A recent surge in reports from Google Drive users concerning vanishing files has finally elicited a response from Google. The tech giant confirmed awareness of the glitch affecting files on Google Drive and assured users that it's conducting an investigation. Unfortunately, a quick fix isn't on the horizon, as the issue is still under scrutiny.
The problem, according to Google, seems isolated to the Google Drive desktop application. Users on mobile operating systems like Android and iOS may not be encountering this predicament. Google's communications have highlighted that the situation is not widespread, but it is significant enough to demand their attention and prompt a forthcoming update as more details are unearthed.
In the interim, Google has proposed some precautionary measures to mitigate the risk of further data loss:
- Users are advised not to use the "Disconnect account" feature on the Google Drive desktop version.
- They should also avoid deleting or tampering with the application data folder, which can be found at "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\DriveFS" on Windows and "~/Library/Application Support/Google/DriveFS" on macOS.
- Additionally, it's recommended for those with available storage space to replicate the app data folder as an extra safeguard.
While these steps do not guarantee the complete safety of users' files, they serve as interim measures until the issue is fully resolved. Even those not currently impacted are encouraged to back up their essential data. The author of the original text personally backed up their critical files stored on Google Drive as a prudent step.
The disruption and inconvenience caused by the loss of access to unsaved files are significant, and the reliance on Google Drive for daily tasks exacerbates the problem. Users are looking to Google with hopes of a prompt resolution. With the company working on identifying the root of the issue, there is optimism that a fix will be available in the near future.