Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud-storage services for storing documents, photographs, videos, backups and other files. It works well from a web browser on Linux, but Google does not provide its official Drive for desktop application for Linux. Google’s current documentation explicitly states that the desktop version is unavailable on Linux and recommends using Google Drive on the web instead.
Fortunately, Linux users have several other ways to access Google Drive.
Depending on your Linux distribution and desktop environment, you can use GNOME Online Accounts, access Drive through Nemo in Linux Mint, use KIO GDrive in KDE Plasma, mount Drive with rclone, use the gdrive command-line client, install Insync, or simply turn Google Drive into a standalone application using Chrome, Chromium, Edge or another compatible browser.
This guide explains these approaches and, importantly, explains the differences between them.
Google Drive on Linux: What Are the Options?
There is no single Linux implementation of Google Drive.
Instead, there are several different approaches:
GNOME Online Accounts can connect a Google account to the Linux desktop and, on compatible systems, expose Google Drive through the file manager.
Linux Mint Cinnamon can use Online Accounts together with Nemo to make Google Drive available under the Network section. Current Linux Mint discussions continue to document this behavior.
KDE Plasma provides KIO GDrive, which lets KDE applications such as Dolphin access Google Drive.
rclone provides an extensive command-line solution that can copy, synchronize and mount Google Drive.
gdrive is a separate Google Drive command-line client maintained by the glotlabs/gdrive project.
Insync provides a commercial graphical synchronization solution for Linux.
Finally, Google Drive can be used directly from a browser, or the Drive website can be installed as a web app so that it opens in its own application-style window.
The best option depends on what you want to achieve.
Method 1: Google Drive Using GNOME Online Accounts
The traditional and simplest Linux desktop integration method is GNOME Online Accounts.
Instead of installing a separate Google Drive client, you add your Google account to the desktop.
Open:
Settings → Online Accounts
and select:
GNOME will open Google’s authentication process. Sign in and authorize access.
The exact appearance of the Online Accounts window varies according to the Linux distribution, GNOME version and desktop environment.
On supported systems, the Google account can expose several services, including:
- Calendar
- Contacts
- Files
The Files option is the one relevant to Google Drive integration.
Access Google Drive from the File Manager
After adding the account, open the Linux file manager.
On GNOME this is normally Files (Nautilus).
On compatible systems, your Google account can appear in the sidebar.
You can then browse your Google Drive and transfer files in much the same way as working with another remote location.
However, this is important:
GNOME Online Accounts is not Google Drive for desktop.
It does not create a traditional local Dropbox-style folder containing a complete synchronized copy of Google Drive.
Instead, the desktop exposes the cloud storage through the Linux virtual filesystem infrastructure.
That makes it convenient for remote access, but it has different performance and compatibility characteristics from a local filesystem.
GNOME 50 and the Google Drive Change
Older tutorials often state:
Open Online Accounts → Google → enable Files → Google Drive appears in Files.
That was correct for older GNOME versions.
It is no longer universally correct.
GNOME 50 removed the old Google Drive integration from GNOME Files.
The GNOME developers explained that the old implementation depended on libgdata, which had been unmaintained for several years. The removal was therefore part of the modernization of the GNOME/GVfs stack rather than simply a change to the Online Accounts settings.
This has particular significance for current Linux distributions using GNOME 50.
Fedora
Current Fedora Workstation releases using GNOME 50 do not provide the old Google Drive Files integration.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu 26.04 also uses GNOME 50, so users should not expect the former Google Drive filesystem integration in Nautilus.
Linux Mint
Linux Mint is different because Cinnamon is not the same desktop stack as standard GNOME.
Google Drive access through Online Accounts and Nemo continues to be documented for Linux Mint Cinnamon.
This distinction is important when updating older Linux tutorials.
Method 2: Google Drive in Linux Mint
Linux Mint deserves special attention because it can provide a particularly convenient graphical solution.
The following instructions are primarily aimed at Linux Mint Cinnamon.
Step 1: Open System Settings
Open the Linux Mint menu and launch:
System Settings
Search for:
Online Accounts
or open it from the appropriate settings category.
Step 2: Add a Google Account
Select:
A Google authentication window should appear.
Sign in with your Google account and authorize the requested access.
Step 3: Enable Files
After authentication, Linux Mint will show the services available to the desktop.
Enable:
Files
where available.
This tells the desktop integration to expose the Google account to compatible file-management applications.
Step 4: Open Nemo
Linux Mint Cinnamon uses Nemo as its standard file manager.
