In recent days, concerns have arisen regarding potential data loss on Google Drive, prompting the tech giant to launch an investigation into "sync issues" affecting Google Drive for desktop. Users have reported instances where months of Drive data suddenly vanished, reverting their files to a state from May 2023. The situation has raised alarm among users, with one individual expressing the fear that the loss of files could significantly impact their work, spanning a period of 1-2 years.

Acknowledging the issue, Google has posted a statement on the Google Drive help forums titled "Drive for desktop (v84.0.0.0 - 84.0.4.0) Sync Issue." The statement reassures users that the company is actively looking into the matter and promises to provide further updates. However, the statement also advises users against taking certain actions, including clicking "Disconnect account" within Drive for desktop and deleting or moving the app data folder. Instead, Google recommends making a copy of the app data folder if space permits.

One notable aspect of this issue is the different modes of operation in Drive for Desktop, which may be contributing to the problems experienced by users. The traditional "mirroring" mode, similar to services like Dropbox, ensures that files on a user's hard drive are uploaded to the cloud and synchronized across devices. Losing files in this mode seems unlikely as they should still be present on the user's hard drive. However, the default mode in recent years, known as "File Stream," largely relies on cloud storage and provides shortcuts to files instead of locally storing them. While File Stream maintains a cache of frequently accessed files, Google actively removes other files from users' computers.

This distinction raises the concern that if data has been lost and users were operating in File Stream mode, it is possible that the files may be permanently gone, as opposed to simply being inaccessible. The possibility of File Stream deleting or moving files without uploading them first adds further complications to resolving the issue.

The recent troubles with Google Drive highlight a challenging year for the cloud storage service. Aside from the ongoing investigation into data loss, Google attempted to cut Drive costs by implementing a cap on file count, in addition to the existing byte size limit. However, this decision faced significant backlash and was eventually reversed after considerable media coverage. Such unexpected changes caused disruptions for businesses, leaving them scrambling to understand the situation. Cloud storage services are expected to be reliable and responsible custodians of users' files, a promise that Google Drive has struggled to uphold this year.

With countless individuals and businesses paying for additional storage through Google One and Google Workspace accounts, the expectation of reliable service remains high. As Google continues its investigation, affected users are hoping for prompt resolutions and reassurance that their valuable data is given the utmost protection.