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Can’t Sign Into Google Drive Desktop: How to Fix it
Check the Firewall, proxy, or antivirus settings
9 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Is your Google Drive app’s system tray icon greyed out with no option to sign in? If you can’t sign in with yourGoogle Driveapp, there are a few potential fixes.
These are some probable fixes to try out in various Windows platforms if you can’t sign in with theGoogle Driveclient software.
If you’re asking why Google Drive keeps asking me to sign in, that can be caused by several issues, but we’ve got solutions for all of them below.
Many useGoogle Driveto store their data online. However, sometimes issues withGoogle Drivecan occur and prevent you from signing in.
Speaking ofGoogle Driveerrors, here are some of the most common issues that users reported:
Try accessing Google Drive using another browser, like Opera One. It’s built using the new Chromium engine and works just as well, if not faster than other browsers like Chrome or IE.
Besides, you can enjoy private navigation through your Google Drive files thanks to the built-in VPN and the tracking blocker. Also, this browser comes with a native AI.
Opera One
Can I access Google Drive without a Gmail account?
Yes, you can access Google Drive, and most of the other services, using a non-Google account or one ending with@gmail.com.
To do that, head toGoogle’s account creation page, enter the account details, including the email address, and create an account. Once done, you would get the 15GB storage space as others on Google Drive.
No, whenever someone shares a link with you to access Google Drive, you would be asked to either provide an address linked to Google or create one. So, you will have to create aGoogle account.
Also, to add files to their allotted storage space on Google Drive, users are required to create a Google account, though it’s not mandatory to use Gmail for the purpose.
How do I get rid of sign in required Google Drive?
1. Update the Google Drive client software
First, consider reinstallingGoogle Driveto ensure it’s the most updated version. You canuninstall theGoogle Driveclient much the same as most Windows software viaPrograms and Features.
Open theGoogle Drive pageand clickDownload Drive for desktop, and then run the setup to install it. Restart the computer when you’ve re-installedGoogle Drive.
2. Switch off the Windows Firewall
The Windows Firewall might be blocking theGoogle Driveapp. So switch it off to see if that makes a difference. If the backup and sync not signed in problem persist, head to the next method.
3. Allow an app in Windows Firewall
That’s it. Whitelisting it in Windows Firewall will help fix theGoogle Drive can’t sign inerror, and you won’t have to disable Firewall anymore.
4. Check your antivirus
According to users, in some cases, you won’t be able to sign in toGoogle Drivedue to your antivirus. Sometimes your antivirus settings can interfere with Google Drive, and to fix this issue, it’s recommended to check your antivirus settings and ensure thatGoogle Driveisn’t blocked.
IfGoogle Driveisn’t blocked by your antivirus, you can try disabling certain antivirus features and check if that helps. In some cases, you might even have to disable your antivirus entirely.
In the worst-case scenario, you’ll need to remove your antivirus and check if that solves the problem. If removing the antivirus solves the issue, you should consider switching to a different antivirus solution.
In order to fix this issue and access your Drive files again, you should find an efficient antivirus. You should therefore consider one of thebest antivirus programs for browsing.
5. Re-establish the Google Drive Path
Once done, check if the Google Drive desktop can’t sign in problem is resolved. If not, head to the next method.
6. Check your proxy settings
In order to protect theirprivacyonline, many users useproxy to hide their identity. Although proxy can be quite useful, sometimes it can interfere withGoogle Driveand causeYou are not signed inmessage to appear.
To fix this problem, it’s advised to check your proxy settings and disable them.
After doing that, your proxy should be completely disabled, and the issue should be resolved. As you can see, the proxy is a simple way to protect yourprivacyonline, but it can lead to certain issues.
Nonetheless, if you want to protect your online identity without problems on Google Drive, a VPN solution might be beneficial. So don’t hesitate to choose thebest VPNs available for Windows 10 PCs.
7. Adjust the Region Settings in Windows
8. Check the User Directory Google Drive folder permissions
Also, check yourGoogle Drivefolder permissions. The Windows account you use with Google Drive should give you full control of that folder.
9. Remove Google from Trusted sites
According to users, sometimes issues withGoogle Drivecan appear due to your Internet settings.
If you’re gettingYou are not signed in messagewhile trying to accessGoogle Drive, the problem might be your Trusted sites list, and following the steps here should fix things.
10. Reinstall the Google Drive client
If you’re having issues withYou are not signed inmessage, you might want to consider reinstalling theGoogle Driveclient.
Your installation might be corrupted, orGoogle Drivemight be misconfigured, thus causing this issue to occur. To fix the problem, it’s advised to uninstallGoogle Driveand install it again.
There are several ways to removeGoogle Drive, but the best one is to use uninstaller software. Uninstaller software is a special application that allows you to remove any application from your PC completely.
By using uninstaller software, you’ll remove all files and registry entries related to the application you want to remove. This will ensure that there aren’t any leftover files that can interfere with your system.
There are many great uninstaller applications, but the best isIObit Uninstaller 10 Pro. Once you removeGoogle Drivewith this tool, install it once again, and the issue should be permanently resolved.
Can someone else upload files to my Google Drive?
Yes, anyone can upload files to your Google Drive, given they have access to it and the permission to edit. Here, you have to suitably configure the sharing settings before providing access to Google Drive to others.
Google Drive offers three options for sharing files,Viewer,Commentor, andEditor. If you want others to be able to upload files, chooseEditor.
So, with these fixes, you should be able to fix things when seeing theGoogle Drive can’t sign inerror.
Also, find out what to do ifGoogle Drive keeps crashing in Windows 10/11.
If you know of other fixes that have worked for this error, drop them in the comments section below.
More about the topics:error,Google Drive
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
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Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
He is passionate about everything surrounding Microsoft’s OS, focusing on troubleshooting guides & tips for everyday problems.
