How to set up a Mac for Google Workspace

Here are 5 ways to configure your macOS strategy to enactment with Gmail, Google Drive and different Google Workspace apps.

Illustration: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

Apple’s Mac systems enactment good with Google Workspace apps, specified arsenic Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides. Each of the 5 options beneath lets you leverage your Google relationship from macOS, ranging from the simplest setup to the deeper connections that nexus information either to Apple’s apps oregon let Google Drive entree from the Finder. Many radical whitethorn privation to motion successful to a caller Mac and configure each 5 of the options covered below.

SEE: iCloud vs. OneDrive: Which is champion for Mac, iPad and iPhone users? (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

If you’re portion of an organization, you whitethorn request to travel procedures different than the ones listed below. Both Google Workspace and Apple Business Manager connection assorted endeavor absorption options that let an head to simplify sign-ins, unafraid devices and power configurations. Check with your strategy head for guidelines circumstantial to your organization.

Jump to:

• Use Safari for a streamlined setup
• Install Chrome for full-featured enactment connected the web
• Sign successful with Google to link information to Apple apps
• Deploy Google Drive for desktop for strategy entree to Drive files
• Configure Chrome Remote Desktop for distant access

Use Safari for a streamlined setup

Once you decorativeness the macOS archetypal setup process and person installed each disposable strategy updates, you whitethorn commencement Safari, spell to Gmail and past motion successful with your Google Workspace relationship credentials. After you are logged in, you whitethorn entree different Workspace apps either from the app launcher paper (Figure A) oregon by typing successful immoderate Workspace app URL straight (e.g., https://docs.google.com for Google Docs). Since astir Google Workspace features enactment good wrong Safari, this attack lets you get to enactment quickly.

Figure A

Sign successful to your Google relationship successful Safari and usage Google Workspace apps online.

However, arsenic of January 2023, Google Workspace apps don’t connection offline entree erstwhile utilized successful Safari connected a Mac. If you request to usage Gmail, Calendar oregon Drive connected your Mac without net access, you’ll privation to research the further steps below. However, if your Mac ever has net entree and offline enactment isn’t a interest for you, past the operation of Google Workspace apps accessed successful Safari whitethorn beryllium sufficient.

Install Chrome for full-featured enactment connected the web

Most radical who program to enactment with Google Workspace connected a Mac volition privation to install Chrome (Figure B), past motion successful and usage that browser for each Workspace-related activities.

Figure B

To alteration offline work, download Chrome for macOS, past configure apps specified arsenic Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Drive for offline access. You besides whitethorn sync Chrome settings, specified arsenic bookmarks and history, with Chrome connected assorted devices.

This attack not lone allows you to configure and sync data for bookmarks, history, passwords and much crossed each Chrome browser you use, but it besides allows you to configure Workspace apps for offline work. You volition request to set a fewer support settings, specified arsenic allowing entree to the webcam and microphone for Google Meet, with further adjustments needed to enable screen-sharing.

Sign successful with Google to link information to Apple apps

You whitethorn motion successful with your Google relationship and acceptable it to sync Workspace information to Apple’s apps. To bash this, prime Apple Menu > System Settings… > Internet Accounts > Add Account… > Google, and past proceed done the sign-in process (Figure C).

Figure C

From Apple Menu > System Settings, prime Internet Accounts, past Add Account arsenic shown connected the left. Next, take Google, arsenic shown connected the right, and implicit the authentication process.

In astir cases, you volition privation to alteration the sliders for Mail, Contacts and Calendars, which allows these apps to sync Gmail, Google Contacts and Google Calendar information to each app, respectively. You whitethorn besides privation to spell to the Google Calendar Sync Settings instrumentality connected the web to prime circumstantial Google Calendars to sync with iCal.

Adding your Google relationship successful the Apple strategy settings tin beryllium utile for offline information entree successful apps arsenic good arsenic erstwhile you privation strategy actions to stay successful sync with your Google account. For example, erstwhile you click connected a “mailto:” nexus connected a web page, the strategy tin unfastened the Apple Mail app and make a caller email that is sent from and synced to your Google Workspace account.

Deploy Google Drive for desktop for strategy entree to Drive files

Download and instal Google Drive for desktop (Figure D), past motion successful to your relationship successful bid to entree files connected Google Drive from the Finder. This allows you, for example, to commencement an app connected your strategy and from wrong that app unfastened a record stored connected Drive.

Figure D

For strategy entree to Google Drive files from the Finder, instal Google Drive for desktop.

For instance, you mightiness commencement a macOS photograph editing app and past unfastened an representation record stored connected Google Drive. Drive for desktop eliminates the request to unfastened a browser, download a file, enactment with the file, past upload it again. Instead, Drive for desktop allows you to unfastened and prevention items straight to Drive connected a Mac.

Configure Chrome Remote Desktop for distant access

You whitethorn privation to instal and configure Chrome Remote Desktop to let distant entree to your strategy either by different radical erstwhile you petition it, specified arsenic for enactment purposes, oregon by yourself, specified arsenic for a desktop strategy you tendency to entree remotely.

To configure Chrome Remote Desktop, you request to person installed Chrome connected your system. Assuming you do, unfastened Chrome and spell to https://g.co/crd/setup to commencement the installation and setup process (Figure E). Once completed, you’ll beryllium capable to entree your strategy remotely from Chrome Remote Desktop.

Figure E

Configure Chrome Remote Desktop to let distant entree to your system, either for enactment oregon for your ain usage from different computer.

What’s your acquisition with Google Workspace connected macOS?

If you usage Google Workspace connected a Mac, which of the supra apps and configurations bash you use? Are you a minimalist who prefers to solely motion successful to Google tools with Safari? Do you enactment with Google Workspace solely done Chrome for macOS? Or bash you link your Google accounts to Apple’s Mail, Calendar and Contacts apps and trust connected Drive and Remote Desktop, too? Mention oregon connection maine connected Mastodon (@awolber) to fto maine cognize what benignant of Google Workspace setup you usage connected your Mac.