Saving time and brainpower is incredibly easy when you've got Google Drive on your desktop.

Google Drive might be the best invention since sliced bread, but do you know what's even better? Having Google Drive in the palm of your hand.

Downloading Google Drive to your desktop can be the difference between annoyance and productivity.

Whether you're a Mac, Windows or Linux user, you will fully benefit from having the program just a shortcut away! 

How to Get Google Drive on Desktop

So you're ready to download Google Drive and aren't sure where to start? Say no more. We've got you.

WINDOWS

1. Go to "https://google.com/drive/download"
2. In the "Personal" box, click "Download"
3. On the pop-up, select "Agree and download"
4. Your download should start automatically, if not, press "click here to retry"

MAC

1. Go to "https://google.com/drive/download"
2. Select "Download for Mac"
3. On the pop-up, select "Agree and download"
4. Once the file has downloaded, drag it into the "Applications" folder

Google Drive will now be accessible through the "Applications" window.

LINUX

While everyone is still waiting for an official way to get Google Drive onto Linux, there are at least ways around it.

The easiest of these is the GNOME method.

1. Log into the system as the root user
2. Run the command "sudo apt install gnome-online-accounts"
3. Once it's installed, run the command "gnome-control-center online-accounts" (this launches the "Online Accounts" window)
4. Click "Google"
5. Log in to your Google account
6. Scroll to the bottom of the pop-up and click "Allow"
7. Your Google Drive folder will now be accessible through your regular file manager!

Using Google Drive with Shift

Alternatively, you can access all your Google Drive, Mail, and Calendars accounts across all platforms using Shift.

1. Download Shift at “https://tryshift.com/”
2. Open "Shift"
3. Log into as many Google accounts as you like
4. Voilà! Your Google Drive accounts are just one click away

Which begs the question: Why wouldn't you?