Drive File Stream

DFS is not Dropbox

Dropbox was among the first consumer products that synchronized your files with a place in the cloud. Dropbox specifically created a folder on your computer where you could deposit files - whatever you did in that folder was available on the web as well. Magic!

Dropbox was initially meant as a form of file repository, a digital copy of your HD. In times when you carried around physical devices, Dropbox was revolutionary because you instantly had access to what you had done at home.

DFS works the opposite way. It shows you what files you have on Google Drive, including your Team Drives. It does not care what you have on your desktop computer.

DFS is not Google Backup & Sync

Backup and Sync replaces an older service called "Google Drive" (not to be confused with ... well Google Drive. Terrible at naming, aren't they?).

Like Dropbox, Backup and Sync sends a copy of local folders into the Cloud (into Google Drive, to be specific). It went a step further in allowing you to select different folders, even system folders like "My Documents", "Desktop" and "Photos" which would conveniently end up in Google Photos.

DFS does not do that. You can't specify files you have on your computer and keep those files synced.

I find the "Backup" part misleading because you would not be able to restore your computer after a Windows failure, for example. It is really still a Sync tool.

DFS is not a PC backup tool

and neither is Backup & Sync. Google's mission is to get hold of organize the world's data, not to organize the world's Windows PCs for free. Neither product will backup your settings, your system files or your accounts.

When you install DFS, it creates a virtual drive on your computer. You can now

• use Windows Explorer or any other program to see what is inside your Drive and Team Drives

• drag and drop things around, even upload and download

• use programs to edit what is stored inside your Drive. You can even use commands such as "Save as..." or "Open ..." and use files stored on Drive.

All of this happens while you are online.

While you can configure many G Suite apps to work offline (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Draw), you will not have all your content available when you head out into the wild.

DFS will try to be smart about what files you will need, and keeps them offline for you. Those files include recently shared, recently edited and some AI smarts. Offline means inaccessible if you exit DFS.

You can also right-click files and entire folders and make them available offline.