Installing Google Drive on your computer

Windows

1. Visit the Google Drive download page: It can be found at their support article here. At the top of the page, click on the link Install and set up Drive for desktop. This will lead you to the proper part of the page where you can download the program to your computer.
2. Locate the downloaded file: Once the download is complete, navigate to your Downloads folder or the location where your browser saves downloaded files.
3. Run the installer: Double-click on the downloaded file (it should be named something like GoogleDriveSetup.exe) to start the installation process.
4. Allow changes: If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click "Yes" to allow the installer to make changes to your device.
5. Follow the installation prompts: The installation wizard will guide you through the installation process. Click "Next" to proceed through the steps.
6. Complete the installation: Once the installation is complete, click "Finish" to exit the installer.
7. Sign in to Google Drive: After installation, Google Drive should automatically open. If it doesn’t, you can find it in the Start menu or by searching for "Google Drive." You will need to sign in to your Google account. Enter your Google account email (full @haverford.edu email) and password to sign in.
8. Set up preferences: After signing in, you can choose your preferences for syncing files and folders between your computer and Google Drive.
9. Access Google Drive: Once set up, you can access Google Drive directly from File Explorer. It will appear as a drive under "This PC" or as a folder in the left sidebar.
10. Upload and manage files: You can now drag and drop files into the Google Drive folder to upload them, and any changes will sync automatically with your Google Drive account.

Mac OS

1. Visit the Google Drive download page: It can be found at their support article here. At the top of the page, click on the link Install and set up Drive for desktop. This will lead you to the proper part of the page where you can download the program to your computer.
2. Locate the downloaded file: Once the download is complete, go to your Downloads folder or the location where your browser saves downloaded files.
3. Open the installer: Double-click on the downloaded file (it should be named something like GoogleDrive.dmg) to mount the disk image.
4. Drag Google Drive to Applications: A new window will open showing the Google Drive application. Drag the Google Drive icon into the Applications folder shortcut in the same window. This will install Google Drive on your Mac.
5. Eject the disk image: After the installation is complete, you can eject the disk image by right-clicking on it in the Finder sidebar and selecting "Eject."
6. Open Google Drive: Go to your Applications folder and double-click on the Google Drive app to open it.
7. Sign in to your Google account: You will need to sign in to your Google account. Enter your Google account email (full @haverford.edu email) and password to sign in.
8. Set up preferences: After signing in, you can choose your preferences for syncing files and folders between your Mac and Google Drive.
9. Using Finder: Once set up, you can access Google Drive directly from Finder. It will appear in the sidebar under "Locations" or as a folder.