Open:
Nemo
Look under:
Network
Your Google account should appear there, normally identified using your Google account address or account name. Linux Mint users continue to report this google-drive://-style integration through Nemo.
Select the account to browse the files stored in Google Drive.
You can then open folders, upload files, copy files and perform other normal file-management operations supported by the remote filesystem.
What Is Actually Happening?
It is useful to understand what Linux Mint is doing.
The files are not necessarily stored locally just because they appear in Nemo.
The Google Drive location is a remote filesystem exposed through Linux’s desktop filesystem infrastructure.
Therefore:
Google Drive files: Stored in the cloud.
Local permanent copy of the entire Drive: No.
Internet connection: Normally required.
Traditional synchronization folder: No.
Access from Nemo: Yes, where the integration is working.
This makes the feature excellent for browsing and working with remote files without installing a separate synchronization client.
Linux Mint: What If Online Accounts Is Missing?
On some installations, particularly minimal or customized ones, the required GNOME Online Accounts components may not be installed.
Linux Mint forum users have documented installing the relevant packages with:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gnome-control-center
sudo apt install gnome-online-accountsThey then open Online Accounts, add the Google account and access the Drive through Nemo under Network.
Before installing anything, however, check whether Online Accounts is already present.
You can check for the package with:
dpkg -l | grep gnome-online-accountsIf it is already installed, there is no reason to reinstall it.
An Important Linux Mint Limitation
The Nemo/Google Drive integration is convenient, but it is not identical to working with a local filesystem.
Some applications expect completely local filesystem behavior.
For example, current Linux Mint issue reports document problems involving atomic file operations on GVfs Google Drive mounts. Such behavior can affect applications that save files by creating a temporary file, deleting the original and then renaming the temporary file into place.
Therefore, Google Drive through Nemo is excellent for ordinary document access, but applications requiring strict local filesystem semantics may work better with a local synchronized copy.
For example, it may be preferable to keep a password database or database-backed application on the local disk and use a suitable synchronization method rather than opening the live database directly from a remote GVfs mount.
Method 3: Install Google Drive as an App Using Chrome
There is another extremely simple solution that does not require mounting Google Drive at all.
You can use Google Chrome to create a website application/shortcut for Google Drive.
This is particularly useful if you want Google Drive to behave more like a desktop application.
Open:
Google Drive
Sign in.
In current Chrome, Google documents the ability to install a web app through:
⋮ → Cast, save, and share → Install page as app…
On websites that expose the appropriate installation option, an Install icon may also appear in the address bar.
Chrome also documents the older/general website shortcut method:
⋮ → More tools → Create shortcut
for Linux and other desktop platforms.
Choose:
Google Drive
and create the application/shortcut.
What does this actually install?
It is important to understand that this does not install Google Drive for Linux.
Instead, Chrome creates a desktop-style wrapper around the Google Drive website.
The result is approximately:
Google Drive website + dedicated application window + application-menu entry
rather than:
Google Drive synchronization client + local filesystem
This means:
| Feature | Chrome web app |
|---|---|
| Google Drive interface | Yes |
| Separate window | Yes |
| Application-menu entry | Usually |
| Desktop shortcut | Usually |
| Local Google Drive folder | No |
| Full synchronization | No |
| Complete offline Drive | No |
| Official Google Linux client | No |
For many users this is actually the simplest option.
You get a dedicated Google Drive window without installing or configuring a third-party cloud filesystem.
Install Google Drive as an App Using Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge provides a similarly convenient solution.
Open Google Drive in Edge.
Then select:
⋯ → More tools → Apps → Install this site as an app
Microsoft documents this procedure for both Progressive Web Apps and ordinary websites that can be installed as applications.
After installation, the application can be managed from:
edge://appsEdge also allows users to create shortcuts, pin applications and configure an application to start automatically when logging into the computer.
This is useful for Linux Mint, Ubuntu and Fedora users who want a dedicated Google Drive application window without setting up a filesystem mount.
What About Chromium and Other Browsers?
The same general approach works with other Chromium-based browsers, although the wording and menus can differ.
Look for options such as:
Install page as app
Install site as app
Create shortcut
or an Install icon in the address bar.
The exact feature set depends on the browser.
The important point is that these are web applications, not Google’s native Drive client.
Method 4: KDE Plasma and KIO GDrive
Users running KDE Plasma have another desktop-integrated option.
KIO GDrive integrates Google Drive with KDE’s KIO framework.
