Is There A Way to Synchronize Google Drive With Nextcloud?

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1

Is it possible to have Nextcloud and Google Drive synchronized so that both cloud services have the same files? I am using Windows 10, Windows 11, Debian 12 and multiple versions of Android on various devices. Google Drive does not work well with Linux, where Nextcloud is the best. Eventually, I will have a computer and a laptop running Linux, and one laptop with Windows 11.

I currently have RClone set up to sync Google Drive to the Debian system, which works, but not well. I have tried a couple other apps that also do not work well - they do not work in the background. After I feel fully comfortable with Linux, and I can replace the older Android devices that do not work with Nextcloud, I will no longer be dual booting Windows 10 and Linux, and will be able to switch completely to Nextcloud. But I need a way to have both working with the same files.

Thank you for your help!

2

I read your posting twice and still asking myself “Why do you not simply use Nextcloud only?”

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3

hmmm… you could rclone g00gle with nextcloud and switch completely to nextcloud

4

I can not switch completely until I can afford to replace some older devices that I can not get to work with it, and until I feel 100% comfortable in switching fully to Linux. I am one of those people you have probably read about that is stuck with relatively new computers that can cot upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft is ending security update support for Windows 10 in October next year. I can’t afford to replace 2 more computers and 2 large screen tablets all at the same time. But I need to be able to access all of the files on every device.

I suppose it would be easy to simply copy and paste everything I have on Google Drive into Nextcloud, but then when I edit a file or create a new file on one service, I have to remember to upload on the other, so that I have that file on both services.

If the world was a perfect place, Google would make a desktop client for Linux that functions identically to the Windows desktop client, but Google Drive has been around for a long time without doing that.

5

What does this have to do with Linux and Windows, apart from the fact that there is no Google client for Linux, which should encourage you even more to leave Google behind :wink:

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6

But there’s a Nextcloud client for Windows, and also for MacOS if you ever should decide to use that as your desktop operating system.

So the key question should really be: Are you comfortable with Nextcloud?

If so, there’s no need to use Google anymore, ever, even if you decide not to use Linux as your main desktop operating system.

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7

I am NOT YET comfortable with Linux or Nextcloud. I installed Linux just 11 days ago, and Nextcloud 3 days ago. If I was wealthy and intelligent, I would setup my own server and self-host. I am neither. I just bought a Windows 11 laptop so that I can continue using applications for which there is no Linux alternative. It will be at least 6 months or more before I can afford to replace the old tablets. Once I replace those, I can complete the switch to Nextcloud.

8

I think, you should look at this independently. One thing is what OS you use on your desktop, another thing is where you put your files on.

But yeah, sure, if you’re not comfortable with Nextcloud yet, it’s probably a good idea to at least leave your existing data on Google until you are.

And yes, during this evaluation phase, there will not be a perfect solution on Linux for syncing your files with Google, so you will probably have to get comfortable with Nextcloud without syncing everything in real time.

However, the other way around, it’s no issue at all, as Nextcloud can work with Linux and Windows (and MacOS) equaly well, so switching from Google to Nextcloud would be a win either way. :slight_smile:

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Right now, I am dual booting Debian Linux and Windows 10 on my PC and one laptop. Neither of those support Windows 11, but are to new to consider the expense of replacing them. I have replaced my oldest laptop with a new on running Windows 11. Eventually, I will remove Windows 10 from the two devices and be running only Linux. Unfortunately, I am unavoidably tied to having Windows on at least one computer for a couple applications that do not and probably never will have Linux alternatives. I use those applications rarely, but I can not stop using them. There is nothing else that does what they do.

(FYI for anyone that is not yet aware, Microsoft will stop providing security and bug fix updates for Windows 10 in October 2025, making it unsafe to use online. There are A LOT of fairly new computers running Windows 10 that do not support the strict hardware requirements for Windows 11. My PC one one laptop are two of those, and they can not be upgraded, so rather than spend upwards of $2000 to replace them, I am switching to Linux. That is not my first choice, but it is the only affordable choice.)

Let me ask the question this way: Is there any reason why Nextcloud AND Google Drive can not be synced to the same hard drive folder on Linux?

I do not like the way the Nextcloud Android app works. To use a file, I first have to DOWNLOAD it, then when I am done, I have to UPLOAD it. Google Drive on Android lets me long-press and the “Open With” menu option gives me the opportunity to select whatever app I want to use.

Conversely, on Linux, the three applications that I have tried so far (web browser, KIO-GDrive and RClone) give me that same unacceptable function - downloading and uploading the file, while Nextcloud syncs to a hard drive folder that functions like any other folder.

I think I have found a solution using a 3rd party app with Linux. FreeFileSync can sync Google Drive to a folder on the hard drive. I have tried that. It works. The FreeFileSync FAQs suggest that it can also be used to sync Nextcloud. If that does not work, I can easily set FreeFileSync to use the existing Nextcloud folder for syncing Google Drive.

I am already using FreeFileSync in both Linux and Windows as my primary data backup, syncing my data to an external hard drive.

If there will be no problems caused by syncing both Nextcloud and Google Drive to the same hard drive folder, that will solve my problem.

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I’ve never tried this, so I honestly don’t know, but my gut is telling me that it’s probably not the best idea, because if both clients are trying to sync the same file at the same time, it could cause conflicts. But that probably also depends on the specific sync tools you’re using.

Either way, if I had to go that route, I would test it extensively with a test folder first, and only then use it with my production data.

If FreeFileSync can be used for both Nextcloud and Google Drive, it’s probably best to use that as your only sync client, rather than using FreeFileSync and the Nextcloud client at the same time with the same folder. But again you’ll probably need to do some more testing to find out what works best for you…

Not sure if that was meant as a question, but if so, see my answer above.

Also, for questions about FreeFileSync, or if you run into any problems with it, it’s probably best to visit their forums: FreeFileSync Forum

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11

Because you might need to work with others who insist on using Google Drive rather than Nextcloud.

12

Yes, that would be a reason.

I would still be interested in the background to the question (raised by the author).