Google Drive: Show shared folders on your computer - here's how

Sometimes it's the little things that make everyday life difficult. I recently had a problem with the Google Drive app: a shared folder that someone had shared with me simply couldn't be found in the Finder (Mac). Maybe you have the same problem - whether on Mac or Windows? Everything else is synchronized, but exactly this one folder is missing.

The good news is that the problem is quickly solved. And yes, the solution works for both macOS and Windows.

The problem: Shared folders are missing on your computer

The Google Drive app only synchronizes content from "My storage" by default. Shared folders that are under "Shared with me" are not automatically downloaded - neither on Mac nor on Windows. This is quite inconvenient, especially if you need to access such folders regularly.

The solution: Create a shortcut in "My Clipboard"

Here's the trick: You can manually link the shared folder in "My File". This is how it works:

1. Open Google Drive in the browser
   Open Google Drive in your web browser and go to "Shared with me" in the menu on the left. There you will find all the folders and files that others have shared with you.
2. Add a shortcut
   Right-click on the desired folder and select "Organize → Add shortcut". This allows you to "move" the shared folder to "My Clipboard" - don't worry, this is just a shortcut and not a copy.
3. Activate synchronization
   Make sure that synchronization is activated for "My File" in the Google Drive app:
   • Mac: The folder appears in the Finder under "Google Drive" after synchronization.
   • Windows: The folder is displayed in Windows Explorer under "Google Drive".

Why this works

Google Drive treats the "Shared with me" area as a separate section that is not automatically synchronized. With the link, you're basically telling the app: "This folder is now part of my stuff." And it will be synchronized - regardless of whether you are using a Mac or a Windows PC.