Once installed, Google Drive can be accessed through KDE applications such as Dolphin. The project uses a gdrive:// location to access Google Drive accounts.
This is particularly relevant to:
- Fedora KDE Plasma
- Kubuntu
- KDE neon
- Other KDE Plasma distributions
On Fedora, the kio-gdrive package is available through Fedora’s package infrastructure.
On Ubuntu-based systems where the package is available, installation can be performed with:
sudo apt install kio-gdriveOn Fedora:
sudo dnf install kio-gdriveKIO GDrive is closer to desktop filesystem integration than a web application.
However, like GNOME Online Accounts, it should not be mistaken for Google’s official synchronization client.
Method 5: rclone
For advanced users, rclone is one of the most capable Google Drive solutions available on Linux.
rclone is an open-source command-line cloud-storage tool supporting Google Drive and many other providers.
It can:
- List files
- Upload files
- Download files
- Copy directories
- Synchronize directories
- Mount remote storage
- Automate cloud-storage operations
- Work with multiple cloud providers
Install rclone
Use the official installation instructions:
rclone installation documentation
On supported Linux systems, the official installation script can also be used:
sudo -v ; curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bashVerify the installation:
rclone versionConfigure Google Drive
Start the configuration program:
rclone configCreate a new remote.
When prompted for the storage provider, choose:
Google Drive
The configuration process then takes you through Google authentication.
Once configured, the remote can be referred to using a name such as:
gdrive:You can list the contents with:
rclone ls gdrive:You can create a local directory for mounting:
mkdir -p ~/GoogleDriveand then mount the Drive:
rclone mount gdrive: ~/GoogleDriveThe Google Drive contents can then be accessed through the mounted directory.
rclone Google Drive documentation
Mounting Is Not Synchronization
This distinction is extremely important.
When you use:
rclone mountyou are exposing the remote Google Drive through a filesystem-like interface.
That does not mean the entire Drive has been copied to your hard disk.
rclone also provides commands such as copy and sync, but those have different semantics.
In particular, a synchronization operation can modify or remove files at the destination to make it correspond to the source.
Read the rclone documentation carefully before using synchronization commands on important data.
Method 6: gdrive — Google Drive from the Command Line
Another option is the gdrive command-line client maintained by the glotlabs/gdrive project.
The project describes itself as the successor to gdrive2 and provides command-line access to Google Drive.
It is useful for users who want to manage Drive from:
- Terminal sessions
- Scripts
- Servers
- Automation workflows
- Development environments
After downloading the appropriate release, the project uses:
gdrive account addto configure a Google account.
The project’s documentation also explains how to create the required Google API credentials and configure OAuth authentication.
This is more technical than GNOME Online Accounts.
For someone who simply wants a graphical Google Drive folder, it is probably excessive.
For automation, however, it can be very useful.
Method 7: Insync
Users wanting a more conventional graphical synchronization client can consider Insync.
Insync is a commercial third-party application rather than an official Google product.
It is aimed at users who want:
Google Drive ↔ local folders ↔ automatic synchronization
rather than simply browsing remote files.
This distinction makes Insync more comparable to a traditional desktop cloud-storage client.
It can be especially useful when you want files to remain available locally, including for offline work.
The principal disadvantages are that it is proprietary software and is not provided by Google.
Method 8: Google Drive in the Browser
There is nothing wrong with simply using Google Drive in your browser.
In fact, this is Google’s currently documented Linux approach because Drive for desktop is unavailable for Linux.
Open:
Sign in and use Drive normally.
No package installation is required.
No filesystem configuration is required.
No synchronization daemon is required.
For many users, this is all that is necessary.
Which Method Should You Use?
The answer depends on how you intend to use Google Drive.
| Requirement | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Simple access | Google Drive in browser |
| Dedicated Drive window | Chrome/Chromium/Edge web app |
| Linux Mint graphical integration | Online Accounts + Nemo |
| Older compatible GNOME desktop | GNOME Online Accounts |
| KDE Plasma integration | KIO GDrive |
| Mount Google Drive as filesystem | rclone |
| Command-line Google Drive operations | gdrive |
| Automatic local synchronization | Insync |
| Advanced automation | rclone / gdrive |
Google Drive: Mount vs. Sync vs. Web App
Before choosing a solution, understand these three terms.
Mount
A mount makes cloud files appear through a directory or virtual filesystem.
Examples:
Nemo/GVfs
KIO GDrive
rclone mount
The data remains primarily remote.
