Google Desktop on Windows ARM

[petertfei]

Are there any alternatives or suggestions for getting Google Drive on Microsoft Surface Pro X running an ARM based processor? My understanding is Backup and Sync is phasing out and I need an alternative for my team. 

[DougB]

I have the same question for my team, all with Surface Pro X computers.  We have had to stop using the Pro X since Google Drive and also Gmail sync to Outlook no longer supported by Google on Windows ARM computers like the Pro X.  Google, please create support for Windows ARM.  

[BannerGarageKC]

What about those of us wanting to use google drive for desktop using Parallels for Mac and the Apple M1 chip?  I've been informed that Windows 11 ARM is the only OS that will work withe Parallels on the new M1 chip and Google Drive for Desktop doesn't work with Windows 11 ARM. So, what are we supposed to do? (I hope the answer isn't "Onedrive")

[jay_Sync]

i had the same issue and that's how i solved it:
installed google drive fom MacOS arm
shared the folder /Volumes/Google Drive/ with the parallels/ wmware machine 

on paralles follow this guide on how to add folders from host OS to guest OS:  https://kb.parallels.com/124928

please note that the folder is hidden by default so go in your main drive and press CMD + shift + . to see all the hidden folders and files

[GregW]

THANK YOU for this work!  For us, it solved a huge QuickBooks Desktop 2022 backup problem in which we want to backup onto Google Drive spaces.

[panorri]

Worked for me with Windows 11 on Mac M1

[kevob]

It works for me until I do a restart, then it cannot find the location?

[GregW]

Did you ever figure this out? It's a very crappy situation.

[Manymountains]

Same for me, the hardware of the M1 Macbook pro lineup is so good that even as a Windows user who hates MacOS, I had to get one. Running Windows 11 in Parallels and so far (I got it Monday and still getting it set up step by step) it's smooth sailing until the Google Cloud Desktop issue. I really hope Windows on ARM will get supported soon

[StephenHind]

@BannerGarageKC have you tried using Drive for Desktop on the Mac and then share it the the Windows VM? I don't know if that's possible but I used to something similar.

[BannerGarageKC]

@StephenHind I do already use drive for desktop on the Mac, but not sure how to share it to the Windows VM. 

[icrew]

Hi @BannerGarageKC :

I believe @StephenHind was referring to https://download.parallels.com/desktop/v12/docs/en_US/Parallels%20Desktop%20User%27s%20Guide/32922.h...

Hope that helps!

Ian

[Tom13]

That is not a viable solution at all

[Tom13]

I found a solution even better than the Google solution  before. The software Isync.it works very well

[joseoni]

where can i get it please

[KAM]

@joseoni as noted above (https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Workspace-Q-A/Google-Desktop-on-Windows-ARM/m-p/177516/highl...) there is no plan for Google Desktop for Windows on ARM Processor. -KAM

[ppczouz]

No plan to support it due to low adoption? what a joke...

Let's make one thing clear: Google will not make anything they have compatible with Windows ARM, even if it runs, Google will find ways to cripple it.

Why? simple, they DO NOT want Windows ARM to succeed, as it threatens the very existence of the Chromebook business... We all know that Windows does everything a Chromebook does plus so much more, even if runs slower, especially on low grade hardware. But ARM is changing that, and the more Windows get optimized (and ARM chips gets advanced), the narrower the gap would be.

So - IMHO - until their last breath in this fight, Google will not support anything on Windows ARM...

[StephenHind]

@ppczouz is ARM Windows as popular as Linux yet? Linux isn't supported either due to low adoption, but ChromeOS is built on Linux.

[Manymountains]

Fair observations ppczouz. However, Google does appear to shoot itself in the foot here, because I'm now strongly considering switching from Google Workplace to Microsoft Office 365, due to the fact that Google Drive on Windows 11 for ARM is not supported.

So Google should have a strong incentive to make it work, to avoid losing Google Workspace customers to their competitor Microsoft.

[KAM]

@ppczouz tell us how you really feel 🙂  In reality though, not only is adoption low for that platform, I don't think your argument holds water though with things like ChromeOS Flex coming out of beta: https://chromeenterprise.google/os/chromeosflex/

Windows just hasn't had much luck getting traction on non-x86 based processors and the history over the past decades shows it's nothing new.  Good rant though! -KAM

[ppczouz]

@KAM Honestly, yes, it was a rant, and it was out of frustration. But it doesn't change that this what I really think 

Both OS are now locked in a battle, and the education space is where MS is assaulting the hardest as it is dominated by Google, and it makes future generations more inclined to use it if they got the chance.

