Google Drive for Desktop: Making Files and Folders Online-Only

How to make files and folders backed up to your computer in Google Drive for Desktop for offline use online-only to free up hard disk space.

Google Drive for Desktop may try to make files available for offline access; unfortunately this uses up much more hard disk space when large files are involved.

Making Files and Folders Online-Only

1. Open Google Drive for Desktop
2. Open Google Drive Preferences by clicking the Google Drive icon and clicking Preferences.
3. To make all future files online-only: Click Google Drive, select the Stream files option, and click Save to restart Google Drive for Desktop
4. To make individual offline files and folders online-only:
   1. macOS: 
      1. Right-click the file or folder in Finder
      2. Click Make available online only
   2. Windows:
      1. Right-click the file or folder in File Explorer
      2. Click Show More Options
      3. Click Offline access
      4. Click Online only.

Need Help?

Please contact the ITS Helpdesk for assistance: go.carleton.edu/helpdesk or 507-222-5999