Google Drive Launches Differential Uploads for Faster File Sync

Google Drive Launches Differential Uploads for Faster File Sync

Google is now updating its desktop program, Google Drive, to include differential uploads. By uploading only the altered parts of huge files instead of the complete file again, this new function speeds up file synchronization. Efficiency is improved by the modification, particularly for those who frequently update and sync large files.

Now accessible to all Google Workspace users, Workspace Individual subscribers, and personal Google account holders, the upgrade was first revealed in the Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap on January 10, 2025. Differential uploads save bandwidth in addition to synchronization time.

When syncing files using the Drive for desktop program on Windows or macOS, this update is automatically enabled, so users don’t need to do anything. Although this feature is presently limited to computers, we expect that it will eventually be available on mobile platforms.

Differential uploads were first implemented by Microsoft OneDrive during the 2020 pandemic more than four years ago, and Google followed suit.