And MS can't magically change the landscape, so it wants to offer an easy an familiar switch to those young ChromeOS users. With Edge mimicking so much out of chrome, and with Windows 11 SE looking closer to chrome OS and running well on lower [new] hardware, offering access to your (old) data on Google drive is a key factor to enable hybrid environments and an eventual switch over. And Google certainly wouldn't like that.

@StephenHind No, I don't think Windows on ARM is as wide spread as Linux, but it has a higher visibility being Windows. The release of Thinkpad x13s elevated it to a whole new level by stamping it as approved for business.

Anyway, I definitely sound like pro Microsoft, and I kind of am, but I absolutely love Chromebooks and I own one for myself, one for my wife (who swears she's never go back to Windows), and one for my daughter. So I wish both OS well, and... Viva la competition!

[wjohnson]

Google has been rumored to have a working version of Chrome for ARM64 but will not release it.  Referred here,  here, and here.  Google is in a pissing match with Microsoft and/or Qualcomm and is keeping their toys to themselves. 

I should be trivial to generate an ARM64 binary right along side of the X86-64 directly from the sources, the "technical difficulties" 😉 hasn't stopped them from having a native version for the the Mac M1.  It's not a lack of traction, I'm running native versions of Photoshop and Lightroom under Windows 11/ARM it's pure maleficence as far as I'm concerned. 

[Tdjwjz]

I switched to OneDrive for backup and sync and I must say it's cheap and very efficient. Working in the background without losing performance or heating effect, so I'm surprised and pleased.

[winne42]

Dropbox also has a native ARM64 version

[philliplanos]

The question is can Chrome OS come to the Surface Pro X. Windows is fine but if it isn't going to get much ARM support it would be great for Google Chrome OS to come to the Surface Pro X. I would happily dual boot and likely use Chrome OS for pretty much everything if zoom and google play store are available. I would use Meet but most of the podcast work I do uses zoom due to the way most people are used to meeting with me. 

I just know Chrome OS would be lighter and snappier on the Surface Pro X.

[jordanhahn_owa]

If I can pile on...it is extremely disappointing to hear that Google will not be supporting Windows ARM. I too am running Windows on Apple silicone and was all excited to be able to integrate my Windows virtual machine with our Google Drive and workspace. I guess time to start looking at OneDrive....

[vestiels]

Just find a an alternative, RaiDrive.

Free for personal drive, subscription is needed for Google workspace however.

[vestiels]

I would suggest an alternative, RaiDrive

works perfectly as a network drive.

[Milosx]

Hello, adoption of Windows 11 ARM is growing - what are the Google plans now, please? Do you have already any app for Windows ARM or are you going to support this architecture or still not. Thank you!

[tpeixotobr]

I used to be a Google Fan, but now I'm very disapointed. It's not acceptable not supporting Drive for Microsoft Surface Pro X.
What do you think, Google? That I'm selling my new machine just because of Drive app??

I'll switch to One Drive right away.

[ariestav]

I'm running Windows 11 as a guest OS using Parallels on a MacBook pro M1.  You can use Cyberduck to map a drive to your Google Drive account on Windows ARM. 

See the following: https://cyberduck.io/ 

[ppczouz]

But I don't suppose it's ARM64 native as I only find one windows installer which is x64.

But if it works, it's still better than using the web version of GDrive.

[ariestav]

I don't know if it's ARM64 native, but I wanted to see if it would work, and it does.  It performs well.  They have a trial that you can test before license purchase.  Still, it's a shame that Google won't support this natively since we pay top dollar for their sync service.

[Mauco]

Download install FreeFileSync - the configuration it's pretty easy and you can export settings if you have more than 1 PC.

I'm testing this solution with no problems and also thinking aboout a donation to devs 🙂

[hillviewcounsel]

Looking for Google Drive/Workspace ARM support. Seems like a lot of people are switching to Onedrive because of this. 

[Genevazurich]

Just got my windows surface laptop running on ARM. Last piece missing is Google Drive.....

[Seamack24]

Any Google staff updates on supporting the Google Drive syncing application for ARM on Windows?

Given the new Microsoft-Snapdragon traction, as well as the fact that Chrome was recently updated for ARM, the "we're not investing in this due to low adoption" argument no longer seems valid.

Thanks!

[mjwierzgac]

Im reopening this discussion because its 2024 and the last post is in 2022.  Has Google finally come to terms that ARM based processors is being widely deployed now (expecially with the Snapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) in the new Surface Laptops, and Samsung Laptops)?

[L1nf0rd]

Install Mountain Duck works perfectly

[redclaytroy]

I looked through a few different options because I couldn't switch our infrastructure to OneDrive. I'm using RaiDrive to achieve this and hopefully Google will come up with a solution as ARM becomes more widespread.