How do I know if Google Drive is synching?

The first time that you sync your files with Google Drive can be a doozy. This is especially true if you are a web developer or graphic designer who likely has tons of smaller files nested within your shared folder. While each file, may upload quickly the system has to check each individual file for changes and then upload them individually, which really slows down the upload process.

The Solution

Exit out of Google Drive on your local computer if it is running; you will re-enable it once the files are in their proper locations. Then, group your files into separate zip files and then upload them to your drive manually before you start the syncing process. For example, I zip my files in my WAMP directory one website or app at a time. This helps to consolidate things like giant JavaScript libraries while maintaining an easy-to-organize file structure.

Unzip!

Once the files upload, simply unzip them right in the Google Drive online interface. To unzip files, you just need to add an app that can process zip files.

Add an app to Google Drive

Click the + symbol in the upper left corner and then go to More > Connect More Apps. Then choose an app like Zip Extractor, or another app that has good reviews. Once you add the app and grant permissions, you will then be able to right click on zip files and extract them right in your browser.

Reorganize the files

Make sure to move the zipped files into their proper locations within your Google Drive folder so that the system can match them up with your local files. The end goal is to have matching files and folders in both your local and remote Google Drive folders before you tell it to sync. Then, turn on Google Sync and let it match things up! In my tests, this reduced the sync time by over 50%, but keep in mind that this works best if you have a large number of small files, as most website developers, application developers and graphic designers do.

About Valier

Valier (pronounced Va-leer) is a boutique graphic design and website development studio focused on creating unique projects for unique clients. We work with companies and individuals that are pushing the boundaries within their industry and are looking for a partner in media development that can inject life and creativity into their marketing presence. With over 10 years of experience in the graphic design and website development industries, Merritt Lentz (Founder), has a proven track record of producing successful and innovative projects for a wide variety of clients ranging from artists and ski companies to government agencies and payment processing companies. Regardless of the size or complexity of your vision, we will help you hone in on a digital actualization of that vision and deliver a product that is rich and captivating.