How to Uninstall Google Drive on Mac Without Deleting Cloud Files

You can remove Google Drive for desktop from a Mac without deleting cloud files. The careful part is the local data: a mirrored folder can be a full local copy, while a streaming account can have offline files and cached work that need their own check.

Before disconnecting an account or uninstalling the app, check Drive’s sync state and any work that did not reach the web. Do not use Finder deletion as a shortcut for reclaiming Drive storage.

Start by finding out whether Drive is streaming or mirroring

Google Drive for desktop can stream files or mirror them. With streaming, the cloud is the primary home and only files you open, mark for offline use, or use often may be stored locally. With mirroring, Drive keeps a local copy of the selected content as well as the cloud copy, so it consumes much more disk space but is available offline.

Google's explanation of streaming and mirroring is the useful reference here. Do not infer the mode from whether a Drive location is visible in Finder. A visible location can still contain a mixture of downloaded files, placeholders, and items that are waiting to upload.

Finish sync and safeguard work that has not reached the web

Look at Drive's sync status first. If it reports an upload, an error, a conflict, or an item still being prepared, leave the app running and resolve that state before changing modes, disconnecting the account, or uninstalling it. Confirm that the files you expect are visible at drive.google.com and keep a copy outside Drive of work that cannot be recreated.

Also check for a Lost and Found notification or folder if Drive has previously failed to sync files. Google says that its Lost and Found files are deleted when the account is disconnected, so copy anything you need to a safe location first. A cloud account is not a substitute for an upload or recovery copy that you have not verified.

Do not delete or drag Drive files in Finder to reclaim space

On macOS systems using File Provider, dragging an item out of the Google Drive location in Finder moves it. Google says the cloud file is then put in the Trash. Placing a file in the Trash from either a streamed or mirrored Drive location can put it in the Trash everywhere.

To make a separate copy while using File Provider, hold Option as you drag, then verify the copy outside the Drive location. Do not delete or move Drive items merely to make the Mac look tidier. The Finder location and the visual cloud icon do not make a Drive file a disposable cache.

Disconnect or remove the app only after the local-data check

If you intend to disconnect a streaming account, Google says that its offline files are removed. Copy any offline work you need somewhere outside Drive first. Mirrored files remain on the Mac after a disconnect, but their folder is still a separate data decision, not evidence that the application was not removed.

For a mirrored My Drive folder you no longer need, use Drive’s documented switch from mirroring to streaming: wait for sync to complete, change the mode in Drive settings, quit Drive, then remove the old mirrored folder. Do not remove a system-managed Drive or CloudStorage folder by hand. Google’s macOS guide explains when Finder is using File Provider, and its mode-switch guide has the current mirror-to-stream flow.

Verify the change before deleting the old local copy

After switching modes or disconnecting an account, check the result from both sides. On the web, open several recent files and confirm that their content and modification times match what you expect. On the Mac, identify the old mirrored folder by its exact path and size. Do not confuse it with the File Provider location under ~/Library/CloudStorage, which is managed by macOS and may still appear in Finder after a mode change.

If the goal is to keep working offline, test that requirement before removing the old copy. Disconnect from the network briefly and open one or two files that must remain available. For a streaming setup, only items explicitly available offline should pass that test. For a mirrored setup, the local folder should contain the complete files rather than placeholders. Reconnect before asking Drive to sync or change modes again.

Move the obsolete mirrored folder to the Trash only after Drive has stopped using it and the cloud check is complete. Keep the Trash until you have used the new configuration for a while. The useful proof is not that a folder disappeared; it is that the current Drive location syncs without errors, recent work opens from the web, required offline files still open, and the intended amount of local disk space has returned.

FAQ

Does uninstalling Google Drive for desktop delete cloud files?

No. Removing the Mac application does not delete the files in the Google Drive account. Before disconnecting, however, check local data: streaming-account offline files are removed on disconnect, while mirrored files remain on the Mac.

How can I remove a mirrored folder without deleting cloud files?

First make sure every change has synced and that the expected files are visible on the web. Then switch My Drive from mirroring to streaming in Drive settings, quit Drive, and remove the old mirrored folder as Google documents. Do not delete files inside an active Drive location, because their cloud copies can be moved to the Trash as well.