How to Uninstall Google Drive on Windows and Mac

Here’s how you can uninstall Google Drive on your Windows or Mac PC

It is possible that you have installed the Google Drive desktop application on your Windows or macOS computer, but have since realized that you don’t use it and don’t require it. The process of uninstalling it is fairly simple on both these platforms.

You do not need to worry if you change your mind down the road. In order to reinstall Google Drive Desktop, you simply need to download it again from the Google Drive Desktop website, as you did at the beginning.

How to uninstall Google Drive from Windows

In order to uninstall Google Drive on Windows, you have to go through a three-step process. You will first need to disconnect your Google account, then you will need to close the application, and finally, you will need to uninstall the program.

These screenshots were taken using Windows 10, but the steps are essentially the same for Windows 11.

How to Disconnect Your Windows Account

Google Drive must first be uninstalled from your Google account before it can be uninstalled from your computer.

The Google Drive icon in the System Tray can be clicked to unlink your account. Simply click the gear icon on the top right of the screen and choose “Preferences.”

On the next screen, select the gear icon and then click “Disconnect Account” at the top of the page.

You will see a pop-up window asking you to confirm by clicking “Disconnect”.

When you receive a subsequent pop-up window asking you to sign in to Google Drive, simply close the window.

Quit the application

After disconnecting and before you can uninstall Google Drive on Windows, you will have to Quit the application.

Click on the Google Drive icon once more in the System Tray. Then click on the gear icon on the top right and choose “Quit.”.

Also Read About: How to Access the Startup Folder in Windows 10

Using the Windows Control Panel, uninstall the application

On Windows, the easiest way to uninstall Google Drive is to open the Start menu, right-click on Google Drive, and then select “Uninstall.”

Right-click Google Drive and select “Uninstall” again in the Programs and Features window.

Once Windows asks you if you want to allow the Google Drive app to make changes (uninstall the app) click “Yes”. Then in the prompt from Google Drive, select “Uninstall.”

It may take a few moments for the process to complete. When the process has completed, you’ll see a confirmation that Google Drive has been uninstalled. Click “Close” to acknowledge the uninstallation and close the window.

Remove Google Drive from your Mac

On the Mac, you can simply quit the Google Drive application from the menu bar and then move it to the trash as described below, unlike Windows. On the other hand, if you prefer to disconnect your Google account first, it will only take a few minutes.

Disconnecting your account on a Mac

Select the Google Drive icon in the menu bar in order to disconnect your Google account. To do this, click the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen and select “Preferences.”

On the next screen, click the gear icon and then select “Disconnect Account” at the top.

In the pop-up window that appears, click “Disconnect” to confirm your disconnection.

You may receive a second prompt requesting that you sign in to Google Drive. It is best to close this window as soon as it appears.

How to uninstall the application on a Mac

Once you have disconnected from Google Drive, you can uninstall the application like other apps on your Mac. Go to the Finder’s menu bar, select Applications, and then select the application you want to uninstall.

You can then move Google Drive to the trash in one of the following ways:

• Drag the Google Drive application icon from the Dock to your Trash to delete it.
• Right-click the Google Drive application or hold down the Control key while clicking it. Select “Move to Trash” from the shortcut menu that appears.

Note: If you receive a message stating that the application is still running, click the Google Drive icon in the menu bar, select the gear icon, and then choose “Quit.” After that, uninstall the application.

If you want to completely remove Google Drive from your computer, you can either empty the trash or right-click the application in the trash folder to completely remove it.

It is still possible to use Google Drive on the web or on your mobile device as before and to download the files you need instead of syncing them. It is also possible to use an alternative free cloud storage service instead.