A recent Google Drive update promises to speed up file synchronization, particularly for larger files, by introducing a new feature called differential uploads. This update, which is available only for the desktop version of Google Drive, allows the cloud service to sync only the parts of a file that have been modified, rather than uploading the entire file again. This makes the upload process significantly faster, especially when dealing with large files.
Simply put, the update ensures that Google Drive now only uploads the changes made to a file, saving time and bandwidth. This highly anticipated feature is available to all users, including those with personal accounts and Workspace customers. However, it’s important to note that this update is exclusive to the desktop version, and there’s no indication that it will be extended to other platforms or devices.
While this feature is new for Google Drive users, it’s not entirely groundbreaking. For instance, Microsoft OneDrive has offered similar functionality since 2020. According to Google’s update document, the differential uploads feature is still in the rollout phase, meaning it might take a few days for it to become available to all users.
