Top 11 Fixes for Google Drive Not Syncing on Android

Google Drive is a great cloud storage service that works seamlessly across different platforms. However, the Google Drive service and app take action from time to time. Many Google Drive users are complaining that their files are not syncing through the Google Drive app for Android. If you have the same issue, try the solutions in this post.

Many Google Drive users reported that when they upload files from the Android app, these files do not appear on PC or other devices connected using the same Google Drive account. Meanwhile, other users are complaining that the files in their Google Drive account are not available on their Android phones.

We’ve compiled a list of troubleshooting tips to help you fix sync issues with the Google Drive app for Android.

1. Reboot Phone

Restart your Android phone before continuing with the troubleshooting. This is one of those magic solutions that works without resetting anything or messing with settings. If you are using Wi-Fi, restart your modem as well.

2. Enable Sync

To allow the Google Drive app to sync all content, you must allow Sync in your Google account settings. To check if Google Drive sync is enabled, go to phone Settings and tap on Accounts.

Tap your Google account and hit Account sync. You will find various services that can be synchronized with your phone. If it’s disabled, enable the toggle next to Drive.

3. Check Internet Connection

The problem is usually related to your internet connection. So, check if other apps are working properly. Troubleshoot your internet connection if the problem occurs for other apps as well. Try switching from mobile data to Wi-Fi and vice versa.

4. Refresh App

If you swipe down in the Google Drive app, it will refresh the app. If some file uploads get stuck or you don’t see new files, swipe down from the top of the screen to refresh the app. Hopefully, this helps to sync files properly.

5. Enable Transfer on Mobile Data

The Google Drive app gives you the option to upload everything over Wi-Fi and allows you to save your mobile data. So if this setting is enabled, your files will only be uploaded or updated over Wi-Fi.

If your phone is using mobile data, nothing will sync. You may have chosen this setting by mistake. Follow the steps shown below to disable this setting.

Stage 1: Launch the Google Drive app for Android.

step 2: Tap the three-bar icon at the top.

Stage 3: Tap on Settings.

Step 4: Turn off the switch next to ‘Transfer files over Wi-Fi only’.

6. Update App

Such problems are usually caused by a bug in the application itself. To fix this, go to Play Store and update the Google Drive app. For future use, learn how to find out if the app needs an update on Android and iPhone.

7. Disable Battery Saver Mode

Activating battery saver mode usually restricts various features on your phone and syncing is one of them. To check if battery saver mode affects Google Drive sync, go to Settings > Battery > Battery saver. To close.

Fly: Battery Saver can also be disabled from the Quick Settings panel.

8. Clear Cache and Data

Clearing the cache and data in Google Drive and associated apps (Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides) has been one of the most effective solutions to fix the sync issue. Clearing the cache only deletes temporary files and has no effect on actual files, while clearing data resets Drive app settings to their default values. You can do this from the phone’s settings as well as from the app.

To clear the cache from the Drive app, follow these steps:

Stage 1: Open the Google Drive app for Android.

Step 2: Tap Settings from the left sidebar.

Stage 3: Tap on Clear cache.

Step 4: Restart your phone.

Here are the steps to clear cache from Settings:

Stage 1: Go to Phone Settings and tap on Apps.

step 2: Tap Drive.

Stage 3: Tap on Storage.

Step 4: Press the clear cache button.

Step 5: Restart the phone.

If the sync issue persists, tap on Clear data or Clear storage in step 4 depending on the option available.

Similarly, clear cache and data for other Google Drive services if installed on your phone. This includes the Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets apps for Android. Doing so will also help resolve syncing issues with the Google Drive app for Android.

9. Uninstall Google Drive App

You can also try uninstalling the Google Drive app to fix the syncing issue. However, since Google Drive comes pre-installed on most Android phones, it’s not possible to completely uninstall it. You can either uninstall the latest updates as shown below or disable the app temporarily as shown in the next fix.

Here’s how to uninstall Google Drive updates.

Stage 1: Go to Settings and go to Apps.

Step 2: Tap Drive at the bottom of the apps list.

Stage 3: Tap the three-dot icon at the top. Select uninstall updates.

Step 4: Restart the phone after uninstalling the updates.

step 5: Install the latest version of Google Drive app from Play Store.

Note: Any changes made to the Drive app after you stop syncing will be lost when you uninstall or disable the app.

10. Disable Google Drive App

To disable the Drive app, follow the path below:

Stage 1: Launch Settings on your phone and tap Apps.

Step 2: Tap Drive.

Stage 3: Tap on Disable.

Step 4: restart phone

step 5: Follow steps 1 and 2 again. Tap Activate to activate the app.

11. Reset App Preferences

If uninstalling the app also doesn’t work, you have to reset all settings on your phone. Take this as a last resort.

This can be accomplished using the Reset app preferences function. Before you do, find out how the function affects your settings after you use it once. Once you know what happens when you reset all settings, follow these steps:

Stage 1: Go to Settings and then System (or General Management).

step 2: Tap on Reset.

Stage 3: Tap on Reset app preferences or Reset settings.

Unleash the Power of Google Drive

We hope the solutions provided above helped to resolve the syncing issues with the Google Drive app on your Phone. Once Google Drive is working properly, you can make the most of the Offline feature and use some files even when your phone is not connected to the internet.