Synchronization
Synchronization keeps copies of files both locally and remotely.
This is the model most people associate with Dropbox-style applications.
For example:
Local folder
↕
Google DriveChanges are synchronized between the two locations.
Web App
A browser web app is simply Google Drive opened in its own application-style window.
Google Drive website
↓
Dedicated browser windowIt does not create a Drive filesystem.
Understanding these differences prevents a great deal of confusion.
Is Google Drive Available Offline?
It depends entirely on the method.
Browser
Primarily online.
Chrome/Edge web app
Primarily online.
GNOME/Nemo
Remote access; not a complete synchronized local copy.
KIO GDrive
Remote access.
rclone mount
Primarily remote, although caching can be configured.
Insync
Designed for local synchronization and can therefore provide locally stored files.
gdrive
Depends on the commands you use; it is not a continuous synchronization application by default.
Troubleshooting Google Drive on Linux
Google Drive Does Not Appear in Linux Mint
First check:
System Settings → Online Accounts → Google
Make sure your Google account is connected.
Then make sure Files is enabled where available.
Close and reopen Nemo:
nemo -qThen start Nemo again.
Look under:
Network
for your Google account.
If Online Accounts is missing entirely, check whether the package is installed:
dpkg -l | grep gnome-online-accountsLinux Mint users have also reported installing gnome-control-center and gnome-online-accounts when these components were absent.
Google Drive Does Not Appear in GNOME Files
If you are running a current GNOME 50 desktop, this may be expected.
The old Google Drive integration was removed from GNOME 50. Installing Online Accounts does not automatically restore the old GVfs functionality.
Consider:
- Google Drive in the browser
- Chrome/Edge as a web app
- rclone
- KIO GDrive on KDE
- A synchronization client such as Insync
Google Drive Works but an Application Cannot Save a File
This may be a remote-filesystem compatibility problem.
Some applications rely on local filesystem semantics such as atomic rename operations. Current Linux Mint reports document such problems with GVfs Google Drive mounts.
A practical solution is to work on a local copy and synchronize it using a suitable tool.
The Drive Mount Is Slow
Remote filesystem access naturally depends on network latency and the way the client handles metadata and caching.
For heavier workloads, rclone with appropriate caching settings or a dedicated synchronization client may perform better than a simple desktop remote mount.
Security and Privacy
When you connect a Linux application to Google Drive, you are granting that application access to your Google account.
This deserves attention, particularly when using third-party applications.
Always check what permissions an application requests during Google authentication.
This is especially important for command-line tools that use OAuth credentials.
For example, the gdrive project stores its account configuration and credentials in a local configuration directory. Access to those credentials could allow access to the associated Google Drive account.
The same basic rule applies to other third-party clients:
Only authorize software you trust.
Useful Links
Official Google
Google Drive system requirements and Linux information
GNOME
GNOME Online Accounts documentation
GNOME discussion on Google Drive and GNOME 50
Linux Mint
Linux Mint Google Drive discussion/example
rclone
rclone Google Drive documentation
gdrive
KDE
KIO GDrive project information
Insync
Browsers
Microsoft Edge app documentation
Conclusion
Google Drive can be used effectively on Linux even though Google does not provide an official Drive for desktop application for Linux. Google’s current documentation directs Linux users to Google Drive on the web.
For users running Linux Mint Cinnamon, Online Accounts + Nemo remains one of the most convenient graphical methods for accessing Google Drive, with current Mint users continuing to report this integration.
For GNOME 50, however, the situation is different. The old Google Drive integration in GNOME Files has been removed, so older tutorials should not be followed blindly on current Fedora Workstation or Ubuntu GNOME systems.
For users who simply want Google Drive to behave like an application, installing Google Drive as a web app through Chrome, Chromium or Edge is arguably the easiest solution. It provides a dedicated window and application entry without the complexity of filesystem mounting. Chrome and Edge both provide mechanisms for turning websites into application-style shortcuts or web apps.
For users wanting filesystem access, rclone is one of the most capable solutions.
For KDE Plasma, KIO GDrive provides desktop integration.
For command-line use, gdrive provides a dedicated Google Drive CLI.
And for users who need true local synchronization, a dedicated third-party client such as Insync is more appropriate.
The important distinction is therefore not simply “How do I install Google Drive on Linux?” but rather:
Do you want to browse Google Drive, mount it, synchronize it, automate it, or simply open it as a desktop web application?
Once that distinction is clear, choosing the right solution for Fedora, Ubuntu or Linux Mint becomes much easier.