Click + Add Folder to choose files or folders to sync.

Add Folder

3. Press inverted triangle icon at the right edge of the second bar > Select a cloud drive.

Select Sync Destination

4. In the Select Cloud window, Select Google Drive and click OK to add Google Drive as the target.

Google Drive

Tip: If the Google Drive is not listed in this window, you can share it as a network drive and sync files through Add Share or NAS Devices. 

5. To sync files to Google Drive smoothly, you need to enable schedule sync settings as you like. You can also click Options to comment the sync task, enable email or SMS notification when sync finished or meet errors, run a specified program or script before syncing, etc. Then, Start Sync >> button to sync files to Google Drive.

Start Sync Files to Google Drive

Notes:
✔ Daily, Weekly, Monthly: It's the most suitable sync setting to sync files with cloud drives like Google Drive. And the fastest frequency is hourly.
✔ Event triggers: It is to sync files at specific events, such as, system shutdown, system startup, etc.
✔ USB plug in: It is only useful to copy files automatically when USB drive connected. So you don't need to connect it every time before the task start or keep it always connected. 

★ How to backup files to AOMEI Cloud

Apart from the cloud drives offered by third-party providers, you can also backup files to AOMEI Cloud. It offers you 1TB free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

AOMEI Cloud

Summing It Up

Whether you are currently meeting Google Drive not syncing all files or Google file stream not syncing problem, you can try the 11 ways to get out of the trouble or directly sync files or folders with professional file synchronization software - AOMEI Backupper Professional.

It helps you to easily sync files to Google Drive and always keep all files up to date. And it depends on the sync methods you choose, for Real-Time Sync, it will sync changes immediately, while for others, you can choose to sync files in daily, weekly, monthly, event triggers or USB plug in. 

Ivy
Ivy · Editor
Ivy is an editor of AOMEI Technology, she covers backup & restore,hard disk & partitions management and cloud files transfer and so on for AOMEI. She is an outgoing girl and enjoys helping people find solutions to their problems. She loves traveling, eating, reading and so on. She usually hangs out with friends at her leisure time.