For questions specifically about the Google Drive for Desktop (formerly Drive File Stream) client for Google's file synchronization and cloud storage service Google Drive.
Google Drive for Desktop (formerly Drive File Stream) is a desktop client for the Google Drive cloud storage service, nowadays available to free/paid Google accounts. The application is one of two successors for the Google Drive client, which was deprecated on May 12, 2018. The other successor to the Google Drive client was Google Backup and Sync, which was replaced by Google Drive for Desktop for all users.
Drive Drive for Desktop offers a client for Mac and Windows that has two operating modes Mirror and Stream.
The Mirror mode syncs all the files in My Drive to the user computer.
The Stream mode gives users remote access to all of their files stored in their Google Drive as well as any Shared Drives that they are a part of. The application mounts a virtual hard disk on the user's computer, which allows users to access files over the Internet without actually storing them on a local drive. The application also allows for files to be synced locally for quick offline access.
Questions here on Super User should be concerned primarily with the client application, local storage and file synchronization.
There is also a web application that allows managing your stored files as well as a number of office productivity apps (Google Documents, Google Spreadsheets, Google Presentations). Questions about that aspect of the service are off-topic here and should be asked at Web Applications.
There are also Android and iOS (iPhone/iPad) clients that allow for automatic synchronization to/from local storage on your device.
For questions specific to...
- the web application, please visit Web Applications.
- the iOS app, please visit Ask Different. (May also be appropriate for the Mac client.)
- the Android app, please visit Android Enthusiasts.
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