Fix Google Drive Not Starting On Startup on Mac & Windows

Here's the guide to fix google drive not starting automatically on Startup in MacOS & Windows. Alternate ways to enable Google Drive Desktop.

After you install the Google Drive for Desktop app on your Mac or Windows PC, sometimes it doesn’t start up automatically at system startup. Due to this, your Google Drive and Backup folders don’t sync with Google Drive online. There are five methods to solve this problem on Mac and Windows.

All five methods are explained in detail with screenshots in this article. 

Enable/Disable Google Drive at Startup on Mac

Method 1. From Google Drive Preferences

Step 1. Use the Google Drive icon in the Menu Bar to start/stop the Google Drive from launching on system startup on Mac. (if not Showing, then Open the Google Drive app, Command + Space > Type Google Drive & Open).

open-google-drive-on-mac
open-google-drive-on-mac

Click on the Settings gear icon under the Google Drive Shortcut menu icon.

google-drive-preferences-settings-on-mac
google-drive-preferences-settings-on-mac

It is the main menu to access almost all settings for Google Drive on Desktop. Click on the Drive icon to see a popup window. Then click on the Gear icon in the upper right corner and select Preferences. 

Step 2. A Google Drive Preferences window with many customization settings for Google Drive accounts will open. Now go to Settings by clicking the Gear icon at the top right corner. 

google-account-settings-in-google-drive-mac
google-account-settings-in-google-drive-mac

Step 3. On the Settings page, scroll down under the account settings until you see the Launch Google Drive on system startup option.

launch-google-drive-on-system-startup-on-mac
launch-google-drive-on-system-startup-on-mac

Check/uncheck this option to start/stop launching Google Drive at the system startup > Done to Save the changes.  

Method 2. From System Preferences/Settings

Steps to enable/disable Google Drive at system startup for macOS Montenery or Earlier versions and macOS Ventura are explained separately below. If you don’t know which version of macOS you are running, see How to Check Which Version of macOS You’re Using on Mac.

For macOS Ventura

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of the Menu Bar. Select System Settings in the drop-down menu that appears. 

System Settings on Mac
System Settings on Mac

Step 2. In the System Settings window, click on the General tab in the left side panel. Next, select Login Items from the list on the right side under General. 

login-items-on-mac
login-items-on-mac

Step 3. Here, apps that open at login and are allowed in the Background are separately listed in the right side panel. Apps listed under Open at Login start up automatically when you log in. You may add/remove more apps/items here to start them up at login. Click on the + symbol at the bottom of the Open at Login list, and a Finder-like window will open. 

click-on-add-button-for-google-drive
click-on-add-button-for-google-drive

Step 4. Select Google Drive from the list in the Applications tab in the left-side panel. Then click on the Open button at the bottom right corner or press Return on your keyboard. So the Google Drive app will come to the Open at Login items list. So from now on, when you start your computer, the Google Drive app will launch automatically at login.

Or Search with the Google Drive app name,

select-and-add-google-drive-to-startup-login-items-on-mac
select-and-add-google-drive-to-startup-login-items-on-mac

You may choose the – symbol/button after clicking on Google Drive in the Open at Login list to remove it from the list.

For macOS Montenery or earlier 

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of the Menu Bar. Select System Preferences in the drop-down menu that appears. 

Step 2. In the System Preferences window, click on the Users & Groups icon. 

Step 3. Here, all the user, group, and login-related settings are found. Now click on the Login Items tab in the right side panel, and a list of apps will appear. These are those apps that start up automatically when you login. You may add/remove more apps/items to start them up at login. Here, click on the + symbol at the bottom of the panel, and a Finder-like window will open. 

Step 4. Select Google Drive from the Applications tab in the left-side panel. Then click on the Add button at the bottom right corner or press Return on your keyboard. So the Google Drive app will come to the Login items list. So from now on, when you start your computer, the Google Drive app will launch automatically at login.

