How to Only Sync Certain Folders in Google Drive (3 Ways)

User Case: How do I Choose Which Folders to Sync in Google Drive?

To only sync certain folders in Google Drive, then you can enable Google Drive's Selective Sync feature or choose a free third-party software to help you. You can read on to learn detailed information.

Why Only Sync Certain Folders in Google Drive?

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage platforms globally, used by millions for file storage and sharing. One of its key features is two-way syncing—any files or folders you sync with the cloud automatically update both on your local device and in the cloud whenever changes are made. However, syncing large amounts of data can quickly consume storage space, both in the cloud and on your local drive, leading to memory issues.

Many users have reported that they don't want to sync everything from their Google Drive but prefer to sync only specific folders. Limiting the sync to certain folders can save space and improve performance, making it a common need for many users.

How to Only Sync Certain Folders in Google Drive

To sync only selected folders to Google Drive, you can use the Selective Sync feature available through Google Drive’s desktop app, Google Drive for desktop. This feature allows you to control which folders are synced between your computer and the cloud. Additionally, there are free third-party tools that can help you manage selective syncing more efficiently.

By using these tools and features, you can optimize your cloud storage and ensure you're only syncing what you need, saving valuable storage space.

Only Sync Certain Folders in Google Drive via the Google Drive Desktop App

The first method is to enable the Selective Sync feature through Google Drive's desktop app - Google Drive for desktop. After enabling this feature, you can still access all the files in your Google Drive account on other devices, but you can only access the specific folders synced on a Windows PC with Selective Sync enabled. You can follow the steps below to use Google Drive for desktop to select folders to sync.

Step 1. Download the app to your computer and install it, then click Sign in with the browser to sign in.

Step 2. Right-click the Google Drive icon on the taskbar to open Google Drive for the desktop, then click Settings > Preferences.

Step 3. Under the My Computer tab, click Add Folder to choose the specific folders you only need to sync and check. And you can sync your photos or videos to Google Photos, and click Done. Then, click Save.

Tip:

If you need to take a Google Photos selective backup, you can select the image and video upload size and check Upload photos and videos to Google Photos.

Step 4. Click the Google Drive tab, and select Stream files, which will sync specific files and help you save the hard drive space.

Only Sync Certain Folders in Google Drive via Google Drive Folder

The second method to sync certain folders in Google Drive is to use the Google Drive folder. After you log in to Google Drive for the desktop app, it will create a disk on the computer. You can selectively sync Google Drive by following the steps below.

Step 1. Navigate to the Google Drive folder on your computer, or you can open the folder by clicking Open in Explorer in the Google Drive for desktop app.

Step 2. You can keep only the certain folders that need to be synced in the Google Drive disk, or locate a document, right-click it and select Offline access > Online only to save your local space.

Tip:

Only when you open the files that you have set online-only or change these files to available offline will they occupy your local space.

Only Sync Certain Folders in Google Drive via Free Third-party Software

The free third-party syncing tool AOMEI Backupper Standard can help you selectively sync specific folders to Google Drive. Here are some of its key benefits:

• Automatic Syncing: This software allows you to automatically sync only the files you choose to Google Drive. Importantly, any changes made in Google Drive won’t be synced back to your local drive, which helps you save valuable space on your computer.

• Wide Compatibility: AOMEI Backupper works with various operating systems, including Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP, and Vista. It also supports different cloud storage services like Dropbox and OneDrive.

• Scheduled Syncing: You can set a regular schedule for syncing your selected files to Google Drive, whether daily, weekly, or monthly, keeping your data up to date without manual intervention.

To get started, follow the step-by-step tutorial below.

Step 1. Download AOMEI Backupper Standard, install it, and launch it. Then click Sync > Basic Sync.

Notes: If you need additional sync options, the Pro version offers three more features:

• Mirror Sync: This option keeps the source folder exactly the same as the target folder. Any extra files in the target folder will be removed, making it easy to perform a Google Drive one-way sync.

• Two-Way Sync: This feature ensures that changes in both the source and target folders are synced with each other, so both locations stay updated.

• Real-Time Sync: With this option, any changes made in the source folder are immediately detected and synced to the target folder.

Step 2. Click Add Folder to select the folder you only want to sync in Google Drive. If you need to sync multiple folders, you can click the + icon to add more folders to sync.

Step 3. Click the inverted triangle at the right edge of the second bar and choose Select a cloud drive.

Step 4. Choose Google Drive and click OK.

Tip:

If you cannot select Google Drive as a destination using the Select a Cloud Drive option, try to share the My Drive folder from This PC  and use it as a network path. Then, you can sync files to Google Drive using the Add Share or NAS Devices option. It requires you to type the network path.

Step 5. Confirm your operations and click Start Sync to only sync certain folders in Google Drive.

Notes:

• Options: You can write comments, set email notifications, and choose the operation priority for the sync task.
• Schedule: It offers different frequencies to sync files such as Daily/Weekly/Monthly/Event trigger/USB plug-in. The last two are available in the professional version.
• Apart from the cloud drives offered by third-party providers, you can also backup files to AOMEI Cloud. It offers you 1TB of free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.  

FAQs about Google Drive Only Sync Certain Folders

Q 1: Can I sync shared folders selectively?

A 1: Google Drive doesn’t allow selective syncing of shared folders by default. However, you can add shared folders to "My Drive" and sync them like regular folders.

Q 2: What should I do if my selected folders aren’t syncing?

A 2: First, check your internet connection. If it’s stable, restart the Google Drive app. Ensure the selected folders are checked in the sync preferences and that you have enough storage space.

Q 3: Does selective syncing save local storage space?

A 3: Yes, selective syncing allows you to choose which folders to sync, helping you save local storage space by not downloading unnecessary files to your device.

Pro Tips for Seamless Folder Sync

1. Regularly Update Google Drive: Ensure your Google Drive desktop app is always up-to-date. Updates often fix bugs and enhance sync functionality.

2. Monitor Storage Limits: Google Drive provides 15GB of free storage. Keep an eye on your usage to prevent sync issues caused by exceeding your storage limit.

3. Use Google Drive on Multiple Devices: Leverage Google Drive across all your devices—desktop, tablet, or mobile—to ensure you're always in sync, no matter where you are.

Summary

This article provides you with three ways to only sync certain folders in Google Drive, you can choose the Google Drive desktop app or Google Drive folder to enable the Selective Sync feature or use the free third-party sync software AOMEI Backupper Standard to help you.

It not only can automatically sync any file to Google Drive or other cloud storage devices but also any changes on the cloud will not affect locally, so you can save much disk space. It also supports you to regularly sync files with different frequencies in multiple Windows operating systems.

In addition, it is an excellent backup software that helps you to backup systems, files, disks, and partitions. When something goes wrong with your computer accidentally, you can use the backup to restore it and then use it normally. You can download this software to experience more features.