Download and Use Google Backup and Sync - Replacement Tool

What is Google Backup and Sync?

Google Backup and Sync is a sync tool published by Google in late June 2017, aiming to synchronize files between online Google Drive and local desktop folders. This folder will be created once the sync task is started.

And, this is a two-way sync: changes made to the local desktop folder will be synchronized to network Google Drive and differences happening in online Google Drive files will also be mirrored to local storage.

On the one hand, it safely backs up your important files. “Upload and store files from any folder on your computer, camera, and SD cards in the cloud. You can find your content on any phone, tablet, or computer using Google Drive, and your photos and videos in Google Photos.” On the other hand, it syncs Google Drive with your computer, allowing you to access Google Drive files even when you are offline. This ensures seamless availability of your important documents and media, regardless of internet connectivity.

Is Google Backup and Sync still available?

However, since October 1, 2021, Google Backup and Sync have been discontinued, and users can no longer access the app. Upon opening the app, a message will notify you that "Google Drive for desktop is replacing Backup and Sync." Users are prompted to migrate their accounts to Google Drive for desktop. This transition aims to provide a more unified and efficient experience for managing and syncing files across devices.

You just need to click Sign in and follow the on-screen instructions step by step, you are able to move all the folders from Backup and Sync to Drive for the desktop and then use it to backup files or sync photos and videos.

Google Drive for desktop vs Backup and Sync

Now, you may be eager about the similarities and key differences between Google Drive for desktop and Backup and Sync. Below is the overall explanation from Google Drive, if you don't understand it clearly, it does not matter, and we will detail them later.

In fact, Google Drive for desktop integrates Google Backup and Sync as well as Drive File Steam, so it still keeps the ability to backup files to Google Drive and sync photos and videos to Google Photos plus the file stream feature. But there are differences between them, just as you can see from the above picture:

• About file copies: Backup and Sync keep two backup copies, one is on the local drive and the other is on the cloud, which occupies more disk space and cloud storage. But, in Drive for Desktop, you can keep them only on the cloud. 
• Types of offline files:  Backup and Sync only allow you to select specific folders and make them offline while Desktop for Desktop supports both specific files and folders.
• Way to backup photos and videos: Backup and Sync backup only photos and videos to Google Drive, if you check "Upload photos and videos to Google Photos", you will have two copies of them on Google Drive and Google Photos. In Drive for Desktop, you can choose to sync all files including photos and videos to Google Drive and or backup them to Google Photos. 
• Other backup and sync features: Backup and Sync supports excluding certain file extensions to free up space and choose to delete files between Google Drive and PC. These are not available on the Drive for desktop.

How to set Google Backup and Sync in simple steps

To set up the Google backup and sync tool, you may be in the following two situations:

#1: You don't have Google Backup and Sync. This is very easy, you just need to download Google Drive Backup and Sync and install it. Then follow the on-screen instructions to set it up. 

#2: You have Google Backup and Sync installed and well-configured. This will be much more complex and most users are in this situation, you need to migrate your account and data from Bacup and Syn to Drive for desktop. 

Here I'll take situation 2 as an example and tell you how to set up the Google backup and sync tool.

Step 1. Search Google Backup and Sync in the Start menu and select it. Or click the Google Drive icon ( ) on the system tray. 

Step 2. It does not directly open Backup and Sync but tells you Google Drive for desktop is replacing Backup and Sync. Click Sign in and then GET STARTED to find your Google Drive account and then sign in with it. 

Step 3. Now, the process of moving accounts is starting. First, it will move My Drive to your computer, and usually, it's the default location. Click Got it.

Step 3. After moving My Drive, you can move your folders from Backup and Sync. Click Check folders, it will scan all the folders on the computer and cloud. 

 Step 4. Click Next to continue, it will ask you to select folder options and the way to sync or backup the checked folder. 

Step 5. Select Sync with Google Drive or Back up to Google Photos. You can also select both, which will use more storage. 

Step 6. Then, repeat Step 5 until you move all the checked folders. Click Save on the Almost Done page and then Open Drive for the desktop. 

Step 7. After set up, you can click the Google Drive icon on the system tray > Settings > Preferences > Google Drive, and set My Drive sync options - Stream files or Mirror files. The Stream files option is recommended because it uses less hard drive space.

