Sync Network Folder to Google Drive Automatically (Freeware)
Quick navigation:
- Can I sync network folder with Google drive?
- Google Backup and Sync alternative - Qiling Disk Master Standard
- Step by step guide: sync network folder to Google Drive
- Summary
Can I sync network folder with Google drive?
You had previously used Google Photos Desktop Uploader to sync a network folder, but it's no longer working. You then tried Google Backup & Sync, but it only allows syncing of network folders in "Photos and Videos" mode, and even then, only while the folder is mounted on your computer, and not as a general sync location.
You can't directly sync a network drive or folder to Google Drive. However, you can use Google Drive's "Add a folder" feature to upload files from your network drive to Google Drive, and then set up a sync using a third-party tool like Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent Sync) or GoodSync. This way, you can keep your photos in sync between your NAS drive and Google Drive."
Google Backup and Sync, now Google Drive for desktop, does not have an option to sync non-media data from network attached storage devices, so an alternative file sync software should be used instead. If the error is related to backup mode, changing it to "Back up photos and videos" and then changing it back may resolve the issue.
In addition to the issues mentioned, you may encounter an "An invalid argument was supplied" error or find that the "Add to my drive" option is missing. The former can be resolved by downloading the Windows update KB4284848, specifically if your shared folder uses the SMBv1 protocol. Alternatively, you can use the "Shift + Z" shortcut to achieve the same effect. The "Add to my drive" option has been replaced with "Add shortcut".
Google Drive for desktop alternative - Qiling Disk Master Standard
Google Drive for desktop can be error-prone when syncing network folders, prompting users to seek alternative software. I recommend using Windows file sync software Qiling Disk Master Standard, which supports Windows 7 to 11 and effectively syncs network drive files to Google Drive, as well as syncing with Dropbox or OneDrive.
- Schedule sync network files or folders with Google Drive. Here are 5 options for you to sync files: daily, weekly, monthly, event triggers, and USB plug in, with the latter two options available on iling Disk Master Professional.Qiling Disk Master Professional.
- Many sync options. To enhance the sync task, consider clearly distinguishing it from other tasks, enabling email notifications to receive results easily, and creating pre-commands or post-commands to streamline the process. Additionally, take advantage of other available options to optimize the sync task's functionality.
- Other sync storage devices. You can sync files from a network or shared folder to an external hard drive, USB drive, another computer, or cloud storage services like Google Drive, among other options.
- Free and easy to use, even for beginners. This software has a clear interface and user-friendly design, allowing users to quickly understand its functionality.
Step by step guide: sync network folder to Google Drive
This software only works when your computer has Google Drive app installed and the user has signed in with their account, otherwise, please download and install the Google Drive app first.
Step 1. To use Qiling Disk Master Standard, download, install, and launch the software. Then, on the main page, click on "Backup and recovery" and subsequently on "File Sync".
More advanced ways to sync network folder to Google Drive:
>> “Real-time Sync": This feature can monitor the changes of files you were added in real-time and sync them immediately when detected. This is very useful for users who modify files frequently or teamwork purpose.
>> "Mirror Sync": With this feature, any newly added, modified and deleted files will be synchronized to destination while the newly added files in the destination will be deleted and changes will be undone.
>> "Two-Way Sync": This feature will track changes of your files in both the source and destination directory, then compare with the other side and sync changes to the other side.
Step 2. Add network folder to be synchronized.
To add a new folder, click on the "Add Folder" button.
Click "Share/NAS" and then select the mapped network drive from "This PC" if it's been mapped to the local computer.
To add a network drive, click "Add Network Location", enter the IP address, username, and password, and optionally a display name. The network drive will then appear under "Network Location", and can be accessed by double-clicking it and selecting either a network folder or a shared folder.
Tip: To share files with specific extensions, such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, .temp, .bak, and others, click the filter button and directly type the desired file extension. This feature is called "Filter settings" and is available in the Qiling Disk Master Professional version.
Step 3. Click the Inverted triangle and click "Select a cloud drive" .
To add Google Drive as a destination path, select Google Drive and click OK. This allows syncing to other services like OneDrive, Dropbox, etc., as long as they're installed on the desktop.
Step 4. To track changes of your files and schedule sync network drive files to Google Drive, click "Schedule Sync" and enable it, allowing you to sync files on a regular basis, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.
In the "Options", you can set up sync options, but note that the "File Sync" feature doesn't automatically sync deleted files, and you'll need to manually tick "Sync the deletions in source directory to destination" if desired.
Step 5. Click "Proceed" if everything is OK.
Notes:
◕ The software will no longer sync changed files or folders if the source folder name is changed.
◕ You can still sync a local folder to various cloud services, including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and more, in addition to syncing your network drive to Google Drive.
Summary
Syncing a network folder to Google Drive can be easily done with the help of Qiling Disk Master Standard, a Google Drive for desktop alternative. The process is straightforward and efficient, completed within 5 simple steps. Additionally, you can schedule regular syncs, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, and customize sync options like email notifications and comments.
This software provides robust features for data and system protection, including file backup, system backup, disk backup, incremental or differential backup, daily backup, creating bootable media, system restore, and more, making it a reliable Windows backup and restore tool.
If you have a Qiling account, you can back up files to Qiling Cloud, and if you don't want to lose any data, you can download the freeware to try it out.
Related Articles
- How to Automatically Sync Multiple Folders to Google Drive in Windows
- How to Sync Folder to Network Drive in Windows 7/8/10
- Backup/Sync Google Drive to External Hard Drive in Windows 10/8/7
- How to Sync Local Folder to Dropbox (2 Ways Included)
- Backup PC to Google Drive in Windows 10/8/7 for Free