You may choose the – symbol/button after clicking on Google Drive in the list to remove it from the startup items list.

Enable/Disable Google Drive at Startup on Windows

Method 1. From Google Drive Icon in the Taskbar

Step 1. To stop the Google Drive launch on system startup on Windows, use the Google Drive icon in the Taskbar the same way you do it on Mac. Click on the Drive icon in the Taskbar to see the popup window. Then click on the Gear icon in the upper right corner and select Preferences

Step 2. A Google Drive Preferences window will open. Like Mac, go to Settings by clicking the Gear icon at the top right corner. 

Step 3. On the Settings page, scroll down under the account settings until you see the Launch Google Drive on system startup option. Check/uncheck this option to start/stop Google Drive from launching at the system startup. 

Method 2. From Startup Apps in Settings

Step 1. Firstly, click on the Windows icon in the Taskbar and select Settings under Pinned in the popup window. Type settings in the search bar if you find it difficult to locate Settings. 

Step 2. In the Settings window, click on the Apps tab in the left side panel. And then, select the Startup option at the bottom in the right side panel, and a new page with a list of apps will appear. 

Step 3. Here, all apps installed on your computer appear in a list. Slide/click on the button beside the Google Drive app icon to On/Off to enable/disable it from launching at startup. So, Google Drive will launch at startup the next time you start your computer and log in. 

You can also do it with other apps on the list for Open items automatically when you log in on Mac

Method 3. From Startup Apps in Task Manager

Step 1. Click on the search icon in the Taskbar and type ‘task manager’ in the search bar inside the popup window. You will see the Task Manager app in the search results under the Best match title. Click on it to open the Task Manager app. Task Manager allows you to manage apps and processes running on your computer.

Step 2. Now, click on the Startup tab in the window to see a list of apps. Here, click on the Google Drive app and select the Enable/Disable option at the bottom right corner to start/stop it from launching at system startup. You may enable/disable other apps here from launching at startup.

FAQs

1. Should I disable Google Drive on startup?

It depends on whether you want to keep your Google Drive and other backup folders in sync with Google Drive on the web. If you disable it, the sync will stop until you relaunch it.

2. How do I stop Google Drive from running on macOS?

You have to disable Google Drive from starting at system startup using any of the methods above. Or Uninstall Google Drive if you are not using it.

3. What happens if I remove Google Drive?

If you remove Google Drive from your computer, it will stop syncing your Drive and backup folders to Google Drive on the web. You will also lose the files that you’ve made available offline, But Online files & Folders stay safe. 

4. How do I get rid of the Google backup and sync popup?

Go to the Settings page in Google Drive Preferences from the Google Drive icon in the Menu Bar. Disable the Prompt me to back up devices option and select Done.

5. How do I stop programs from running at startup Mac?

On MacOS Ventura: Go to the Apple Logo > System Settings > General > Login Items > Remove Selected Program and Manage it.

On MacOS Monterey & Later: Go to the System Preferences from the Apple logo in the Menu Bar. Then go to the Users & Groups option. Here, under the Startup items tab, add/remove programs to start/stop them from running at startup.

6. What apps can I remove from the startup?

All apps that are listed in the Applications folder in the Finder can be removed from startup. 

7. How do you force stop Google Drive on Mac?

1. Click on the Google Drive icon in the Menu Bar and then click on the Gear icon. A menu will appear, select Exit to stop Google Drive. 

Or

2. Go to the Activity Monitor app and click on the Google Drive app in the list under the CPU tab. Then click on the X cross symbol in the Title Bar. Then click on the Quit or Force quit option.

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Karly Wood

Karly Wood is a journalist based in Ohio who specializes in covering Apple and technology trends. With a varied experience in reporting on public safety, government, and education, her insights bridge multiple disciplines, providing readers with a well-rounded perspective on today's technological advancements. If you need to contact me, you can reach me at [email protected] or through (Facebook)

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