{"id":46635,"date":"2024-05-24T09:52:36","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T09:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/?p=46635"},"modified":"2025-12-18T15:49:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T15:49:04","slug":"set-up-google-drive-ubuntu-2404","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/index.php\/2024\/05\/set-up-google-drive-ubuntu-2404\/","title":{"rendered":"Set up Google Drive for Local Folder Sync in Ubuntu 24.04"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This simple tutorial shows how to set up Google Drive, so you can access and sync files between the cloud and local folder in Ubuntu 24.04.<\/p>\n

Ubuntu with default GNOME desktop has built-in option to map Google Drive onto local folder. For other desktop environments, such as MATE, XFCE, and Unity, there’s also a graphical app can do the job easily!<\/p>\n

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Option 1: For GNOME, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon<\/h3>\n

Ubuntu with GNOME Desktop, KUbuntu (and Ubuntu Studio) with Plamsa, and Ubuntu Cinnamon have built in option to do the job.<\/p>\n

For the 3 desktop environments, simply launch Settings<\/b> (or System Settings<\/b>), then navigate to Online Accounts<\/b> in the left.<\/p>\n

Next click Google (KDE needs to first click “Add New Account” in bottom right<\/i>) and then “Sign in”. Finally, in either pop-up dialog or web browser tab, login your Google Email account and grant permission to access from your Ubuntu Desktop.<\/p>\n

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When done, open up a File Manager window, and you’ll see your email in left pane. By clicking on it, allows you to access your Google Drive files in local folder. And, any files your created\/pasted there will get synced into the cloud.<\/p>\n

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And, you can click your account in the “Online Account” setting page at any time. Where, you can either turn on\/off access permission for Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and Files, or remove the Google Account to disable the feature.<\/p>\n

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Option 2: For all desktop environments<\/h3>\n

UPDATE Dec-2025: Celeste discontinued. So I updated this option by using RClone.<\/b><\/p>\n

RClone<\/a> is a popular free open-source program to sync files\/folders between local and cloud services. It supports Google Drive and many other providers, including Dropbox, iCloud Drive, MEGA, Onedrive, and more!<\/p>\n

Step 1: Install RClone<\/h4>\n

The software is available in Ubuntu universe repository since 18.04.<\/p>\n

To install it<\/b>, simply open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:<\/p>\n

sudo apt install rclone<\/pre>\n
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If you would like to get the latest version, then download and install the .deb<\/code> package from RClone Github releases<\/a> page.<\/p>\n
Step 2: Connect to your Google Drive<\/h4>\n
RClone is a command line tool, which however provides a web UI since version 1.49.<\/p>\n
To launch the web UI<\/b>, open terminal and run command:<\/p>\n
rclone rcd --rc-web-gui<\/pre>\n
It will start the web UI server, listening on 127.0.0.1:5572, and open it automatically with your default web-browser.<\/p>\n
Next<\/b>, go to “Configs” in left pane of the web page, and click create new remote:<\/p>\n