Some Google Drive for Desktop users unable to log in to account on Mac, but there's an official workaround

With technological evolution, storing a huge amount of data has also become easier using cloud storage facilities that allow you to store data effortlessly without the use of any physical storage.

Among them, Google Drive for Desktop is one such most reliable and trusted cloud storage and synchronization facility available on Windows and macOS.

Google Drive for Desktop application is a result of merging Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync apps into one.

Keeping your data on Google Drive for Desktop not only ensures complete safety, but you can also access that data whenever you want with the help of synchronization.

This service was working fine until some Google One subscribers on Mac recently started reporting an issue when logging into their Google Drive account.

When they attempt to log in on Google Drive for Desktop on their Mac devices, it shows an error that says ‘Can’t load’ followed by account name. And then asks to disconnect the account and sign in again.

I exactly have the same issue on my iMac, uncouple account and login again or re-installing Google drive did not resolve the issue. I cannot revert to “backup and sync” app as it does not allow me anymore to install it. (Source)

I continue to struggle. 2 TB of data, uninstalled most of my apps, reinstalled Chrome and Google Drive, tried VPN. Nothing works… (Source)

After trying the above-mentioned instructions several times, the results remains the same and still, affected users can’t get into their Google Drive account on Mac.

Meanwhile, a user on Windows has also reported a similar problem. But we haven’t come across more such reports on Windows platform.

Fortunately, one of the affected users has come up with a workaround that was supposedly shared by Google support and could help others equally affected get back to their Google Drive for Desktop account.

If the same issue has been bothering you then you can work around it by trying the following possible solution:

– Launch the terminal in recovery mode, and run the following: chflags restricted /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/private/var/db/KernelExtensionManagement

– Reboot and run Drive for desktop

Also make sure that you have all proxies and VPNs disabled. To do that, go to Mac OS Apple Menu then go to Network in System Preferences. Head to Advanced > Proxies and then Disable.

Users are also required to check if their permission is turned on in privacy settings and here’s how to do that:

– Try going to Security and Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access AND Files and Folders.
– Unlock the lock in the corner.
– Check box Google Drive File Stream and it will quit and restart Google Drive.
– Please open System Preferences> Go to the General tab not the Privacy> Then you will see the option under “Allow apps downloaded from:” which is grayed out.
– To make it accessible click the “Lock icon”. It will ask for your password.
– Then “Open Anyway” Then restart your Mac, then reopen Drive for Desktop. (Source)

If the above-mentioned workaround does not fix the issue with users being unable to log in to their Google Drive for Desktop account, you’ll have to wait until Google issues a fix for it.

However, the company has not yet addressed this issue as to why it is happening and when it will be fixed for all affected Mac users.

We will keep you informed on the further development of the matter as and when anything new comes to our notice.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.