✐ Notes: · If you want to stop this task, just disconnect your Google account. Click the Google Drive icon > click More (three dots) and select “Preferences” > select “Settings” and choose “Disconnect account”. · You can also pause or resume Backup and Sync through the icon. If you want to uninstall the Google Drive Backup and Sync tool, do it in the Control Panel just like uninstalling any other software. · Besides Windows systems, the Google app also supports Mac operating systems. Yet, it can only backup and sync files between local and Google Drive.

Easy Google Backup and Sync replacement tool 

Google Drive for desktop replaced Backup and Sync, but you still cannot sync folders outside the desktop folder or virtual drive. To make this process easy and automatic, you need to use reliable sync software to drive the process. 

AOMEI Backupper Standard is a great choice. It not only supports syncing local folders to Google Drive but also other cloud drives like Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, etc. You can also backup files to AOMEI Cloud if you have an AOMEI account. It offers you 1TB of free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

The following are its main features:

✩ Basic Sync: you are allowed to sync local folders to mainstream cloud drives, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. In addition, it still supports syncing files to external hard drives, NAS devices, and network share, and vice versa.  ✩ Sync schedule: you can set the sync task to run automatically at a specific date, time, or interval, depending on whether you choose daily, weekly, or monthly.

Learn how to sync local files to a cloud drive via AOMEI Backupper below. First, download, install, and open AOMEI Backupper Standard Edition. For server users, try AOMEI Backupper Server!

Step 1. In its Sync tab, select “Basic Sync”. 

Tip: To enjoy more advanced sync modes like “Mirror Sync”, “Real-Time Sync”, or "Two-Way Sync", please upgrade to higher editions.

Step 2. Click “Add Folder” to select the folder(s) you want to sync.

Tips: ✿ You can only select one folder at one time. To add more folders, just click the “+” icon after adding the first folder. ✿ Optionally, you can enable Filter settings (supported by the Professional version) to include or exclude files or folders, so you can sync files with certain file extensions.

Step 3. Expand the drop-down menu of the second column and choose “Select a cloud drive”.

Step 4. In the pop-up window, select “Google Drive” and click “OK”. Please note a cloud drive is accessible from AOMEI Backupper only if you have installed its desktop app beforehand.

Step 5. Set up schedule settings to make this task convenient and automatic. And then, click Start Sync to sync Google Drive with PC. 

• Click “Options” at the bottom to write a comment for this sync operation so as to distinguish it from other sync tasks, and you can enable email notification to get an email informing you of the synchronization result.

• Also, click “Schedule Sync” to sync files or folders daily, weekly, or monthly. In the premium version, you still can enjoy event triggers and the USB plug in feature.

Google Drive for desktop vs. AOMEI Backupper Standard

AOMEI Backupper Standard has many other features, but here I will only take its Sync function for comparison.

	Google Backup and Sync	AOMEI Backupper Standard
Charge	Free	Free
Supported OS	Windows, Mac	Windows PC
Supported device	Desktop, laptop, notebook	Desktop, laptop, notebook
Supported cloud drive	Google Drive	Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, SugarSync, hubiC, and CloudMe
Sync from local to cloud	Yes	Yes
Sync from the cloud to local	Yes	No
Sync from local to local/NAS/network share	No	Yes
Schedule sync	No	Yes

FAQs About Google Backup and Sync

1. Does Google Backup save everything?

Google Backup collects your messages, contacts, app settings, and preferences as part of your personal backup.

2. Does Google Backup include photos?

Yes, Google Backup can save all the photos you take on your phone to your Google Account. This allows you to access your photos on any device where you're signed in. Note that settings and features may vary depending on your device and Android version so that steps might differ.

3. Where do my deleted Google Photos go?

Deleted photos or videos that are backed up in Google Photos remain in the trash for 60 days. If they are not backed up, they stay in your device's trash for 30 days if you are using Android 11 and up.

Conclusion

Now you know how to sync files with the Google backup and sync tool, Drive for Desktop. If you want to sync local files to other cloud drives like OneDrive and Dropbox, you may prefer the easier way and free file sync software - AOMEI Backupper. It makes this process easier and more automatic. 

You can also use AOMEI Backupper as hard drive transfer software. With its disk clone feature, you can easily clone a hard drive to an SSD, replace a laptop HDD with an SSD, make an NVMe drive bootable, etc. To unlock more features, please download it and try it!