Google is replacing Google Drive for PC and Mac with a new tool that it calls Backup and Sync. This new version of Google Drive will be a much more robust tool, allowing you to backup and sync all of your files and folders. That is if you have enough space left in your Google Drive allowance.

It's essential to back your files up regularly. It doesn't matter how you do it -- whether to the cloud or an external HDD -- as long as you actually do it. And often enough to ensure you won't lose your mind (as well as your files) in the event of a catastrophic system crash. Google is here to help.

Google Helps You Backup and Sync

On June 28th, 2017, Google is releasing a new tool called Backup and Sync. According to G Suite Updates, this is "the latest version of Google Drive for Mac/PC, which is now integrated with the Google Photos desktop uploader". In other words it's intended to replace both of those apps.

Google describes Backup and Sync as a "tool intended to help everyday users back up files and photos from their computers, so they’re safe and accessible from anywhere". The big change being the ability to direct Backup and Sync to monitor specific folders to be backed up to the cloud. This includes your Desktop, your Documents folder, or your Photos. Assuming you have enough room.

Google insists Backup and Sync is "primarily intended for consumer users," with G Suite customers advised to "continue to use Drive for Mac/PC until our new enterprise-focused solution, Drive File Stream (currently in EAP), is made generally available to all G Suite Basic, Business, Enterprise, Education, and Nonprofit domains later this year".

Google Respects Your Authoritah

It remains to be seen how useful this change will actually prove to be. We suspect most people will carry on using Google Drive the way they always have done, especially as Google is respecting current settings. However, it's nice to have the option of using Backup and Sync as a tool to, well, backup and sync files and folders, so we're certainly not complaining.

Do you use Google Drive to save files to the cloud? Do you also use it as a way of backing up your files? Do you appreciate Google improving Google Drive in this way? Will Backup and Sync make you more likely to pay for storage? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Markus Spiske via Flickr