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Using a USB drive to sync Google Drive can be a game-changer for those with limited internet access or large files to share.
You can use a USB drive to sync Google Drive files, but you'll need to first set up Google Drive's offline access feature. This allows you to access and sync files on your USB drive even without an internet connection.
Google Drive's offline access feature can be enabled on both desktop and mobile devices, making it easy to stay productive on the go.
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Backup Options
You've got several options when it comes to backing up your USB drive to Google Drive. One of the simplest methods is using specialized backup software like EaseUS Todo Backup, which offers a simple interface and multiple features.
EaseUS Todo Backup allows you to back up data to external hard drives, NAS, network, and cloud, and provides 250GB of free cloud storage space. It also enables you to create full, differential, and incremental backups, clone a hard drive, and image a hard drive.
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You can also use Google Drive for Desktop to sync your USB drive with Google Drive. This application allows you to add folders from your USB drive and sync them with Google Drive, providing remote accessibility and convenience.
Backing Up Benefits
Backing up your data is essential, and backing up to Google Drive offers numerous benefits. You can access your data from anywhere with an internet connection, making it incredibly convenient.
Remote accessibility is one of the biggest advantages of backing up to Google Drive. You can log into your account from any device and retrieve your files instantly.
Hardware failures and accidents can happen at any time, but backing up to Google Drive introduces redundancy into your data storage strategy. This means multiple copies of your files are stored across various servers and data centers, ensuring your data is secure.
Data preservation and recovery are also crucial benefits of backing up to Google Drive. With the "version history" feature, you can recover previous versions of your files in case of accidental deletions, formatting errors, or corruption.
Backing up to Google Drive makes file sharing and collaboration effortless. You can share files and folders with others using secure links or by granting them access directly.
Automatic backups give you peace of mind, knowing your files are consistently backed up without requiring constant attention. You can set up automatic backup schedules using tools like Google Drive's desktop application or USB backup software.
Backup Options
You can choose from various backup options to ensure your data's safety.
EaseUS Todo Backup offers a high level of effectiveness and is less time-consuming. It also provides a simple interface and multiple features, including the ability to back up data to external hard drives, NAS, network, and cloud.
Google Drive for Desktop is another option, which is also high in effectiveness and less time-consuming. It allows you to sync your USB drive to Google Drive and access your files from anywhere.
Manual upload to Google Drive is a low-effectiveness option that requires more time and effort. It's not the most efficient method, but it can still get the job done.
Here are some key features to consider when choosing a backup option:
EaseUS Todo Backup allows you to encrypt the backup with a password in Backup Options, which adds an extra layer of security to your data.
With Google Drive for Desktop, you can choose to back up your data to a third-party cloud drive, giving you more flexibility in your backup strategy.
Method 1: Backup to USB
To backup your Google Drive to a USB drive, you can use Drive for Desktop, an official desktop program provided by Google Drive. This program allows you to sync data from external devices to Google Drive directly.
First, download and install Drive for Desktop on your computer and sign into your Google Drive account. Make sure your USB drive is connected to your computer and detected.
Next, click the Open Preferences button in the pop-up window that appears. Then, tick the Add folder button in your Google Drive and select your USB folder.
Finally, tick the Sync with Google Drive option, and you're done.
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Method 2: Mounting Google Drive
You can mount Google Drive as a physical device using various options. RaiDrive is one of them, allowing you to access Google Drive and other cloud storage services as a USB device.
RaiDrive has a few quirks, though. It can only access and read certain services, like AWS and Box, if you pay for their higher-tier plans.
The basic free plan only supports a limited number of writable drives, including Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Everything else is read-only, and it comes with advertising.
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Apps to Mount
There are three options that can allow you to "mount" a Google Drive as if it were a network-accessible storage device.
One of the options is called RaiDrive, which allows you to mount any of a wide array of cloud storage options, including Google Drive, as a USB device on your computer.
RaiDrive has a few quirks, though - only a smaller number of these services are fully accessible, and some require a higher-tier plan to use.
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The basic free plan of RaiDrive only supports a limited number of writable drives, including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Naver, Google Photos, FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV.
The paid version of RaiDrive has no advertising and is quite cheap, with the cheapest plan allowing mounting Google Drive as a physical device for $2.84 per month.
Way 2 Files
Google Drive for Desktop is a convenient application that allows you to sync files between your computer and Google Drive. It's an official desktop program provided by Google Drive.
You can use it to sync data from external devices to Google Drive directly. This application is available for download and installation on your computer.
To sync files on Google Drive, you need to select the folders you want to sync between your computer and Google Drive. This can be done by following the steps outlined in the user guide.
Google Drive for Desktop will automatically sync the files to your Google Drive, even if you're offline. This means you can access your files from anywhere, at any time.
To get started, you'll need to download and install Google Drive for Desktop on your computer and sign into your Google Drive account.
Method 3: Alternative Approaches
If you're looking for alternative approaches to syncing your Google Drive with a USB drive, consider using a third-party app like MultCloud, which supports Google Drive and can be used to sync files between devices.
You can also use the Google Drive desktop app, which allows you to sync files directly from your computer to your Google Drive account.
While this method requires more setup than using a USB drive, it's a reliable option for syncing files between devices.
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Way 3
You can use AOMEI Backupper Standard, a well-functioning software, to sync your USB drive with Google Drive. This software is a great alternative to other methods.
It's free to download and install, and you can get started right away.
Just make sure your USB device is connected to your computer and can be detected before you begin.
If you're looking for a hassle-free experience, AOMEI Backupper Standard is a great option.
Here are the steps to use it:
1. Download and install AOMEI Backupper on your computer.
2. Connect your USB device to your computer and ensure it's detected.
With AOMEI Backupper Standard, you can easily sync your USB drive with Google Drive and access your files from anywhere.
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Option 2: Raid
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RaiDrive is another storage concept that allows you to mount cloud storage options as a USB device on your computer. It's named after the concept of a RAID array, but don't worry about that if you're not familiar with it.
You can access a wide array of cloud storage options with RaiDrive, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Naver, MEGA, and AWS S3. However, only a smaller number of these services are fully accessible, and some require higher-tier plans to use.
Google Drive is one of the services that's fully accessible, so you don't need to worry about that. But if you want to use AWS or Box instead, you'll need to pay for their higher-tier plans.
RaiDrive also has a handful of free options, but they come with some limitations. The basic free plan only supports a limited number of cloud storage options as writable drives.
The free options are mostly read-only, and to make matters worse, they're supported by adding advertising to your feeds. This is why I wouldn't recommend the free version.
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However, there's a catch: if you're an accredited educational institution, you might be eligible for free options with more flexibility. Just be prepared to prove it.
For everyone else, you'll need to opt for a paid version. Fortunately, the paid versions have no advertising, and they're quite cheap. The cheapest plan that allows mounting Google Drive as a physical device is only $2.84 per month.
Sources
- https://www.easeus.com/backup-utility/backup-usb-to-google-drive.html
- https://www.minitool.com/news/backup-usb-to-google-drive.html
- https://filerev.com/blog/google-drive-usb-drive/
- https://www.ubackup.com/synchronization/sync-usb-with-google-drive.html
- https://www.syncdocs.com/2011/08/sync-google-drive-from-a-usb-flash-drive/
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