How to Completely Uninstall Google Drive from Your Computer (Windows & Mac)
Google Drive is a fantastic cloud storage solution, but sometimes you might need to uninstall it. Perhaps you’re switching to a different cloud service, freeing up space, or troubleshooting an issue. Whatever your reason, completely uninstalling Google Drive ensures that all associated files and processes are removed from your system. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps for uninstalling Google Drive on both Windows and Mac operating systems, ensuring a clean and complete removal.
## Why Completely Uninstall Google Drive?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s understand why a complete uninstall is important. Simply deleting the Google Drive folder isn’t enough. Google Drive installs background processes, caches files, and modifies system settings. Leaving these behind can:
* **Waste Disk Space:** Cached files and temporary data can accumulate, consuming valuable storage space.
* **Slow Down Your Computer:** Background processes can consume system resources, impacting overall performance.
* **Cause Conflicts:** Residual files can conflict with other applications or future installations of Google Drive.
* **Compromise Privacy:** Cached data might contain sensitive information.
A thorough uninstall ensures that all these potential issues are addressed.
## Uninstalling Google Drive on Windows
Follow these steps to completely remove Google Drive from your Windows computer:
### Step 1: Disconnect Your Google Account
Before uninstalling, disconnect your Google account from the Drive application. This prevents accidental data loss and ensures a smooth transition.
1. **Locate the Google Drive Icon:** Look for the Google Drive icon in the system tray (usually in the lower-right corner of your screen, near the clock). It’s a small cloud icon.
2. **Open Google Drive Settings:** Right-click on the Google Drive icon and select the gear icon (Settings) and then choose “Preferences.”
3. **Disconnect Account:** In the Preferences window, navigate to the “Settings” tab.
4. **Click “Disconnect Account”:** Click the “Disconnect account” button. A confirmation window will appear.
5. **Confirm Disconnection:** Click “Disconnect” to confirm that you want to disconnect your Google account.
### Step 2: Quit Google Drive
Before you can uninstall Google Drive, you need to quit the application completely. This ensures that no processes are running in the background.
1. **Locate the Google Drive Icon:** As before, find the Google Drive icon in the system tray.
2. **Quit Google Drive:** Right-click on the Google Drive icon and select “Quit Google Drive.”
3. **Confirm Quitting:** A confirmation window might appear asking if you’re sure you want to quit. Click “Quit.”
### Step 3: Uninstall Google Drive Application
Now you can uninstall the Google Drive application through the Windows Control Panel or Settings app.
**Using Control Panel (for older Windows versions):**
1. **Open Control Panel:** Click the Start button and type “Control Panel.” Click on the Control Panel app in the search results.
2. **Navigate to Programs and Features:** In the Control Panel, click on “Programs” and then “Programs and Features.”
3. **Find Google Drive:** Scroll through the list of installed programs until you find “Google Drive” or “Backup and Sync from Google” (depending on the version you have installed).
4. **Uninstall Google Drive:** Right-click on “Google Drive” or “Backup and Sync from Google” and select “Uninstall.”
5. **Follow the Uninstallation Wizard:** A window will pop up, follow the instructions on screen to uninstall. You may be asked for administrator permissions.
6. **Restart Your Computer (Recommended):** After the uninstall process is complete, restart your computer to ensure that all files are completely removed.
**Using Settings App (for Windows 10 and 11):**
1. **Open Settings:** Click the Start button and click the gear icon (Settings).
2. **Navigate to Apps:** In the Settings window, click on “Apps.”
3. **Apps & Features:** The “Apps & Features” section will list all installed applications.
4. **Find Google Drive:** Scroll through the list of apps until you find “Google Drive” or “Backup and Sync from Google.”
5. **Uninstall Google Drive:** Click on “Google Drive” or “Backup and Sync from Google.” Then, click the “Uninstall” button that appears.
6. **Confirm Uninstall:** A confirmation window will appear asking if you’re sure you want to uninstall. Click “Uninstall” again.
7. **Follow the Uninstallation Wizard:** A window will pop up, follow the instructions on screen to uninstall. You may be asked for administrator permissions.
8. **Restart Your Computer (Recommended):** After the uninstall process is complete, restart your computer to ensure that all files are completely removed.
