[Solved]: Google Drive Not Showing Up in File Explorer

Why Google Drive Is Not Showing Up in File Explorer?

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services, but sometimes it doesn't show up in File Explorer. There are several reasons why this may happen, including:

📤 Syncing Issues: If Google Drive is not syncing correctly, it might fail to appear in File Explorer.
⚙️ File Explorer Settings: Google Drive might be hidden due to specific settings in File Explorer.
🔧 Installation Issues: Sometimes, the Google Drive app doesn’t install properly or might get corrupted.
❌ Software Conflicts: Other cloud storage apps or security software might interfere with Google Drive’s visibility.

4 Ways to Fix Google Drive Is Not Showing Up in File Explorer

If your Google Drive is not showing up in File Explorer, don’t worry! Below are four tried-and-tested methods to resolve this issue. Each method comes with detailed steps. Select the one that best suits your needs.

Fix 1. Check Google Drive Sync Settings

One of the most common reasons Google Drive is no longer showing in File Explorer is that it’s not syncing properly with your computer. To fix this, you need to check the sync settings in Google Drive for Desktop. Follow these steps to ensure your settings are correct.

Step 1. Open Google Drive for Desktop on your computer. If you don’t see the Google Drive icon in the system tray, launch it from your Start menu.

Step 2. Right-click the Google Drive icon and select Preferences.

Step 3. Go to the Google Drive tab. You will see two options for syncing files. Select the one that best suits your needs:

• Stream files: This option allows you to access all your Google Drive files without downloading them to your computer. Files appear in File Explorer, but they are stored in the cloud.
• Mirror files: This option downloads your Google Drive files to your computer, allowing offline access. These files are fully synced with the cloud.

Step 4: Click Done to save your preferences and allow Google Drive to complete the sync process. Once the sync is complete, check if Google Drive now appears in File Explorer.

Fix 2. Check File Explorer Settings

Sometimes, your Google Drive is not showing up in File Explorer as it is hidden. Here's how to adjust the settings to ensure your Google Drive folder is visible:

Step 1. Open File Explorer.

Step 2. In the View tab, click Options, then select Change folder and search options.

Step 3. In the File Folder Options window, go to the View tab.

Step 4. Scroll down and make sure that Hide protected operating system files is unchecked. This will ensure File Explorer doesn’t hide essential folders like Google Drive.

Step 5. Click OK to save the changes and close the window.

Fix 3. Add Google Drive to Quick Access in File Explorer

If your Google Drive is still not showing up in File Explorer, adding it manually to the Quick Access section might help. This method is simple and can bring Google Drive back into view without changing too many settings.

Step 1. Open File Explorer.

Step 2. Navigate to: C:\Users\username\Google Drive.

Step 3. Find and right-click the Google Drive folder and select the Pin to Quick access option from the context menu. Then, you should see the Google Drive folder in File Explorer Quick Access.

Fix 4. Reinstall Google Drive 

If the previous methods didn’t work, it might be time to reinstall Google Drive. A fresh installation often fixes bugs or corruption that may prevent Google Drive from appearing in File Explorer. Follow these steps to reinstall it and add it to File Explorer:

Step 1. Download Google Drive from the official download page.

Step 2. Once the download is complete, double-click on “GoogleDriveSetup” and click Yes when prompted to start the installation process.

Step 3. During the installation, make sure to check the following options:

• Add an application shortcut to your Desktop
• Add desktop shortcuts to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Step 4. After the installation is complete, sign in to your Google Drive account. Then, open File Explorer and check if Google Drive appears in the left panel.

Bonus Tip: Recover Lost Google Drive Files

If you still can’t find your desired files after Google Drive shows up in File Explorer, your files may have been deleted or lost. While this can be frustrating, the good news is that you still have a chance to restore them. Google Drive offers built-in features that allow you to recover files, even if they were deleted or misplaced. In many cases, deleted files are stored in the Trash folder, making it easy to recover them within a certain period.

However, if the files aren’t in the Trash or have been permanently deleted, you can still recover them using third-party recovery tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. This tool provides a powerful solution for recovering lost files that may have been deleted due to syncing issues, crashes, or accidental deletions. With its professional and user-friendly interface, you can quickly scan your device to locate the lost data. In just one click, you can recover your valuable files.

Why Choose AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery
✔️ Supports various file formats, including documents, images, videos, emails, and more.
✔️ Recovers lost files from different devices like HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and more.
✔️ Helps recover files lost due to formatting, accidental deletion, system crashes, and other issues.
✔️ Allows you to preview files before recovery, so you can be sure you’re restoring the right data.
✔️ Fully compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8/8.1, and 7.

Here’s how to recover lost Google Drive files using AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery:

Step 1: Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery, then select the specific partition or disk where your Google Drive files are stored to scan.

Step 2: Scan the selected disk to locate the lost files. The tool offers two scanning modes: Quick Scan for a faster search, and Deep Scan for a more thorough recovery process.

Step 3: Once the scan is complete, the missing files will be displayed. Select the files you want to recover and click Recover. You can preview the files before recovery to ensure you’re restoring the correct ones.

Step 4: Choose a destination path to save the recovered files. It's recommended to save them to a different location to avoid overwriting any lost data.

Summary

In this post, we explored how to fix the issue of Google Drive not showing up in File Explorer. By following the methods above, you can easily restore its visibility. If you've lost any files during the process, don't worry! AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery can help you recover lost files with ease.