17 Ways to Fix Google Drive Not Working on Windows 11

Both in terms of versatility and efficiency, Google Drive is ahead of the curve as a cloud service. Deeply integrated with the Google suite, it provides seamless syncing across devices. Regardless of whether you are daily driving a Mac, rocking an Android device, or making the most of a Windows device, it’s got you fully checked off – thanks to the cross-platform compatibility. For all the praise, it doesn’t always work on the expected lines, failing to either sync your files, getting into a crashing loop, or refusing to load up your synced files. But why lose sleep over it? I’ve already gone through the issue to jot down the 17 reliable ways to fix Google Drive not working on Windows 11. Read on to…

Fix Google Drive Not Working on Windows 11

So, what has derailed the Google Drive and made it misbehave? When up against this frustrating problem, you need to keep in mind both the usual suspects and the ones that are a little under wraps.

While roadblocks like the sluggish internet connection and the botched-up settings are the frontrunners, you need to keep a close eye on the hurdles like the cluttered storage, and conflitcting elements as well. On this very note, let’s have a detailed look at all the culprits that never miss a chance to invoke this problem:

• Internet issue
• Outdated app
• Sync disabled
• Corrupt cache
• Firewall block
• Storage full
• Account issue
• Conflicting apps
• Permissions error
• Windows update

1. Restart Google Drive

To get going, I would recommend you restart the Google Drive app as it can let you clear temporary glitches.

1. To get going, click on the Google Drive icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar) > choose the gear (Settings) icon.
2. After that, select Quit Google Drive to close the app.
3. Then, relaunch Google Drive from the Start menu and check if syncing resumes.

2. Restart Your PC

If your PC or the Google Drive app is faced with a random software glitch, a quick restart may be more than handy in getting rid of the problem and restoring the full functionality of the cloud service.

1. Click on the Start button > select Power > Restart.
2. After your Windows device has rebooted, open Google Drive and check if syncing works.

3. Check Internet Connection

It’s no secret that Google Drive requires a strong and stable internet connection to sync files. If your connection is slow or unstable, the syncing process may get stuck or fail.

1. To do so, launch a web browser and check if other websites are loading properly.
2. If the connection is slow, turn off/on Wi-Fi.
3. If need be, make sure to restart your router and try again.
4. Should the problem persist, try connecting to a different network or use a wired connection for better stability.

4. Disable VPN/Proxy

Are you using a VPN or proxy on your PC? If the answer is yes, be sure to disable it temporarily as it may be interfering with Drive’s sync process.

• On your PC, go to the Settings app > Network & internet > VPN/Proxy and turn it off.

5. Change Proxy Settings

Wrongly configured proxy settings might be conflicting with Google Drive’s ability to connect to the internet. Therefore, it would be a good idea to fine-tune the proxy settings.

1. To begin with, click the Google Drive icon in the system tray > navigate to Preferences > Network Settings.
2. After that, choose the Direct connection instead of the Auto-detect proxy.
3. Next, click Apply and restart Google Drive.

6. Run Google Drive as Administrator

Ensure that Google Drive has all the necessary permissions to sync files correctly. Running the app as an administrator can help you bypass such restrictions.

1. First off, close Google Drive on your PC.
2. After that, click the Start menu > search for Google Drive and right-click on it.
3. Then, choose Run as administrator and check if syncing resumes.

7. Pause and Resume Syncing

For times when Google Drive is stuck while syncing, pausing and resuming it often works in flushing out the glitches.

1. On your Windows device, click the Google Drive icon in the system tray > head over to Settings (gear icon) and select Pause syncing.
2. After that, wait for a few seconds and then click Resume Syncing.

8. Reset Your Network

Should Google Drive continue to ill-function, it would be wrong to put the blame on the network glitches.

• On your Windows 11 device, dive into the Settings app > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
• Choose “Network reset” > Proceed to reset the entire network settings and set them up from scratch.

9. Check Google Drive Storage

Needless to mention Google Drive has a storage limit. Hence, if you ever exceed the limited storage, your new files won’t sync.

1. On your Windows device, launch a browser and visit Google Drive.
2. Now, check the storage usage at the bottom-left corner.
3. If your storage is full, delete redundant files or upgrade your storage plan.

10. Verify Sync Preferences

Google Drive offers the flexibility to choose the desired folders that you would like to sync. Thus, ensure that your folders have been set to sync with the cloud service.

1. Simply, click on the Google Drive icon and navigate to Preferences.
2. Under My Computer, check if the necessary folders are selected for syncing.
3. If they aren’t, select them and click Save.

11. Sign Out and Sign In Again

It’s worth pointing out that in certain cases account-related issues can cause Google Drive to stop syncing. Signing out and signing back in can refresh your session.

1. Click the Google Drive icon in the system tray.
2. Go to Settings > Preferences > Disconnect account.
3. Sign back in with your Google credentials and check if the syncing resumes.

12. Check for File Syncing Errors

If Google Drive is unable to sync certain files, it might be due to an error, such as an unsupported file type or a name conflict.

1. Click the Google Drive icon and look for any error messages.
2. If you see a specific file that won’t sync, try renaming it (avoid special characters like # % & *).
3. If the file is too large, consider compressing it before syncing.

13. Update Google Drive

Running an outdated version of Google Drive can lead to sync failures. Updating the app ensures you have the latest bug fixes.

1. Open Google Drive settings in the system tray.
2. Check for an update or download the latest version from Google Drive’s official site.
3. Install the latest version and restart your PC.

14. Disable Windows Firewall and Antivirus Temporarily

Your greedy security software could also be equally responsible for preventing Google Drive from syncing. So, temporarily disabling the security shield may help you determine if it’s causing the issue.

1. Fire up the Windows Security on your PC by pressing Win + I and navigating to Privacy & security > Windows Security.
2. Now, click Firewall & network protection and turn off Microsoft Defender Firewall for the active network.
3. Just in case you are using a third-party antivirus, disable it and check if Google Drive syncs.

15. Clear Google Drive Cache

Can’t yet bring the Google Drive app back on track? No worries! Now is the right time to eliminate the entire cluster of the corrupted cache as it could be hindering Google Drive from syncing properly.

1. Launch the File Explorer on your PC and go to:C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Google\DriveFS
2. Now, you need to delete all files inside the DriveFS folder.
3. Restart Google Drive and check if it starts syncing.

16. Reinstall Google Drive

If Google Drive is still not syncing, a complete reset by reinstalling the app can fix any corrupted settings.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings and go to Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find Google Drive, click Uninstall, and follow the prompts.
3. Restart your PC, reinstall Google Drive from the official site, and set up sync again.

17. Check Windows Updates

If the outdated Windows version is causing the app compatibility issues, updating the software will likely resolve them.

1. To update your PC, press Win + I to open Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates.
2. Next, you have to install any available updates and restart your PC.

Wrapping up…

There you have it! I guess these tips have eventually worked in bringing life back to Google Drive and the ever-relaible seamless syncing it’s well-known for. Now, be sure to share your invaluable feedback and the hacks that have clicked for you in restoring this cloud service.