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3 Ways to Fix Google Drive Not Starting on Startup (Windows and Mac)

Quick Tips
  • A restart can often resolve temporary glitches.
  • Ensure Google Drive is set to launch at startup in your system settings.
  • Ensure Google Drive has the necessary permissions to access files and folders.

Preliminary Fixes

  • Restart your computer: A restart clears the system cache, refreshes the operating system, and can eliminate any temporary glitches or conflicts preventing Google Drive from launching properly.
  • Check internet connection: Google Drive needs a stable internet connection to function properly.
  • Reinstall Google Drive: Reinstalling Google Drive can often resolve issues related to the application not starting on startup. To reinstall Google Drive, begin by uninstalling the existing version from your computer and downloading the latest one.

Fix 1: Enable Google Drive to Launch on Startup

On Windows

Step 1: Open the Settings app on Windows.

Step 2: Go to the Apps menu > select Startup from the following menu.

Startup menu

Step 4: Ensure the Google Drive toggle is enabled.

Enable google drive at startup

On Mac

Step 1: Right-click on the Google Drive app icon and select Options.

Step 2: Click on Open at login, and the app should sync files during startup.

Open drive at login on mac

This should fix the issue of not starting up on startup.

2. Make Changes From Google Drive Preferences

Note: The steps are the same for both Windows and Mac. However, for the demonstration, we will go with Windows.

Step 1: Click on the up arrow from the Windows taskbar.

Step 2: Right-click on the Drive icon and select the Settings icon.

Step 3: Open the Preferences menu.

Open drive preferences on windows

Step 4: Select Google Drive settings.

Step 5: Scroll down and enable Launch Google Drive on the system startup menu.

Launch drive on startup on windows

Fix 3: Manually Sync Google Drive Files

Note: The steps are the same for both Windows and Mac.

Step 1: Find Google Drive on the taskbar and click on it.

Step 2: Select the Settings icon.

Step 3: Click on Pause syncing and resume the service after a while.

Pause syncing on windows

After that, Google Drive should sync the latest files. If you are still experiencing the issue of Drive not starting on startup, use the Drive web to find and download files on a PC or Mac.

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Last updated on 20 August, 2024

5 Comments

  1. I have also tried all of these steps for Windows and Google Drive does not automatically start upon start-up. Very annoying.

  2. Basically, the same here. I tried all the “fixes” here and none worked for me.
    Sometimes Google drive starts, and I can see it in the “This PC” list of drives. Then later, when I look for it, or an app tries to access the G:\ drive, it’s gone.

  3. Found this from Microsoft:

    1. Select the Start button and scroll to find the app you want to run at startup.

    2. Right-click the app, select More, and then select Open file location. This opens the location where the shortcut to the app is saved. If there isn’t an option for Open file location, it means the app can’t run at startup.

    3. With the file location open, press the Windows logo key + R, type shell:startup, then select OK. This opens the Startup folder.

    4. Copy and paste the shortcut to the app from the file location to the Startup folder

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