Unlike apps like Backup and Sync, Dropbox, or Box, Drive File Stream does not create a local folder that mirrors your Drive. It instead mounts a virtual drive on your computer that lists folders. Google Drive file Stream keeps flickering, preventing me from renaming Files I have a few probably-related problems with Google Drive File Stream While editing a document in the Stream in MS Office, and with the Show Hidden Files option enabled in Windows Explorer, the backup file keeps 'flickering' every few seconds, appearing and reappearing.
If you use Google Team Drives, you may already be familiar with the vast features and conveniences it offers for collaboration. However, some users may be uncomfortable transitioning to working primarily in a browser. Many mistakenly think they can only access their files with an internet connection. Drive File Stream allows users to sync their Team Drives and individual drives to their computer for convenient navigation and improved offline capabilities. With File Stream, users can navigate to their files as if they are connected locally through File Explorer or Finder.
Below, we go through the steps for setting up a File Stream Sync for your Google business account.
Prerequisites
- Before you begin, an Administrator at your company must enable File Stream for the company. If there are concerns about intellectual property, it is possible to limit File Stream only to certain devices.
- File Stream will not work on certain versions of Windows 7 and requires Mac OSX 10.11 (El Capitan) or higher. Make sure you run updates as needed, and we recommend upgrading to Windows 10 for security and compatibility.
- You must have administrator rights on the computer you wish to install on. If this is a company machine and you do not have local admin rights, contact your IT team to request this installation.
Download and run File Stream
First you will need to download the File Stream application. Follow the links below to start an automatic download.
For Mac: https://dl.google.com/drive-file-stream/googledrivefilestream.dmg
For Windows: https://dl.google.com/drive-file-stream/googledrivefilestream.exe
Frogger slot machine. Most browsers will display the downloaded files at the bottom which you can click to run. If not, go to your downloads folder and open the file DriveFileStream.dmg for Mac or DriveFileStream.exe for Windows.
Follow the installation prompts
First you will be asked to allow File Stream to make changes on your device. This requires administrator approval. (If it is a home computer, you most likely have the ability to do this by default.) Screenshot button windows 10.
You will receive a prompt allowing you to decide if you want any shortcuts installed. Check or uncheck any boxes you choose, and then click 'install'.
Android emulator for windows 8 1 32 bit. A quick installation process will begin and will finishe by saying File Stream was successfully installed.
Access your account with your work email credentials
You will then be prompted to sign into your Gmail account. Enter your email, password, and authentication code (if applicable).
File Stream will begin to sync your Team Drive files to be accessible through your computer. The time this will take will depend on how much data needs to sync and your internet connection.
Once the sync is complete, you can open your Google Drive folder from your computer. In the future, you can find Team Drives near your other drives such as the C: drive. If you have experience accessing a shared drive on a server in the past, this will look very similar to that.
Tips for using File Stream
Explore the added functionality granted with file sync. This gives you the ability to navigate to your online files and folders through any programs that use file explorer including Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Outlook.
You also have the ability to work offline. The default is for all files to be online only to save space and performance of your computer. We recommend only marking files for offline use on an as needed basis.
Using File Stream can have a major impact on adoption of Team Drives even for your more hesitant users. The more staff that are comfortable using this, the better collaboration and security for all.
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The latest version of macOS, called the Big Sur, was released very recently on November 12. However, Google Drive users are facing an issue after the update wherein they are unable to use the file stream feature.
As a result, several users have taken to the official Google Drive community forums complaining about the same.
Same problem – after downloading and installing the program, it says 'Drive File Stream requires your approval' and prompts me to Open System Preferences, but the section to allow it doesn't appear. I've uninstalled and redownloaded, added DFS to the 'Full Disk Access' section under the Privacy tab, and restarted the computer multiple times, but nothing has worked. I hope a solution is on the way!
Source
I have the same problem. I just got a new M1 MacBook Air. Installed File Stream last night. I can't seem to get the 'Allow' to show up. I have Google Drive checked for full disk access and files and folders, but I still get the same error message. Please help. I'm teaching remotely and use File Stream constantly.
Source
As clear from the above comments, users are getting a 'Drive File Stream requires your approval' prompt upon opening up the Google Drive app, soon after installation.
The prompt then directs users to System Preferences > Security & Privacy. However, within it, the option to grant the approval doesn't appear.
A screenshot of the prompt My external hard drive wont work.
Most users have already tried regular fixes like rebooting and reinstalling the application to no avail.
Now, it is quite likely that there is some sort of compatibility issue between Google Drive and Big Sur since the issue was non-existent previously on macOS Catalina.
However, Google did state that the issue is from the macOS' end and that they can do nothing about it. Or at least that's how a couple of users put it.
Exactly the same. After Live Chat with Google Support, cleaning caches etc., they said it was an Apple issue, so I need to contact them. Switched to ODrive for the moment. Whilst I prefer File Stream, at least ODrive works!
Source
.jpg "Drive File Stream Gmail")
I am having the same issue. I spoke to support and Google says they do not have a solution for it yet. This is a serious issue as we use Business Drive across our organization. The solutions online are not effective either.
Source Gibbous.
If you are one of the users facing the same, then we got a workaround for you to try.
Workarounds for the Google Drive file stream issue on macOS Big Sur
Workaround #1: There is a fix for the same listed on GitHub by user 'mtan93':
Step One: Launch Terminal
Step Two: Run in terminal
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mtan93/googledrivefilestream-bigsur/master/fix-bs-filestream.sh -o ~/fix-bs-filestream.sh && chmod +x ~/fix-bs-filestream.sh
Step Three: Run the script in terminal by pasting ~/fix-bs-filestream.sh
Step Four: Then allow the dfsfuse kext under System Preferences > Security & Privacy and reboot your Mac.
Step Five: Run the script again by pasting ~/fix-bs-filestream.sh
It is important to note here though, that this workaround doesn't work on the latest M1-powered Macs and with Drive File Stream Version: 41.0.2.0+.
Workaround #2: Alternatively, you can also try the following:
Ya'll Try going to Security and Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access AND Files and Folders. Unlock the lock in the corner. Check box Google Drive File Stream and it will quit and restart Google Drive.
Drive File Stream Gmail Settings
Workaround #3: If none of the above worked for you, then you may try a different application with a similar functionality called 'odrive' for now. Check it out from this link.
Google Drive File Stream Deploy
That being said, let us know in the comments below if the above workarounds fixed the Google Drive file stream issue on macOS Big Sur. Hopefully, Google/Apple would address the problem and provide a fix soon.
Drive File Stream Download
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