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Google Drive for desktop says it streams files, yet it is using 30 GB on your Mac

Streamed files you opened, files marked offline, and a mirroring setting can all fill the Mac. Where Drive keeps its cache, and how to shrink or move it.

5 min read

Google Drive for desktop can stream files, downloading them only when opened, or mirror them, keeping a full copy on the Mac. Even when streaming, files you open are cached, and files marked for offline use stay downloaded.

du -sh ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/DriveFS 2>/dev/null
du -sh ~/Library/CloudStorage/GoogleDrive-* 2>/dev/null

DriveFS holds the cache. The CloudStorage folder is where your Drive appears in Finder.

Check the mode

Click the Drive icon in the menu bar, then the gear, then Settings. Under My Drive syncing options, Stream files keeps most files online. Mirror files keeps a full copy of My Drive on the Mac.

Shrink the cache

  • Control-click folders in Drive in Finder and turn off Available offline for anything you do not need without internet.
  • In Drive's settings, the cache location can be moved to another drive if the Mac is short of space.
  • Quitting and reopening Drive lets it trim the cache of files you have not used recently.

Multiple accounts

Each Google account signed in to Drive has its own cache and folder. Sign out of accounts you no longer use in Drive's settings.

Other sync services: cloud sync folders and iCloud Drive.

Common questions

Where is the Google Drive cache on a Mac?

In ~/Library/Application Support/Google/DriveFS. Your Drive files appear in ~/Library/CloudStorage.

How do I stop Google Drive using space on my Mac?

Use Stream files rather than Mirror files, turn off Available offline for folders you do not need offline, and sign out of unused accounts.

Will deleting files from the Google Drive folder delete them online?

Yes. To free space only on the Mac, turn off offline access instead of deleting.

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