Every G Suite account comes with Google Drive, a cloud storage solution that makes it easy to securely back up your important files, as well as share them with others. This includes access to an app that allows you to sync files on your PC automatically.

If you have a Business account on G Suite, the app is called Google Drive File Stream.

Installation is a snap! Just go here: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/7329379 and click on the blue text titled “Download & install Drive File Stream“. Download and run the installer for your appropriate platform. Once started you’ll be greeted with a login page. Just sign into your @mdpweb.net account as normal. Google Drive File Stream does not work with a non-GSuite account.

Now that you’re signed in, your PC will gain a new virtual drive, labelled “Google Drive File Stream (G:)”. If G: is in use, it’ll switch to H: – or whatever is next available — though you can also change that drive letter in Settings. Until we write a KB article on the topic, you can always ask IT how.

Your G drive will have two folders: My Drive, and Shared drives (formerly known as Team drives). It’s recommended that you move any existing documents into My Drive, and start placing new documents or downloaded documents in the same. Doing so will automatically back up the files and any changes you make, as long as you have an internet connection.

You can sync any kind of file with Google Drive, including Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Microsoft Word documents. It’s just another drive! You will also see any Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides you’ve created as well. Double-clicking will open them in Chrome.

Tip: If you do not have Microsoft Office installed but still want to work with Excel sheets or Word docs, just right-click the file and select the option to Open with Google Drive. This will preview the document in the G Suite equivalent, and you can always click to Open with Google Docs/Sheets for native editing.