Great observation! This is a common issue with Google Drive for Desktop on macOS.
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Why You’re Seeing This
On recent versions of macOS, Apple tightened system permissions and how apps can access folders. Google Drive for Desktop (the app that syncs Google Drive to your Mac) now uses the Apple File Provider framework, which:
- Controls where cloud files are stored locally,
- Prevents users from changing the sync folder location manually, unlike the older versions.
You’ll typically see a message like:
“Folder location is controlled by macOS”
or
“Location is set by macOS and cannot be changed.”
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What You Can (and Cannot) Do
You cannot move the main Google Drive folder to another location (like an external drive or custom folder) if you’re on:
- macOS Monterey (12) or later
- The latest versions of Google Drive for Desktop
This is by design (Apple’s new file access rules, not Google’s choice).
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What are your options?
- Default location:
Google Drive will appear in your Finder sidebar as a “mounted drive” (usually under ~/Library/CloudStorage/Google Drive).
- You can create shortcuts or aliases:
Right-click “Google Drive” in Finder and select “Make Alias” to put a shortcut on Desktop or Documents.
- You can’t move the actual storage location—it’s enforced by macOS for security and integration reasons.
- If you really need another location:
The only workaround is to use an older version of both macOS and Google Drive, but this is not recommended (security risks and lack of support).
- If you want local copies elsewhere:
You can copy or symlink files from Google Drive to another location, but this does not sync changes—it’s just a copy.
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Summary Table
| Task | Possible on Latest macOS? | Notes |
|---|
| Change main Drive folder path | ❌ | Controlled by macOS (Apple File Provider) |
| Create shortcuts/aliases | ✅ | For convenience only |
| Use external drive for sync | ❌ | Not possible with new File Provider |
| Sync selected folders only | ✅ | Set in Google Drive app preferences |
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Reference
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In short:
Apple’s security model now forces Google Drive’s sync folder to stay in the system-assigned location. You can’t change it—only create Finder shortcuts.
Let me know if you want a workaround for a specific workflow, or info on selective sync!