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dachshundx

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 13, 2016
42
4
Has anyone been able to get Google Backup and Sync to work on an M1 Mac? I cannot get through the setup/installation process.
 

yetieater

macrumors regular
May 6, 2007
141
0
USA
Likewise, I'm having trouble getting Google Drive File Stream working. With GDFS specifically, the application completes installation, but the corresponding system extension does not appear in the Security & Privacy System Preferences pane
 

yuser

macrumors member
Sep 18, 2009
56
9
Same here.
On my MBP the installation works but after login into the Google account it crashes.
 

cemetry_gates

macrumors newbie
Nov 19, 2020
5
7
Murcia
Was beginning to think I was the only one with this issue, until I found this thread! Currently have a support ticket open with Google to see what the fix is. Definitely and frustratingly not working with M1 Macbook Air. I have Backup and Sync running fine on 2 Intel chip devices running Big Sur, so guessing it's a compatibility issue.
 

trailmonkey

macrumors regular
Feb 22, 2019
153
64
Hmm, all of my work and most of my personal files reside on GD. Hoping this gets fixed reliably before my MBA arrives. Ta for the heads up.
 

cemetry_gates

macrumors newbie
Nov 19, 2020
5
7
Murcia
This...

Open finder and go to the following folder: ~/Library/Application Support/Google
  1. Delete the "Drive" folder there
  2. Move the Backup & Sync app to the trash
  3. Empty the trash folder
  4. Download and Reinstall the Backup & Sync app
  5. Note that at this point I went through the steps to setup the app from the beginning, but got the same error.
  6. Support asked me to restart my MBA - this was my first full system restart.
  7. After restart I went through the setup steps again and everything with the app started working fine. It did a merge to avoid duplicating files, but everything is working fine now.

Points 5 & 6 are key. After reinstalling, the error stills occurs, BUT full reboot worked. On restart, Google login window appeared immediately and files are now downloading.

Hopefully, that's a wrap!
 

dachshundx

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 13, 2016
42
4
Since Google Backup and Sync wasn't working when I initially started this thread, I decided to try out iCloud Drive as a temporary solution. However, after using it all week, I actually like it quite a bit: it's super simple to use, seems to be quick to sync, and it does everything I need it to do. Is there any reason you guys don't use iCloud Drive instead of Backup and Sync? What am I missing? Thanks!
 

cemetry_gates

macrumors newbie
Nov 19, 2020
5
7
Murcia
Since Google Backup and Sync wasn't working when I initially started this thread, I decided to try out iCloud Drive as a temporary solution. However, after using it all week, I actually like it quite a bit: it's super simple to use, seems to be quick to sync, and it does everything I need it to do. Is there any reason you guys don't use iCloud Drive instead of Backup and Sync? What am I missing? Thanks!
I also use iCloud Drive as well as Google drive and find it works well. However, GDrive is still king for work purposes. I my fase, I use iCloud for pages and numbers files and to sync desktop items and then GDrive for the rest, I particular for work files and shared docs.
 

rayskyy

macrumors newbie
Sep 25, 2017
5
2
This...

Open finder and go to the following folder: ~/Library/Application Support/Google
  1. Delete the "Drive" folder there
  2. Move the Backup & Sync app to the trash
  3. Empty the trash folder
  4. Download and Reinstall the Backup & Sync app
  5. Note that at this point I went through the steps to setup the app from the beginning, but got the same error.
  6. Support asked me to restart my MBA - this was my first full system restart.
  7. After restart I went through the setup steps again and everything with the app started working fine. It did a merge to avoid duplicating files, but everything is working fine now.

Points 5 & 6 are key. After reinstalling, the error stills occurs, BUT full reboot worked. On restart, Google login window appeared immediately and files are now downloading.

Hopefully, that's a wrap!
thanks very much for this. this worked for me ! I even had google support confused on this issue - kept sending me down rabbit holes. your right, 5 and 6 are key.
 
