In this guide, we will show you how to fix connection errors like No connection, Unable to connect, and No internet on Google Drive on your Windows PC.
Why does Google Drive say No internet connection?
No internet connection and other similar error messages on Google Drive are caused by a weak and unstable internet connection. Besides that, it could also be caused due to antivirus and firewall interference. Browser problems like corrupted cache files, malicious extensions, and an outdated browser version can also cause the same errors.
No connection in Google Drive
If you keep seeing error messages like No connection, Unable to connect, or No internet on your Google Drive, here are the solutions you can use to fix the error:
- Start with some basic troubleshooting methods.
- Disable adblockers.
- Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus.
- Restart Google Drive Sync.
- Enable/disable Offline Access.
- Check for a browser issue.
- Adjust your proxy settings.
- Reinstall the Google Drive app.
No connection, Unable to connect, or No internet error on Google Drive
1] Start with some basic troubleshooting methods
First, since the message says “No connection”, you must ensure that you are connected to an active and stable internet connection. You can try connecting to a different network connection and see if you can open Google Drive files without this error.
The file might not be opening due to its large size. It shouldn’t exceed the size limit of files that can be stored in Google Drive. So, you can try reducing the file size and then open it in Google Drive.
It could also be a server outage causing the error. Hence, check the current status of Google servers and make sure the servers are up and running.
You can also try logging out of your Google account and then login again to check if the error is fixed.
Read: Google Drive keeps disconnecting or stuck on trying to connect.
2] Disable adblockers
If you are using an ad blocker, it might be preventing you from viewing Google Drive files, causing a “No connection” error message. So, if the scenario is applicable, disable adblockers and see if the error is fixed.
3] Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus
Google Drive errors and issues like “No connection” could be triggered due to antivirus. It might be interfering with Google Drive files and causing the error. You can try disabling your antivirus for some time and check if you can open the Google Drive file or not.
Similarly, customized firewall settings can also block you from viewing Google Drive files and show errors like No connection. Hence, you can disable your firewall and see if the error is fixed.
Read: Can’t launch Google Drive for Desktop in Windows.
4] Restart Google Drive Sync
If the “No connection” error on Google Drive still persists, you can try restarting the Google Drive. It will refresh the app and restart the synchronization process. As a result, you may stop receiving this error. Here’s how to do that:
- First, right-click on the Google Drive icon from your system tray.
- Now, go to the gear-shaped icon (Settings).
- Next, choose the Quit option to close Google Drive.
- After that, reopen the Google Drive app and check if the error is resolved.
5] Enable/disable Offline Access
Offline Access is a handy feature on Google Drive that enables you to view and edit files in offline mode. It is helpful when your internet connection is poor. You can try using this feature and see if it helps. Here are the steps to enable Offline Access on Google Drive:
First, open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, go to Google Drive, and make sure you are signed in.
Now, click on the gear-shaped icon and then press the Settings option.
Next, tick the checkbox named Create, open, and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline.
You can now open your files and check if the problem is resolved.
If this option is already enabled, you can try disabling it and then check if the error is fixed.
Related: Fix Google Drive You are not signed in loop error.
6] Check for a browser issue
If the above fixes don’t work, it might be a browser issue that is causing the error. So, make sure your browser is up-to-date.
It could be a corrupted browser cache, so you keep getting No connection message on Google Drive. Hence, clear the browser cache and see if the issue is fixed.
A third-party web extension can also be the reason behind this error. If a browser extension or add-on interferes with Google Drive, you might face this error. So, disable suspicious extensions in your web browser and see if the error is gone.
7] Adjust your proxy settings
Your proxy settings can be causing a connection problem on Google Drive and triggering this error. So, you can try adjusting your proxy settings and see if it works.
To do that, right-click on Google Drive from your system tray and then click on the gear-shaped icon. After that, click on the Preferences option and then select the Direct connection option under the Proxy settings option. Once done, check if the error is fixed.
Read: Google Drive for Desktop not syncing on Windows PC.
8] Reinstall the Google Drive app
If the error remains the same, uninstall and reinstall the Google Drive app. On a Windows PC, you can follow the below steps to uninstall Google Drive:
- First, open the Settings app using Win+I and then go to Apps > Installed apps.
- After that, click on the three-dot menu button next to Google Drive.
- Now, choose the Uninstall option and follow the prompted instructions to complete the process.
- Once done, restart your PC, download Google Drive from its website, and install it on your PC.
I hope you won’t get the Google Drive No connection error anymore.
How do I clear my Google Drive cache?
To clear the Google Drive cache on Windows, press Win+R to open Run and enter %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\ in its Open box. Now, open the DriveFS folder, select all files using CTRL+A, and press the Delete button to clear the cache file.
Now read: Can’t download files from Google Drive.
