Solution: Display Google Drive Folder Pictures as Desktop Background on Windows
In this article, we will discuss how to automatically display pictures from a shared Google Drive folder as your desktop background on a Windows computer. This can be a great way to keep your desktop fresh and visually interesting, especially if the folder is being updated regularly by someone else.
Prerequisites
- A shared Google Drive folder containing images
- A Windows computer
Step 1: Install Google Drive File Stream
To access the images in the shared Google Drive folder, you will need to install the Google Drive File Stream application on your Windows computer. This application allows you to access your Google Drive files and folders directly from your computer, as if they were stored locally.
To install Google Drive File Stream, follow these steps:
1. Go to the Google Drive File Stream download page and click the "Download" button.
2. Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
3. Sign in with your Google account when prompted.
Step 2: Set up a Sync Folder
Once you have installed Google Drive File Stream, you will need to set up a sync folder on your computer. This folder will be used to sync the contents of the shared Google Drive folder to your local machine.
To set up a sync folder, follow these steps:
1. Open the Google Drive File Stream application.
2. Click the "My Drive" button in the left-hand menu.
3. Right-click on the shared folder and select "Add to My Drive."
4. Right-click on the shared folder again and select "Create Shortcut."
5. Move the shortcut to the location where you want to store the sync folder.
6. Right-click on the shortcut and select "Google Drive Stream" > "Always keep on this device."
Step 3: Set the Sync Folder as Your Desktop Background
Now that you have set up a sync folder, you can use it as your desktop background. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on your desktop and select "Personalize."
2. Click the "Background" option in the left-hand menu.
3. Select the "Slideshow" option.
4. Click the "Browse" button and navigate to the sync folder.
5. Select the folder and click "Choose this folder."
6. Make sure the "Shuffle" option is checked.
7. Click the "Save changes" button.
Step 4: Configure Google Drive File Stream to Automatically Refresh the Sync Folder
By default, Google Drive File Stream will only sync the contents of the shared folder when you open the application. However, you can configure it to automatically refresh the sync folder every few minutes, so that new images will be displayed on your desktop as soon as they are added to the shared folder.
To configure Google Drive File Stream to automatically refresh the sync folder, follow these steps:
1. Open the Google Drive File Stream application.
2. Click the "Settings" button in the top-right corner.
3. Click the "Preferences" option.
4. Click the "Advanced" tab.
5. Under "Sync," check the "Automatically sync changes" option.
6. Set the "Sync interval" to the desired value (e.g. 5 minutes).
7. Click the "OK" button.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily display pictures from a shared Google Drive folder as your desktop background on a Windows computer. This can be a great way to keep your desktop fresh and visually interesting, especially if the folder is being updated regularly by someone else. Additionally, by configuring Google Drive File Stream to automatically refresh the sync folder, you can ensure that new images will be displayed on your desktop as soon as they are added to the shared folder.