How Do I Remove Google Drive from My PC Completely

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Close-up of a hand holding an external hard drive over a laptop keyboard.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of a hand holding an external hard drive over a laptop keyboard.

Removing Google Drive from your PC can be a bit of a challenge, but it's definitely doable.

To start, you need to uninstall the Google Drive app from your PC. According to the article, you can do this by going to the Control Panel, clicking on "Programs and Features", and then selecting Google Drive from the list of installed programs.

Uninstalling the app will remove it from your PC, but it won't delete any files you've synced to Google Drive. You'll need to take care of that in the next step.

The article explains that you can delete your Google Drive files by going to the Google Drive website, selecting the files you want to delete, and then clicking the "Delete" button.

After you've deleted your files, you can remove the Google Drive folder from your PC by going to the folder location and deleting it. This will remove any remaining files and folders associated with Google Drive.

This will effectively remove Google Drive from your PC.

Removing Google Drive from PC

Credit: youtube.com, How to Remove Google Drive from Laptop and PC | Delete Google Drive from Desktop

Removing Google Drive from your PC is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. To start, you'll need to uninstall the Google Drive app from your computer, which can be done by going to Settings (using the Win + I shortcut) and browsing to Apps > Apps & features on Windows 10, or Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11.

First, find Google Drive in the list and click on it, then select Uninstall. If you get an error that Google Drive is still performing operations, quit the app by clicking its icon in your System Tray and then clicking Quit in the resulting menu.

Your Google Drive folder will stick around on your computer, but it's cut off from your account after uninstalling the app. You can also delete the Google Drive folder from your PC, but this won't affect the copies of your files in the cloud.

Removing from PC

Credit: youtube.com, How to uninstall Google Drive on Windows 10, 11 | You must quit the program before uninstalling

To remove Google Drive from Windows, you'll just need to uninstall it like any other program.

You can find Google Drive in the Apps & features section of your Settings, or under Installed apps if you're using Windows 11.

Click on Google Drive, then Uninstall, and walk through the steps to remove it from your computer.

Your Google Drive folder will stick around, but it's cut off from your account.

If you get an error that Google Drive is still performing operations, quit Google Drive before uninstalling it.

You can quit Google Drive by clicking its icon in your System Tray and then clicking the Settings cog in the resulting menu.

In the dialog box, click Quit to stop Google Drive from running.

Once you've uninstalled Google Drive, you'll need to reinstall it if you want to start syncing files to this computer again.

You can also remove the Google Drive folder from your computer without removing everything from Google Drive.

This means the Google Drive folder, including its files and folders, will remain on your computer unless you remove it.

Completely from

Credit: youtube.com, Sign Out and Quit Drive for Desktop | Remove Google Account From Google Drive File Stream

Removing Google Drive from your PC can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, I've got you covered. Moving the installed Google Drive app to the Trash can't uninstall it entirely from your PC.

You can't simply delete the Google Drive app from your PC's hard drive to free up storage space, it requires further steps to delete all Google Drive support and cache files.

Using an app uninstaller like iBoysoft MagicMenu can save you a lot of time going through different folders to find all Google Drive support files.

The Easiest Way

Removing Google Drive from your PC can be a bit of a process, but don't worry, I've got you covered. You need to sign in to the Google Drive system and reconnect from the system to remove Google Drive from PC.

If you're uninstalling Google Drive, note that it doesn't delete your existing files, so you can delete or move them as needed after uninstalling, which won't affect the copies in the cloud.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Uninstall Google Drive

You can remove the Google Drive folder from PC easily without removing everything from Google Drive after you've uninstalled the Google Drive from Mac. The Google Drive folder, including its files and folders, will remain on your computer unless you remove it.

If you're worried about accidentally deleting important files or find the process too complicated, consider using an app uninstaller like iBoysoft MagicMenu to remove residual files easily.

Removing the Google Drive app prevents your files from syncing with the cloud, but it doesn't delete your existing files.

Part 1: Why from PC

If you're wondering why you'd want to remove Google Drive from your PC, there are a few valid reasons.

You might be selling your laptop, in which case removing Google Drive is a good idea. This ensures that the new owner doesn't have access to your personal files.

Alternatively, you might be handing over your computer to someone else for extended use. Removing Google Drive is a thoughtful gesture to protect their data and prevent any potential conflicts.

Sometimes, you might need to reinstall Google Drive to fix a bug or issue. Removing it first is a necessary step in the process.

Backup and Sync Options

Credit: youtube.com, How to Unsync a Google Drive Folder (Windows)

If you still have the older Backup and Sync app on your computer, you'll need to update to the modern Google Drive app for best results.

The modern Google Drive app has combined all past Google Drive desktop functionality into one app, so it's worth making the switch.

To uninstall Backup and Sync, you'll need to first update to the Google Drive app, and then follow the uninstallation steps specific to your operating system.

How to Transfer from PC

Transferring data from your PC to another device is a straightforward process that can be done using cloud services.

Google Drive allows you to transfer files from your PC to your Google account, which can then be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

Cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox offer automatic syncing, so you can access your files from any device.

To transfer files from your PC to your Google Drive account, simply drag and drop the files into the Google Drive folder on your PC.

You can also use the Google Drive website to upload files from your PC to your Google Drive account.

Backup and Sync

Credit: youtube.com, How To Use Google Backup And Sync

The Google Drive app has undergone some changes over the years. It was originally called Google Drive, but in 2017, Google changed its name to Backup and Sync, though it retained most of the same functionality.

If you still have the older Backup and Sync app on your computer, you might need to update to the modern Google Drive app for best results. This is because the steps to uninstall Backup and Sync might be different.

You can identify the Google Drive icon in your menu bar, but on a Mac, it won't have any colors. If you don't see this icon, Google Drive isn't running.

To run Google Drive on Windows, press the Windows key and type "Google Drive", followed by Enter. On a Mac, you can press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight, then type "Google Drive" followed by Return to launch it.

Managing Your Photos

Managing your Google Drive photos is essential for several reasons, including freeing up valuable storage space.

Credit: youtube.com, Don't Use Google For Photo Backup!

Removing unnecessary photos can take up to several gigabytes of space, which can be significant if you're running low on storage.

Organizing your files is crucial for finding what you need quickly, and keeping your digital files tidy makes a big difference.

A clutter-free Google Drive can even enhance the performance of the platform, making it faster and more efficient.

Here are the main reasons to manage your Google Drive photos:

  • Free up space
  • Organize your files
  • Protect your privacy and security
  • Improve performance

Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen if I uninstall my Google Drive?

Uninstalling Google Drive removes the app from your phone, but your files remain accessible online. You can still access them on another device or reinstall the app later

How do I unlink my account from Google Drive?

To unlink your account from Google Drive, go to your "My Info" page and deselect the Google Drive connection in the "Google Account" section. This will stop the Proofed app from accessing your Google Drive account.

Judith Lang

Senior Assigning Editor

Judith Lang is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a passion for curating engaging content for readers. With a keen eye for detail, she has successfully managed a wide range of article categories, from technology and software to education and career development. Judith's expertise lies in assigning and editing articles that cater to the needs of modern professionals, providing them with valuable insights and knowledge to stay ahead in their fields.

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