How to Fix Google Drive When It Cannot Refresh

To fix Google Drive when it can't refresh, check your internet connection, reopen Drive, and update the app before clearing its cache or resetting local data. Check for a Google Drive outage early, then follow the fixes for your phone, browser, or desktop app. The Android settings paths below use Google's Pixel menus; other manufacturers may arrange the controls differently.

Check your connection and Google's service status

Wait briefly, then reopen Drive and try again. Open another website to check whether the connection works, then test Drive on another working Wi-Fi or mobile-data connection. On public Wi-Fi, open Chrome and complete the network's sign-in portal when prompted.

Check the Google Drive row on the Google Workspace Status Dashboard and open any incident for details. If Google reports an outage, wait for recovery before retrying. When other websites also fail, restart your modem and router or contact your internet provider.

Reopen and update Drive on Android

On a Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Drive, select Force stop, then tap OK. Reopen Drive and check whether it refreshes. On another Android phone, look for the equivalent controls in its app settings.

Next, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and select Manage apps & devices. Under Updates available, update Drive. You can also install an available update through the Google Drive listing published by Google LLC.

If refreshing still fails, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Drive > Storage & cache. Tap Clear cache, then reopen Drive. Leave the app-data reset until after the simpler checks below.

On Pixel 6 and later, including Fold, hold Power and Volume up briefly, then tap Restart. On Pixel 5a and earlier, hold Power for approximately 30 seconds or until the phone restarts. For an available Pixel system update, open Settings > System > Software update and follow the instructions.

Close and update Drive on iPhone

On iPhone, swipe up and pause to open the app switcher, or double-click Home on a model with that button. Find Drive and swipe its preview upward, then reopen it. To update Drive on iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, select App Updates, and install the available Drive update.

If the iPhone app remains unresponsive, restart the phone. On a Face ID model, hold either Volume button and the Side button; on iPhone SE second or third generation, hold the Side button. Drag the power-off slider, wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

For an available iOS or iPadOS update, back up your device and connect it to power and Wi-Fi first. Open Settings > General > Software Update, select Download and Install when an update is offered, and follow the prompts.

Check mobile data and background restrictions

When Drive works on Wi-Fi but fails on cellular, check its mobile-data access. On a cellular-capable iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Cellular, enable Cellular Data, and enable Drive in the app list. Some iPads label this settings page Cellular Data.

For restricted background mobile data on a Pixel, open Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver > Unrestricted data and turn on Drive. If updates stall specifically while Drive is in the background, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Drive > App battery usage and turn on Allow background usage. Google recommends Optimized for normal battery use.

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Background App Refresh. Choose Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi & Cellular Data, and reopen Drive after force-closing it. These settings control background content updates, so use them when updates stall while you are using another app.

Reload Drive and isolate browser problems

In desktop Chrome on Windows or Linux, reload Drive with Ctrl + R. To bypass cached content, press Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows or Linux, or Command + Shift + R on Mac. If loading still fails, open drive.google.com in another updated, supported browser using the same account.

You can also use Drive web while a mobile or desktop app is failing. Sign in only through Google’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you.

To update desktop Chrome on Windows or Mac, open More > Help > About Google Chrome, let the update check finish, and select Relaunch when offered. Close unused tabs if the browser hangs or pages crash. Then select More > Exit on Windows, or Chrome > Quit Google Chrome on Mac, and reopen it.

Test a separate session through More > New Incognito window, then open Drive and sign in. This helps isolate stored site data or extension interference, although third-party cookies are initially blocked in Incognito.

To test extensions, open More > Extensions > Manage extensions, turn them off, test Drive, and restore them individually. If a managed extension prevents you from changing it, ask your administrator for assistance.

Deleting cookies and cached content removes that browsing data and may sign you out of websites. Open More > Delete browsing data, choose All time, and select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. Select Delete data, then reopen Drive and sign in if required.

Resume or restart Drive for desktop

For files that stop updating in Drive for desktop on Windows or macOS, select the Drive icon in the taskbar or menu bar. Open Settings and select Resume syncing if synchronization is paused. If it still stalls, choose Settings > Quit, then reopen Drive.

Follow the specific error when Drive identifies one. For a Can't locate folder error after moving or renaming a folder, select Locate in the notification, choose the folder, and select Open. For a low-space error, free space on the disk Drive identifies, then quit and reopen Drive.

Reinstalling can discard unsynced local content, so preserve it first. If the client still fails, download the current installer from Google's Drive product page, open it, and complete installation. Drive for desktop replaced the retired Backup and Sync client, so use the current client when following these steps.

Reset the mobile app only after simpler fixes fail

Clearing Drive's Android app data removes local app data and settings and can discard unsynced local content, so preserve that content first. On a Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Drive > Storage & cache, select Clear storage, and tap OK. Some Android devices show Clear data instead; reopen Drive afterward.

Reinstalling Drive can discard unsynced local content, so preserve it before removing the app. For an Android installation that allows removal, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and select Manage apps & devices > Manage > Drive > Uninstall. Reinstall Drive from Google's Play Store listing.

Removing updates from a preinstalled Pixel app can erase local app data, so preserve unsynced local content first. If your preinstalled copy offers the option, touch and hold Drive, select App info > More > Uninstall updates, then tap OK. Test Drive and install its latest update through Google Play. If the option is absent, continue with the account checks below.

Deleting and reinstalling Drive on iPhone or iPad can discard unsynced local content, so preserve it first. Touch and hold Drive, select Remove App > Delete App, then tap Delete. Redownload it from Google's Drive App Store listing. If parental controls or device management prevent deletion, continue with the account checks below.

Check account access and report a persistent error

For an account-specific failure, try signing into the same Google Account in a browser on another device. If that fails too, use Google's account sign-in help before resetting Drive again. On iPhone or iPad, tap your profile picture in Drive and select the intended account to check that you are viewing the right one.

If you use a managed Google Workspace account, ask your administrator to check whether Drive is enabled for your account. For a desktop-only restriction, ask them to check whether your organization allows Drive for desktop and whether device-authorization restrictions apply.

To report a persistent Android refresh error, open Drive and select Menu > Help & feedback > Send Feedback. Describe the error, device, account type, and troubleshooting already performed, then tap Send. Google's Drive support page also provides community and support routes, with support availability varying by account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can full Google storage cause a refresh error?

Full Google Account storage can block uploads or new-file creation, but it does not by itself establish the cause of a refresh error. You can review your storage at one.google.com/storage/management.

Why are Android uploads waiting even though mobile data works?

Drive's Wi-Fi-only transfer setting can keep transfers waiting for Wi-Fi. On an Android device with mobile data, open Drive and select Menu > Settings, then under Data usage, turn off Transfer files only over Wi-Fi. Use this setting for transfers waiting for Wi-Fi.

What can you try if Drive fails only in Firefox?

In desktop Firefox, open Drive, select the shield beside the address bar, and turn off Enhanced Tracking Protection for that site. Firefox reloads the page. Restore protection if the change makes no difference.

What should you do when Drive for desktop reports a transfer limit?

Allow Drive to retry automatically when it reports a bandwidth, upload, or download limit. If those retries do not succeed, wait a day and restart Drive.

Does disconnecting a desktop account put any files at risk?

Disconnecting a Drive for desktop account deletes its Lost & Found contents. Preserve those files before disconnecting the account.