How to Use Google Drive in Linux

Google Drive is one of the famous cloud storage services provided by Google. Google Drive allows users to store files online and access them from anywhere. Google Drive is available for all major platforms i.e. Windows, MacOS, Linux, and others. In this article, we will learn how to use Google Drive in Linux to store and access our files.

Accessing Google Drive on any platform including Linux is very simple. We just need a web browser to navigate Google Drive.

Step 1: Open any Web browser on your Linux computer. For example, let’s open Firefox.

Step 2: On your web browser go to drive.google.com to visit the official website of Google Drive.

Step 3: On the webpage enter your valid email ID and password and you will be logged in.

Step 4: Now you can explore the Drive and upload any file or access already uploaded or shared files.

While we can use Google Drive using just a web browser, we still need a dedicated application for Google Drive for synchronization. For Linux, we have both the Command Line tool and GUI application to sync Google Drive.

1. Rclone (CLI Tool)

Rclone is a command-line program used for managing and synchronizing files across various cloud storage services, including Google Drive. It supports a wide range of operations such as copying, syncing, and moving files, offering extensive configuration options and efficient performance. Rclone is particularly favored for its flexibility and powerful scripting capabilities.

2. Google-drive-ocamlfuse (CLI Tool)

Google-drive-ocamlfuse is a command-line tool that allows users to mount their Google Drive as a file system on Linux. It provides seamless access to Google Drive files, enabling standard file operations like reading, writing, and synchronizing, directly from the terminal. This tool is appreciated for its ease of use and integration with the Linux file system.

3. GNOME Online Accounts (GUI Tool)

GNOME Online Accounts is a GUI tool that integrates online services, including Google Drive, into the GNOME desktop environment. By adding a Google account, users can seamlessly access and manage their Google Drive files directly from the GNOME file manager. This integration offers a user-friendly and convenient way to synchronize and interact with Google Drive on Linux.

4. KlO GDrive (GUI Tool)

Kio GDrive is a GUI tool that integrates Google Drive with the KDE desktop environment. It allows users to access and manage their Google Drive files directly from the Dolphin file manager. Kio GDrive provides a seamless and intuitive way to browse, upload, download, and synchronize Google Drive files within the KDE Plasma desktop.

1. Using Rclone (CLI Tool)

Step 1: Install Rclone

Open the terminal in your Linux computer and run the following command to install Rclone.

sudo apt install rclone

This command will give you superuser access and ask for a password. Once verified, the application will be downloaded and installed.

Output:

Step 2: Configure Rclone

After installation is done, it is time to configure Rclone with Google Drive. Run the following command to start the configuration,

rclone config

Output:

Step 3: Create a new Remote

Enter “n” for the new remote and give a name for the mount.

Enter “13” to choose Google Drive and then enter “1” to give full access to Google Drive.

Step 4: Authenticate Google Account

Leave all other fields as default and you will be taken to the web browser to select your Google Account.

Step 5: Explore Rclone

Once authentication is done you will be taken back to the Terminal and you will have options to make changes to the drive using CLI.

Now you can quit this config menu and start using Google Drive in Terminal. For example, run the following command to list all the files and directories inside Google Drive.

rclone ls Beginnerfolder

OR

Create a new directory and add it to Google Drive by running the following command.

mkdir newfolder
rclone mount --daemon --vfs-cache-mode full Beginnerfolder:/./newfolder/

2. Using Google-drive-ocamlfuse

Step 1: Install Google-drive-ocamlfuse

Firstly we will install Google-drive-ocamlfuse on the computer. Add a new repository to download the packages required. Then we need to update the system. Once done, we can install the application.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alessandro-strada/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get insatall google-drive-ocamlfuse

Output:

Step 2: Create a new Directory

Once installed, create a new directory in the system for Google Drive using the following command,

mkdir gfg
google-drive-ocamlfuse ~/gfg/

The first command will create a new directory and the second one will map the directory with Google Drive.

Output:

Step 3: Authenticate Google Drive

Authenticate the Google Account using which you want to access Google Drive. Just allow all the permissions asked and you are all set to use Google Drive using Google-drive-ocamlfuse this includes view, edit, create, and delete access to Google Drive.

3. Using GNOME Online Accounts (GUI Tool)

Step 1: Open Settings

Open Settings on your Computer with GNOME desktop (Ubuntu Linux comes with GNOME built-in.). In Settings, go to “Online Accounts” and select “Google”.

Step 2: Sign In with valid credentials

Give a valid email and password and accept the terms to continue. You need to provide full access to our Google account to GNOME for better usability.

Step 3: Turn on Required Accesses

Once you give the required permission a box will open with toggles to enable/disable different permissions. For Files keep the toggle at On.

Step 4: Explore File Manager

Once you have completed all the steps, you should see a network drive in your file manager. This is the Google Drive that you have mapped.

As you can see it has the same folder that we created earlier.

4. Using KlO GDrive (GUI Tool)

Step 1: Install KIO GDrive

Unlike GNOME, we need to install KIO GDrive on your computer, before we can use it. Run the following command in the Terminal to install KIO GDrive.

sudo apt install kio-gdrive

Output:

Step 2: Make LibreOffice KDE compatible

KIO GDrive is compatible with KDE-based systems. So we need to make the LibreOffice compatible with KIO. Run the following command to install an additional package.

sudo apt install libreoffice-kde

Output:

Step 3: Install Dolphin

As KIO GDrive is a KDE-based application, we will also need a Dolphin file manager to use KIO GDrive. Run the following command to install Dolphin.

sudo apt install dolphin

Output:

Step 4: Explore Drive

Open Dolphin and Select Google Drive from the options given in Network.

Follow the same steps given in the previous example to connect your Google Account and that’s it you can use Google Drive as a local directory in your Linux PC as we show in GNOME.

Can I use Google Drive on Linux without installing any additional software?

Yes, you can access Google Drive on Linux using any web browser. Simply go to drive.google.com, log in with your Google account, and you can manage your files directly from the web interface without needing any additional software.

What is the difference between Rclone and Google-drive-ocamlfuse?

Rclone is a versatile command-line tool that supports various cloud storage services and offers extensive file management capabilities, including copying, syncing, and moving files. Google-drive-ocamlfuse, on the other hand, is specifically designed to mount Google Drive as a file system on Linux, allowing you to interact with your Google Drive files as if they were part of your local file system.

How do I mount my Google Drive on a Linux system using GNOME Online Accounts?

To mount your Google Drive using GNOME Online Accounts:

1. Open the Settings application and navigate to “Online Accounts.“
2. Select “Google” and sign in with your Google account credentials.
3. Enable the “Files” toggle to allow access to Google Drive.
4. Open your file manager, where you will see your Google Drive listed under network drives.

Is it possible to use Google Drive with the KDE desktop environment?

Yes, you can use Google Drive with the KDE desktop environment by installing KIO GDrive. This tool integrates Google Drive with the Dolphin file manager, allowing you to browse, upload, download, and manage your Google Drive files seamlessly within the KDE Plasma desktop.

In conclusion, accessing and managing Google Drive on Linux is straightforward and versatile, with options ranging from web-based access to dedicated command-line and GUI tools. Whether using Rclone, Google-drive-ocamlfuse, GNOME Online Accounts, or Kio GDrive, Linux users have multiple methods to integrate and synchronize their Google Drive files efficiently. These tools cater to different preferences and desktop environments, ensuring a smooth and productive experience for all users.