### Step 4: Remove Google Drive Folder (If It Still Exists)
In some cases, the Google Drive folder might not be automatically removed during the uninstallation process. Manually delete it if it still exists.
1. **Locate the Google Drive Folder:** The default location is usually in your user profile directory (e.g., `C:\Users\YourUsername\Google Drive`).
2. **Delete the Folder:** Right-click on the “Google Drive” folder and select “Delete.”
3. **Empty the Recycle Bin:** Empty your Recycle Bin to permanently remove the folder and its contents.
### Step 5: Remove Residual Files and Folders (Advanced)
For a truly clean uninstall, you can remove any remaining files and folders associated with Google Drive. This step requires caution, as deleting important system files can cause problems.
1. **Show Hidden Files and Folders:** By default, some system files and folders are hidden. To see them, open File Explorer, click on the “View” tab, and check the “Hidden items” box.
2. **Check These Locations:** Look for any files or folders related to Google Drive in these locations:
* `C:\Program Files\Google\Drive`
* `C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Drive` (if you’re using a 64-bit version of Windows)
* `C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Google\Drive`
* `C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Google\Drive`
* `C:\ProgramData\Google\Drive`
3. **Delete Any Remaining Files or Folders:** If you find any files or folders related to Google Drive in these locations, delete them. Be careful not to delete anything you’re unsure about.
### Step 6: Clean the Registry (Advanced – Use with Caution!)
**Warning:** Editing the Windows Registry can be risky if done incorrectly. Incorrect modifications can cause system instability or even prevent Windows from starting. Back up your registry before making any changes.
1. **Open Registry Editor:** Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type “regedit” and press Enter. You may be prompted for administrator permissions.
2. **Back Up the Registry:** Before making any changes, back up the registry. In Registry Editor, click on “File” and then “Export.” Choose a location to save the backup file, give it a name, and click “Save.”
3. **Search for Google Drive Entries:** Use the Find function (Ctrl + F) to search for “Google Drive,” “Backup and Sync,” or “Google.” Be patient, as this can take some time.
4. **Delete Google Drive Registry Entries:** When you find a registry entry related to Google Drive, carefully evaluate if it’s safe to delete. If you’re sure it’s related to Google Drive and not something else, right-click on the entry and select “Delete.” *Only delete keys and values that you are 100% certain are related to Google Drive.* Deleting the wrong entry can cause problems.
5. **Repeat the Search:** Continue searching for and deleting Google Drive registry entries until the search finds no more results.
6. **Restart Your Computer:** After cleaning the registry, restart your computer to apply the changes.
## Uninstalling Google Drive on Mac
Uninstalling Google Drive on macOS is generally simpler than on Windows, but it’s still important to follow all the steps for a complete removal.
### Step 1: Disconnect Your Google Account
Similar to Windows, disconnect your account first.
1. **Locate the Google Drive Icon:** Look for the Google Drive icon in the menu bar (usually in the upper-right corner of your screen).
2. **Open Google Drive Preferences:** Click on the Google Drive icon, then click on the gear icon (Settings) and choose “Preferences…”
3. **Disconnect Account:** In the Preferences window, go to the “Settings” tab.
4. **Click “Disconnect Account”:** Click the “Disconnect Account” button.
5. **Confirm Disconnection:** Click “Disconnect” to confirm.
### Step 2: Quit Google Drive
Ensure Google Drive is completely closed before proceeding.
1. **Locate the Google Drive Icon:** Find the Google Drive icon in the menu bar.
2. **Quit Google Drive:** Click on the Google Drive icon and select “Quit Backup and Sync” or “Quit Google Drive” (depending on your version).
3. **Force Quit (If Necessary):** If the application doesn’t quit normally, you can force quit it. Press Command + Option + Escape to open the Force Quit Applications window. Select “Backup and Sync from Google” or “Google Drive” and click “Force Quit.”
### Step 3: Move Google Drive to the Trash
This is the primary step in uninstalling the application on macOS.
1. **Open Finder:** Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to the Applications Folder:** Click on “Applications” in the Finder sidebar.
3. **Find Google Drive:** Locate the “Backup and Sync from Google” or “Google Drive” application icon.
