Google Drive - How to backup your Mac to Google Drive
This article applies only to Faculty/Staff who are using AIS-owned Macs
Please note:
After you setup your Mac backup - changes in your Google Drive will automatically sync to your computer.
If you add, edit, move, or delete files in folders currently syncing with Google Drive, those changes will also happen on your computer.
Making backups of the files from your MacBook is critically important.
Backups protect against human errors, hardware failure, virus attacks, power failures, and natural disasters.
Backups can help save time and money if these failures occur.
To backup files from your Macbook to your AIS Google Drive, follow the instructions below:
1. Open AIS Self Service on your Mac
To learn how to open and use AIS Self Service, check out this article: How to use Self Service
2. In Self Service search for "Google Drive" and install "Google Drive (Latest)"
The installation may take up to 5 minutes, depending on your internet connection.
3. After installation, the Google Drive login window will automatically open.
Click Sign-in with Browser.
4. Your browser will open. Sign in with your AIS account (ending with @aischool.org)
You may see the following warning about the Google Drive Desktop app - Click Sign in:
5. You will see the warning asking you to allow Google Drive.app to start syncing.
Click OK
6. You will see Google Drive Icon appear in your Menu Bar.
Click the Google Drive icon to start the backup setup.
7. In the opened menu, click on the Gear icon > Preferences
8. In the opened window, click on My MacBook (in the left menu), then click on Add folder button
9. After you click on Add folder button, the finder window will open.
To choose a folder for backup, click on the folder name, then click Open.
Then you will see the screen asking you if you want to Sync the folder to Google Drive or back up to Google Photos.
Choose Sync with Google Drive and then click Done.
Your chosen folder will be added to the backup.
To add more folders, click Add folder again and pick another folder to backup.
We recommend backing up the following folders:
-Documents
-Desktop
-Downloads (optional - if you store important files in your downloads)
10. After you pick a folder for backup, you will see the list of folders that Google Drive will backup.
If you want to add more folders to your Backup - click Add folder
If you are done and ready to start Backup - click Save
11. After you click Save, the Google Drive preferences window will close, and the backup will start.
You can check the progress by clicking the Google Drive icon in your menu bar.
The backup will go in the background. No further action from you is needed.
All new files in the folders you choose during the backup setup will automatically be uploaded to your Google Drive.
After the upload is done, you will see "Everything up to date" in the Google Drive menu bar app:
12. To access your backed-up files in the Cloud, go to your Google Drive via browser at https://drive.google.com/
You will see a new menu called Computers.
If you click on Computers, you will be able to see your computer folder, which will contain all your folders and files from your computer.
Please note:
Changes in your Google Drive will automatically sync to your computer.
If you add, edit, move, or delete files in folders currently syncing with Google Drive, those changes will also happen on your computer.
Last updated on Jan 30, 2023, by Andrei Zorin