Fix Common Google Drive Issues on Computer/Mobile Phone

Megha Sharma | Updated On - January 12, 2022 |

Read time 8 minutes

Google Drive is a cloud storage drive provided to G Suite or Gmail users and can be used to store files, documents, and other data on the cloud. It is a secure place to store data with anywhere accessibility; but the same application can be affected by some issues while on a PC or mobile phone. Let us go through some common problems with Google Drive and resolutions for them.

Common Issues While Using Google Drive

We have the list of the most common issues faced by Google Drive users on their systems or mobile phones.

• Files not syncing between the computer and My Drive
• “Temporary Error (502) message when any user tries to open files in Google Drive
• “Trying to connect” error message while loading documents in Google Drive
• Backup and Sync client stops abruptly
• Backup and Sync stuck on “Preparing for Sync.”
• “You do not have enough Google storage for this file. Please buy more storage.”
• “Connection failure: Check your Internet connection. Click Retry all or restart Backup and Sync.”
• “Waiting to upload” error
• “Google Drive File Stream not working”
• “You only have permission to view this file, so your changes cannot be synced.”

Let us understand what you can do to fix such common issues while using Google Drive.

• Restart PC
  It is suggested to restart the system when your file uploading or access is stuck, or Backup & Sync is halted, causing the the system freeze. Using the Task Manager, you can force close the running programs and then reboot your system.
• Check Network Connection
  A good internet connection is needed to access, sync, download, or upload the files on Google Drive. Make sure that the internet mode (WiFi, Hotspot, Mobile Net, USB Tethering, Broadband ) that you are using is connected properly. You can try to another network connection mode to check if it is helpful to you.
• Check browser for updates
  The updated version may support Google applications more swiftly. It is easy to check for browser updates. Just go to Settings > About on your web browser to know the available updates for your web browser version.
  
  If available, click on the Update option to start the update. If it is up to date, try using another web browser to use Google Drive on your PC. It is advised to use standard web browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, etc.
• Clear cached files & cookies
  Cached files and cookies piled up in your web browser may interfere with the Drive loading. You can clear them using these steps. In Google Chrome,
  1. On the top right of your web browser page, click on 3 vertical dots Settings > Privacy & Security > Clear browsing data.
     
  2. Select all the checkboxes (if not selected already) and click the Clear data option to clear the cached files and cookies.
     
  3. Try loading files on Google Drive.
• Restart/Reinstall Backup & Sync
  To fix Backup & Sync related errors, you can try restarting Backup & Sync by navigating to More > Quit Backup & Sync. It will close the Backup & Sync application. Now double-click on the same application to reopen it.
  Try reinstalling the Backup & Sync by visiting the download page. From there, download the latest version and replace it with the existing one. Try synchronizing your files now with the newly installed Backup & Sync version.
• Move Files from Drive
  Google WorkSpace is assigned with a total of 15GB free shared space among Google Drive, Gmail, Google Photos, Google Docs, Google Sheets. When you get an error that storage is run out of space, you can either delete unimportant data from the Google Drive or use Manage apps options in Settings and delete hidden app data from each application.
  One more option is to upgrade the Google One Storage by purchasing data storage – 100 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB monthly or yearly subscriptions.
• Turn On/Off Offline Access
  Set up offline access in Google Drive by visiting Settings > Offline Access. Here, select the checkbox and click Done.
  
  If you cannot work even in offline mode, disable it and then enable it one or two times in a row.
• Restore the Previous Version of Files
  If any Google Drive file is lost, you can restore the previous version of the file. To restore the previous version of the file, you must have the access and editing permissions related to it.
  Go to the Google Drive file, right-click and select Manage Versions > See version history.
• Check Antivirus, Firewall & Proxy Settings
  Check your antivirus for any restrictions on Google Workspace as the very software and its extensions like adblockers can interrupt the Google Drive data accessibility, downloading, and uploading.
  Also, have a check on the Firewall and Proxy settings as the user may have customized it and denied permission to connect with the Drive.
• Complaint to Google Support
  If the situation is out of your capacity, then you can share your complaint with Google Support. On your Google account, go to the Help Center section on the Google Drive Help and raise your issue.
  
  
  You can send feedback using the option with the same name under the Help settings of your Google account.
  
  A Google Drive specialist will shortly contact you with solutions.

When There are Issues with Google Drive on Mobile Phone

• Check the Network Connection
  If you cannot access files or documents on the Google Drive application on your phone, go to the Network Settings on your mobile phone to switch to mobile data if the WiFi or broadband connection is down. It is important that the internet connection strength is essential to load files on Google Drive.
• Reboot your Mobile Phone
  When many applications are running on your mobile phone, the problem of file inaccessibility on Google Drive may occur. It is advised to completely close down the running applications and then reboot the system once. Try accessing the Google Drive content now.
• Restart the Google Drive Application
  Google Drive application may fail to run smoothly due to the overloading of data. Exit the application first or sign-out the Google account. Switch off your mobile phone and then restart it. Wait for some time and then launch the Google Drive application to use it further.
• Reinstall the Google Drive Application
  Incomplete or incorrect application installation is a significant cause for errors or issues related to Google Drive. So, you can first uninstall the existing application and then install its latest version on your phone.
  Go to Settings > Applications. Select the Google Drive app and from the App Info page, click the Uninstall option to uninstall the application. Wait for the uninstallation to get completed. Now from the App Store, download the Google Drive application on your phone and start using it.
• Clear Cache and Data from Application
  Clear the cache and data from your installed Drive application by navigating to Settings > Apps > Drive > Storage > Clear data and cache for the app. It will create storage space for new data by eliminating the unnecessary one.
• Check the File Transfer Mode
  Sometimes File Transfer Mode is selected to an internet connection that is currently not available. In such conditions, files cannot be uploaded due to the absence of the internet. For modifying the setting for the avail able connection, go to the Settings of the Drive application. Go to the Data usage section and toggle off the switch against the Transfer files only over option.
• Force-stop the Application
  If the file upload is stuck and there is no response from the Google Drive application, then go to the Settings, click on Apps and then select the Drive application. Now, click on the Force Stop option to close the frozen application. Restart the Drive application after rebooting your phone.
• Backup Google Drive Data
  For safeguarding the Google Drive data against data loss situations, try the professional Kernel Google Drive Backup tool to backup Google Drive as per your convenience. It is easy to understand the software features by working on its trial version available on its website.