4. **Move to Trash:** Drag the Google Drive application icon to the Trash icon in the Dock, or right-click on the icon and select “Move to Trash.”
5. **Empty the Trash:** Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash” to permanently remove the application.
### Step 4: Remove Supporting Files and Folders
macOS applications often leave behind supporting files and folders in various locations. Remove these for a complete uninstall.
1. **Open Finder:** Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to Folder:** Press Command + Shift + G to open the “Go to Folder” dialog box.
3. **Enter the Following Paths (one at a time):** Enter each of these paths into the dialog box and click “Go.”
* `~/Library/Application Support/Google/Drive`
* `~/Library/Preferences/com.google.drivefs.settings`
* `~/Library/Preferences/com.google.drive.plist`
* `~/Library/Caches/com.google.drivefs`
* `~/Library/Logs/GoogleDriveFS`
* `/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.keystone.agent.plist`
* `/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.google.keystone.daemon.plist`
* `/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate`
3. **Delete Associated Files and Folders:** In each of these locations, if you find any files or folders directly related to Google Drive, delete them. Be careful not to delete anything you’re unsure about.
### Step 5: Remove Google Software Update (Optional, but Recommended)
Google Software Update is a separate application that automatically updates Google products. If you’re not using other Google products, you can remove it.
1. **Open Terminal:** Open the Terminal application (located in `/Applications/Utilities`).
2. **Run the Uninstall Command:** Type the following command into the Terminal and press Enter:
`/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/GoogleSoftwareUpdate.bundle/Contents/Resources/GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent.app/Contents/Resources/install.py –uninstall`
3. **Enter Your Password (If Prompted):** You may be prompted for your administrator password. Enter it and press Enter.
4. **Verify Removal:** After the command completes, check the `/Library/Google/` folder to see if the `GoogleSoftwareUpdate` folder has been removed.
### Step 6: Restart Your Mac
Finally, restart your Mac to ensure that all changes are applied.
## Troubleshooting Uninstall Issues
Sometimes, you might encounter issues while uninstalling Google Drive. Here are some common problems and solutions:
* **”Cannot Uninstall Because the Program is Running”:** Make sure you have completely quit Google Drive (as described in the steps above). Use Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) to check for any running Google Drive processes and force quit them.
* **”Access Denied” Error:** This usually indicates that you don’t have the necessary permissions to delete a file or folder. Make sure you’re logged in as an administrator. On Windows, you may need to take ownership of the file or folder before you can delete it.
* **Uninstall Process Hangs:** If the uninstall process hangs, try restarting your computer and then attempting the uninstall again. You can also try running the uninstaller in Safe Mode.
* **Residual Files Keep Reappearing:** Some files might be protected by the operating system. Try using a third-party uninstaller tool to force the removal of these files. Be very cautious with such tools, and choose a reputable one.
## Using Third-Party Uninstaller Tools
If you’re having trouble uninstalling Google Drive manually, you can use a third-party uninstaller tool. These tools are designed to completely remove applications and their associated files and registry entries. Some popular options include:
* **Revo Uninstaller (Windows):** Revo Uninstaller offers a free and paid version. It can scan for leftover files and registry entries after a standard uninstall.
* **IObit Uninstaller (Windows):** Similar to Revo Uninstaller, IObit Uninstaller can remove stubborn programs and clean up residual files.
* **AppCleaner (Mac):** AppCleaner is a free and simple tool that finds and removes supporting files when you uninstall an application on macOS.
* **CleanMyMac X (Mac):** CleanMyMac X is a comprehensive Mac cleanup and optimization tool that includes an uninstaller feature.
**Important:** When using a third-party uninstaller tool, be sure to choose a reputable one and carefully review the files and registry entries it identifies for removal. Avoid deleting anything you’re unsure about.
## Conclusion
Completely uninstalling Google Drive is essential for freeing up disk space, improving system performance, and resolving potential conflicts. By following the detailed steps outlined in this guide for Windows and Mac, you can ensure that all associated files and processes are removed from your system. Remember to exercise caution when deleting files and editing the registry, and always back up your data before making any significant changes. If you encounter any difficulties, consider using a reputable third-party uninstaller tool for assistance. Now you can confidently remove Google Drive and move on to other cloud storage solutions or simply reclaim valuable system resources.