The Google Backup and Sync app is available for download on your Mac. We show you how to easily make a copy of your most important files.
This is how Google backup and synchronization works
The release of Google’s Backup and Sync app was recently delayed, but now you can get started with the handy application. The app is available for your Mac (Book) and makes a backup of your most important data. Think of images, documents and files that you have on your desktop.
Your documents and photos are stored in Google Drive and Google Photos, so they are safe in the cloud and you don’t lose them. Handy if something happens to your MacBook, or if you want to sell your computer and therefore empty it. In the steps below we explain exactly how the application works.
- If you want to download your data in Google Drive or Photos, make sure you install the app first. This can be done via this link (or this one for Google Photos);
- Install the application, after which a new icon will appear at the top of the menu bar. Tap this and open the options (buttons with the three dots);
- Choose ‘Preferences’;
- You can then indicate which data (images, desktop or documents) you want to back up. Next to each folder you can see how many MBs or GBs of data you store in Google’s cloud;
- Click ‘OK’ at the bottom to confirm your choices, after which Backup and Synchronization will automatically start to back up your data.
Synchronize SD cards or USB devices
It is also possible to synchronize an SD card or USB device with Google’s app. This is useful if you often connect a camera to your computer to transfer photos. Go through the following steps:
- Click the Backup and sync button in the menu bar of your Mac;
- Tap the button with the three dots and then ‘Preferences’;
- In the menu at the bottom, click on ‘USB devices and SD cards’;
- Then choose your camera (or phone) to back up the files.
More about Backup and Sync
Good to know is that you don’t need a Mac to use the app, as it is also available for Windows PCs. You can also check how much free storage space you still have in Google Drive via the button in the menu bar. By default you get 15GB of storage space with Drive, although you can go through this page buy additional storage.
So Google Backup and Sync is an easy way to quickly back up your documents and photos. By the way, Apple also has its own backup tool in the form of Time Machine. With this you can easily make a backup of your entire Mac (Book).