“A Google Account gives you Google-wide access to most of our products, such as Google Ads, Gmail and YouTube, using the same username and password. If you’re already using a Google product such as Gmail, for example, then you have a Google Account.” (Source, Google)
Gmail (personal), and Google Workspace (for business)
Gmail is a personal, free account. G Suite is Google’s product for businesses, an enhanced version of Gmail with additional features. Whether it’s Gmail or G Suite, adding the account in macOS is the same.
Adding your Google Account in macOS.
To add your Google account in macOS:
![](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/apple-menu-sys-prefs.png)
![The System Preferences pane, Internet Accounts](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sys-prefs-internet-accounts.png)
![Internet Accounts setup](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sys-prefs-internet-accounts-2-1024x772.png)
![Google account features include email, contacts, calendars, and much more.](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/internet-accounts-google-setup.png)
- Use Apple’s suite of apps to access and manage your account
- Mail: used for managing email
- Contacts: used as an address book
- Calendars: add appointments, birthdays.. create separate calendars for birthdays, holidays, work, family, and so on.
- Notes: for general note taking, and more.
Adding your Google Account will make some of the account’s features accessible through Apple’s pre-installed apps, namely:
- Contacts
- Calendars
- Notes
![Apple's suite of internet account related apps.](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/apple-suite-internet-account-apps.png)
All of these apps are located in the Macintosh HD/Applications folder.
![Internet Accounts - Apps: Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Notes.](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/internet-accounts-apps.png)
Google cloud file storage: Google Drive.
An equivalent to Apple’s iCloud Drive, Google Drive can be accessed through a web browser, by signing in at drive.google.com.
Google Drive allows you to store files and folders in the cloud, allowing you access to them across all your devices.
The Google Drive associated with your Google Account can also be accessed via Finder, but you’ll first need to download and install an app provided by Google. The app you install depends on whether you have a personal or work Google account.
For the free, personal Gmail, download and install Google’s Backup and Sync. For business, or G Suite accounts, download Google Drive File stream.
Once installed, a Google Drive folder is added to your macOS Home folder. Any files added here will upload to your Google Drive.
![The Google Drive icon in the menu bar (A), providing quick access to your Google Drive folder, located in your Home folder, accessed in Finder.](http://howtouseamac.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/google-drive-in-menu-bar.png)
A Google Drive icon is added to your menu bar (A), allowing you quick access to your Google Drive folder (B).
Google Chrome web browser.
Being a Google product, Google accounts are not as tightly integrated into Apple’s devices as iCloud.
What sets Google apart from Apple and Microsoft is that, rather than creating dedicated desktop apps that run on macOS, for word-processing, spreadsheets, email, and so on, Google’s apps run right inside the web browser. For the best experience using Google’s apps and services, use Google’s Chrome browser, as opposed to Apple’s Safari browser.
For iOS and iPadOS (iPhones and iPads), Google has a dedicated app for everything, from Gmail, to Google Drive.
Previous lesson: | Next lesson: |
Internet Accounts – iCloud | Microsoft Accounts |