Does Time Machine backup Google Drive?

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Sparky Marky Author

Level 1

47 points

Does Time Machine backup Google Drive?

Does Time Machine backup Cloud Storage such as Google Drive and OneDrive?

I don't want it to include these

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Jun 16, 2023 1:39 AM

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Answer 1

Sparky Marky Author

Level 1

47 points

Jun 19, 2023 3:54 AM in response to PRP_53

My understanding from this article Back up your Mac with Time Machine – Apple Support (UK) is that TM backups most stuff by default. Once turned on, it is more about excluding items, than adding items to backup.

I can't find any information on if TM backs up cloud based systems like Google Drive or OneDrive.

I presume it won't because (thinking about it some more) files stored in GoogleDrive or OneDrive live in the cloud (unless the user has selected for the files to be mirrored). They don't live on the Mac, and so there is nothing to backup.

The GoogleDrive in my library folder doesn't appear to take up any space on my hard disk.

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Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

90,589 points

Jun 16, 2023 6:45 AM in response to Sparky Marky

I could be incorrect ( possible ) but unless the User specifically assigned Google Drive IN TM Backup Utility to Be Included in the TM Back Regime, it would not be

Excerpt from below link

Learn more

To exclude items from backups, open Time Machine settings, click Options, then click the add (+) button to add an item to be excluded. To stop excluding an item, select the item and click the remove (–) button.
If you back up to multiple disks, you can press and hold the Option key, then choose Browse Other Backup Disks from the Time Machine menu.

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

201,820 points

Jun 19, 2023 4:16 AM in response to Sparky Marky

No, it does not backup cloud data. It will back up any data synced via that cloud service to your PC unless you exclude that folder from the Time Machine backup.

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