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captainavi

macrumors newbie
Nov 21, 2020
1
0
Since Google Backup and Sync wasn't working when I initially started this thread, I decided to try out iCloud Drive as a temporary solution. However, after using it all week, I actually like it quite a bit: it's super simple to use, seems to be quick to sync, and it does everything I need it to do. Is there any reason you guys don't use iCloud Drive instead of Backup and Sync? What am I missing? Thanks!
I had been using iCloud for a long time, it's really convenient since I have so many apple devices. However, in Jan/Feb after a huge data loss and battery issues (I found the bird process that syncs iCloud was out of control such that my new macbook pro would last 1.5hrs while browsing) I spent about 5-6 hours on the phone with apple via about 14-15 service reps. Multiple times I was assured it would be fixed and I would be called back. I emailed my friends who work there as well as multiple service people at apple. Long story short, I got a call in May after I had already switched to Google and overall I'm really unhappy with how Apple addressed the whole situation. In the back of my head I can't help but think how Apple has incentive to prevent this from working for a little bit so people will want to switch to iCloud. (Btw, google syncs about 10x faster than iCloud)
 

iamse7en

macrumors member
Jan 9, 2007
91
10
The "fix" does not work for me. I have deleted, reinstalled, restarted many times. Even used AppDelete to make sure every single preference, cache, etc from Drive is deleted. It always has the "must quit" issue. Both Backup and Sync and File Stream are both broken. Microsoft Onedrive still works fine. Google really dropped the ball here.
 

chirito

macrumors newbie
Jun 13, 2007
3
0
This...

Open finder and go to the following folder: ~/Library/Application Support/Google
  1. Delete the "Drive" folder there
  2. Move the Backup & Sync app to the trash
  3. Empty the trash folder
  4. Download and Reinstall the Backup & Sync app
  5. Note that at this point I went through the steps to setup the app from the beginning, but got the same error.
  6. Support asked me to restart my MBA - this was my first full system restart.
  7. After restart I went through the setup steps again and everything with the app started working fine. It did a merge to avoid duplicating files, but everything is working fine now.

Points 5 & 6 are key. After reinstalling, the error stills occurs, BUT full reboot worked. On restart, Google login window appeared immediately and files are now downloading.

Hopefully, that's a wrap!
Any idea how that might work for Google drive file stream?
 

Smitter

macrumors newbie
Nov 23, 2020
3
1
This...

Open finder and go to the following folder: ~/Library/Application Support/Google
  1. Delete the "Drive" folder there
  2. Move the Backup & Sync app to the trash
  3. Empty the trash folder
  4. Download and Reinstall the Backup & Sync app
  5. Note that at this point I went through the steps to setup the app from the beginning, but got the same error.
  6. Support asked me to restart my MBA - this was my first full system restart.
  7. After restart I went through the setup steps again and everything with the app started working fine. It did a merge to avoid duplicating files, but everything is working fine now.

Points 5 & 6 are key. After reinstalling, the error stills occurs, BUT full reboot worked. On restart, Google login window appeared immediately and files are now downloading.

Hopefully, that's a wrap!
Have tried all of these steps, specifically 5 & 6 multiple times, and still same error message. Backup & Sync is seriously broken.
 

Smitter

macrumors newbie
Nov 23, 2020
3
1
Just got off a chat with Google Level 2 support. Apparently the problem is Apple's. They broke something when launching Big Sur and its specific to Rosetta. Per Google Support...

"we were informed they will release an update for Rosetta 2 and that will fix it, but in the meantime our apps are not compatible, Drive File Stream nor Backup and Sync."

That's not great news. Anybody have any info on when this might happen?
 
Last edited:
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BCJ

macrumors newbie
Nov 23, 2020
3
0
I did the above sequence a few times and if failed each time. This last time, I turned syncing OFF during the initial login and it loaded. Then I went into preferences and turned syncing ON. As I type this, my files are downloading from Google Drive. We'll see if it continues or if I get the intermittent issues like some have reported. This is on a new MacBook Pro, BTW. The only reason I got a new MacBook is because Big Sur killed my 2014. Note to self... never upgrade MACOS without checking the boards first!
 

beachybumm

macrumors newbie
Nov 23, 2020
2
0
Just got off a chat with Google Level 2 support. Apparently the problem is Apple's. They broke something when launching Big Sur and its specific to Rosetta. Per Google Support...

"we were informed they will release an update for Rosetta 2 and that will fix it, but in the meantime our apps are not compatible, Drive File Stream nor Backup and Sync."

That's not great news. Anybody have any info on when this might happen?
I don't see how this can be right. My B&S worked fine the first day I had the M1, before I made any updates to the computer. My MBA M1 came with Big Sur installed and it worked without issue. Some people are reporting that the Big Sur update killed their B&S, but mine started receiving this error randomly before any updates were applied. It seems like it's a Google problem. Also, I filed a ticket last week, and when I follow up, I've been told they're still looking into it.
 
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